Raurgoth, Star of the North (rawr-gawth/roo-IN-hoo-ree-AN-goth)

As seen in

Aftermath

Inferno White Dragon Ruinhuriangoth

The Ultimate Inferno AnimArmor Incarnation... With four of the Nine lost to Talpa and the Mortal Realm fresh off of an encounter with demons of metal, Kaosu the Ancient One planned to create six suits of Armor for each inhabited continent, along with an associated Inferno: Mastodon for North America, Amaru for South America, Unicorn for Europe, Mokele-mbembe for Africa, and Bunyip for Australia. Talpa caught wind of his plan, however, and contracted a shadowy agent to target the Mystic Alliance. Kaosu and his surviving associates decided instead to create a singular all-powerful Incarnation to represent the thus-far completed suits. He sought out a powerful majestic beast, possibly the last of his kind, and presented an offer: magical protection in exchange for service. The titan agreed, allowing his body and spirit to be bound to a powerful suit of Armor while he retained his mortal body. After centuries of mystical slumber, he awakes alongside the other Incarnations. He is known among his kind as Ruinhuriangoth, or in the tongue of dragons, the Star of the North.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Dragons of his species are known for their lithe, majestic forms. Possessing a long, lean body, Raurgoth is capable of remarkable flexibility and speed. As a dragon titan, he commands formidable physical strength and durability.

Body Features

Large hexagonal-shaped scales cover most of his body with the exception of his wing membrane, soles of his feet, and palms. Broad v-shaped silvery scales coat his belly from the base of his tail to the base of his throat. A row of curved white spines runs from the base of his skull to halfway down his tail. Gleaming white spurs jut out from his heels and long black spikes adorn his elbows. The underside of his wings are silver while the top is white. His wing ribs are black and end in sharp bone spikes and two pincer-like claws crown the wing-wrist.

Facial Features

A single large plate of smooth scale covers the top of his muzzle from his brow to the tip of his nose. He has two tympanic membrane ears positioned behind his eyes under his brow crest. Two large scaled ridges arc over his nostrils and a spade-shaped plate of scale adorns the tip of his nose. A small curved horn juts up from between his nostrils. His brow crest appears a single mass but is actually soft tissue covered in tough leathery hide which extends from his brow to the base of his horns, seeming to meld together seamlessly with the bone. His golden-yellow eyes are side-positioned and his wedge-shaped head gives him exceptional field of view.

Identifying Characteristics

Raurgoth's horns are straight and spear-like, unlike other members of his family. He is thought to be the last member of his species in the Mortal Realm, and no others have yet been encountered even in Thorolk, so there are no variations in horn styles that can be currently compared.

Physical quirks

What time Raurgoth doesn't spend fighting he spends either basking or eating, which he does quite a lot of due to his condition as a living beast. Just his sheer size alone can be intimidating, but the sight of his eyes under his thick scaly brow can prove quite unnerving to the unwary. He tends to walk on all fours most of the time, but he is capable of standing upright on two legs using his wings and tail as balance.

Special abilities

Raurgoth Full Body by Mardrena

Immense Strength

Few enemies are capable of withstanding his overwhelming might. Even technologically superior foes are ill-equipped to deal with a creature that can treat ships like punching bags and tear through strong alloys like tissue paper. Raurgoth has yet to engage a Thunthen supercarrier, but not for lack of trying. If his attack on Talpa's fortress is any indication, a supercarrier's size might actually work to his advantage with decks and hangars big enough for him to fit into. Last Dance

Rowen grunted and turned his head to the side as the tiny mechanical arms withdrew and retracted into the table. He caught a glimpse of a shallow metal pan piled high with bleeding fleshy chunks. He sat up and rotated his wrist testily, flexing the metal-clad fingers. Memnech stood facing the view screen with his arms folded over his chest and his head cocked to one side lazily. Rowen caught glimpses of Raurgoth going to town inside the hangar where he last saw him. He flicked a gaze to the side and noticed a map of the entire vessel and a flashing red section indicating sustained damage. "That beast really is such a nuisance..." Memnech let out a fluttering sigh as Raurgoth peeled apart a wall separating hangars and barged into an adjacent facility. Another section of the map flashed red. The damaged sections of the city-ship counted for but a fraction of the entire vessel. Rowen ran his gaze over other sections of the map including passages leading to the holding cell where he'd left the others, committing every corridor to memory. "It would be a shame to just kill him...but the amount of nanotech it would take to Convert him would be quite frankly astronomical!" Rowen raised his arm slightly and clenched his fist. A section of metal rose up from between his radius and ulna, revealing a gleaming barrel that glowed faintly blue on the inside.

Flight

A combination of light-yet-durable bones and complex internal chemical reactions allow Raurgoth to launch into the air and remain airborne with ease. Because of his size, he cannot make on-the-dime turns but compensates by navigating a battle zone and using his momentum in his favor. He can easily achieve and maintain flight with his large wingspan, but is able to sense and make use of thermal drafts in the atmosphere to reduce energy expenditures.

Flame Breath

Actually one of his least-used abilities because it drains his internal gas reserves, requiring him to eat even more to recover. The rare occasion he does let loose with his dragon fire is awe-inspiring without a doubt, his fire hot enough to melt most metals in seconds and roast living foes to the bone. The residual heat can sometimes cause damage at range such as warping glass or melting substances with very low melting points. Because it takes a significant "charge-up" period, he must use his fire sparingly.

Heat Breath

Rather than expending one massive gout of flame, he can instead channel small amounts of gas via glands to heat up only his mouth. Thick coatings of mucus protect his soft tissues as temperatures can rival even a blast furnace. Raurgoth can melt down metal in his jaws and use it against foes in combat or squelch a troublesome meal going down.

Scale Armor

Energy blasts will simply deflect off of the polished white scales and only prolonged blade impact has been shown to crack them. Because the skin underneath is actually quite delicate, damaged or lost scales can actually prove hazardous. Unlike the other Incarnations, he does not have any form of healing factor and relies on medical or magical treatment for injuries.

Killing Fangs

A set of retractable teeth that slip into Raurgoth's gums when not in combat. Roughly as long as a human arm, the bite force delivered behind these sharp teeth is terrifying indeed. Raurgoth can either display them as warning or just before he is about to chow down on a foe.

Incarnation

Thanks to the magical boons granted by Kaosu, Raurgoth does not age and can be recalled into a special pocket Realm tied to the insignia ring. When in Armor form he confers abilities such as flight and strength to Ryo and damage sustained will repair instantly when the Armor is shed. In either state he is not required to eat to maintain energy, but because he's gotten so used to his freedom, he actually prefers remaining manifest in the world rather than locked away in the ring.

RaurgothRadiant1b.jpg

Raurgoth Radiant by Mardrena

Made in Sketchbook Pro app

Bone Spikes

There isn't a feature in his body that can't somehow be used as a weapon, but perhaps most brutal are the long black spikes on his elbows that can puncture through just about anything.

Sharp Talons

In addition to his strength, Raurgoth makes use of his claws to render any defense opponents might have useless. Only powerful energy-based shields have shown capable of thwarting him. It is unknown whether dererium could withstand impact, but the rdgu used in Thunthen ships easily crumples under a swipe.

Tail Whip

Much the way an irate iguana will strike, Raurgoth can lash his long tail with incredible force, splitting a foe in two or crumpling objects under its weight. When coupled with his speed while airborne, he can launch into a rolling dive and plow through a large structure using his tail to disperse the impact without causing damage to himself.

Heightened Agility

Despite being a dragon titan, he is no ponderous beast. He may appear slow because of his size, but he can move quite quickly, catching objects easily and even craning his neck around enough to stare down his own back. He can tuck his wings and navigate sharp corners in tight spaces like city streets without so much as an errant wingtip brushing against a wall...most of the time at least...

Acute Senses

Raurgoth can spot distant targets and pick up idle chatter nearby. He is able to instantly distinguish between hostile and friendly targets even in the thick of battle, such as when targeting D-class fighters while avoiding Pegasi riders.

Empathic Echo

Not quite a psychic bond, Raurgoth is able to sense when Ryo is in mortal danger no matter the distance. Conversely, he can pick up on extreme anger expressed by Ryo such as when a quartet of otherworldly creatures threatened to destroy a building with Mia inside. Raurgoth responded by slaughtering the creatures in a messy, brutal fashion even for a dragon.

RaurgothvsKylyrab.jpg

Raurgoth Descends (EXTREMELY OLD) by Mardrena

Ink pen sketch

Solar Absorption

It would take entire herds of cows to feed a hungry dragon titan, and such dietary requirements put dragons at odds with humans in the distant past in the first place. Dragons of Raurgoth's species got their name for dwelling on mountain tops, but rather than engage in solitary meditation, they simply sought out open peaks with which to catch the most sunlight. Raurgoth spends most of his time outside of combat sunning himself on the deck of Sky Platform Argonauth, using the silvery underside of his wings and belly to draw in the most energy. This doesn't fully eliminate his need for meat protein, but it can reduce it drastically. Ronin WarriorSpectra

The crew of a trawler paced about the deck as they waited to fill their nets. A whistle sounded and the pully creaked as the net began retracting. Suddenly the entire boat jolted and the winch nearly came loose. The captain scrambled over to investigate as his crew hurriedly pulled up the net. They let out a collective moan of dismay when the tattered remains of the net slipped out of the water. "Seriously? That was the whole morning's catch!!" "Second time this month. Serious bout of bad luck right there..." "Nah...it's them damn whale sharks!" "Whale sharks?" "Yeah. They smart, they know where to get easy food. They find full fishing nets and suck the fish right out like a all-u-can-eat." "...I didn't think whale sharks came this far up north..." The crew remained so absorbed in discussing who filched their fish they failed to notice the large white mass sliding under the water far below the surface. From the water level it would've looked like just a reflection from the sky, but far above a long slender form could be seen snaking under the waves. Raurgoth kept his arms flush against his sides, his wings folded against his back, and his legs together as his tail swished through the sea. He raised his head slightly, poking his nostrils above the surface briefly to replenish his air before pulling back down. Any civilians nearby would easily dismiss it as a whale. Remoras scurried towards him from all directions to give him a good cleaning as he swam. Just because Cye was the Warrior of Water didn't mean he owned every pond, river, and ocean. If he wouldn't allow Raurgoth to fish in the lake, then he'd just have to accept generous donations given by the hundreds of local fishermen. A small service to pay for him protecting the Mortal Realm and all...

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Early Life

Ruinhuriangoth had his beginnings much like others of his species: as a hatching being reared by doting parents. His name-a portmanteau of his sire and dam's names-was bestowed by observers who marveled at his brilliant hide. Because it takes decades for hatchlings to attain the legendary physique of their kind, hatchlings remain under nearly-constant supervision in remote heights until they can hunt for themselves. Ruinhuriangoth did not know why angry hordes of Men intruded upon his home peak clamoring for the death of his parents. He last saw his sire and dam stride into battle and never saw them again after that.

Raurgoth_chibi_anger_lines.png

Chibi Raurgoth Tantrum by Wordigirl

Made with BlackInk and Sketchbook App

Forced to continue on alone, he spent his adolescence in the cold north, descending to the south only to feed on scattered herds or dredge the lakes and seas for fish. The rare glimpses crofters and travellers caught of this graceful titan in flight sent hushed whispers throughout the villages. While on his journey to seek out suitable candidates as Incarnations, Kaosu caught such a whisper and sought out the mighty dragon, called by others "Star of the North". Because Human tongues pronounce dragon names inelegantly, Kaosu dubs him Raurgoth.

Events of Aftermath

RaurgothRisingb.jpg

Awaken, Raurgoth! (Scene from Aftermath Ch. 10) by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape and BlackInk

Raurgoth awakens from his centuries-long slumber spectacularly in Ch. 10, "The AnimArmors". Responding to the summons given by the insignia ring, he erupts from his burrow underground and strides off in search of the Ronin Leader, arriving in the nick of time to intercept the monstrous Cerberus as he attacked Ryo of the Wildfire. Even though Cerberus gained his powers from the Transatia and was not a "true" werewolf, only magical or holy weapons could inflict serious harm. Raurgoth, however, struck him with such force that not only (partially) decapitated him but practically liquefied his innards. The Inferno Incarnation proceeds to pluck a fleeing Dair off the ground, making a messy, gory snack of the werebeast.

Battle of the Citadel

Ryo originally planned to summon Raurgoth as a trump card against Dygra in Ch. 13 "Age of Defiance", but a mere incantation and a gesture from the Dynasty Beast Warden blocked the Incarnation from fully manifesting on the battlefield. While she denied Raurgoth the chance for battle at a crucial point, he would get his revenge in due time...

Events of Foes From Another World

Cye glanced to the sky and blinked, surprised to see it a pale greenish color. “…well that’s weird. Must be too much dust in the eyes, yeah, that’s it… Hmm…a better vantage point might help. Hyah!!” Cye crouched and pounced, wall jumping towards a nearby roof. Once he landed on the roof, he slowly began to turn around. “WHOA!!” Cye recoiled in shock at what he saw. The city lay in ruins for miles in either direction. The tall form of Raurgoth towered above surrounding buildings, but instead of gleaming white scale, the Inferno Dragon’s body appeared to be made of stone. Raurgoth stood as if challenging something, with arms raised and wings outstretched. Deep, blackened holes riddled the right wing, and the left seemed to have fallen, or been broken off by some impact. A single large hole, several feet in diameter, marred the otherwise smooth chest.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 1

Raurgoth is briefly seen being summoned in Ch. 1 "The Last Ronin Warrior", but when Cye awakens in a ruined city he is horrified to see the colossal Incarnation petrified from head to toe and the other Incarnatians in a similar state. Cye eventually awakens to find all is well in the waking world, but the sight of the slain Raurgoth as well as other nightmares he faced haunts him. In Ch. 5 "Unarmed but Still Dangerous", Ryo attempts to summon the Dragon AnimArmor only for the strange shield holding the Ronin captive to block the energy completely, causing the Incarnations-Raurgoth included-to manifest outside of the barrier. Raurgoth tries to apply draconic logic to the situation by first gnawing and clawing at the shield then taking flight and trying to use a rolling dive. This ends up being a huge mistake as the shield simply repels him, sending him crashing into a building and causing extensive damage to the area. He tries destroying the shield again by deploying his flame breath, causing further damage. While the shield itself sustains no damage, the fire destroys some of the foci used to sustain it, and Kayura suggests aiming for the base of the shield instead. With assistance from the other Incarnations, the shield is finally broken and the Ronin freed.

RaurgothPetrified2b.jpg

Nightmarish Future (Scene from Foes From Another World Ch. 1) by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape and BlackInk

The air around Raurgoth’s mouth rippled and his jaws hinged open slightly, revealing an interior that glowed hotter than a blast furnace. From the ground, Shannon and Kayura heard a loud crackling roar that rose in volume ever so slightly. “RAURGOTH! DON’T DO IT!! STOP! STOP!!!” Ryo cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted to no avail. Even from inside the shield the Ronin could see the almost blinding glow coming from the dragon’s mouth. The crackling reached a crescendo. The air hissed from a whisper to a boom then snapped as Raurgoth pitched forward and opened his jaws wide. The explosion of compressed air and gas that erupted from his mouth shamed the flames of a shuttle launch and smoke and steam billowed up in immense clouds that surged higher than the barrier.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 5

"Come Ruinhuriangoth! Let us put the fear of fire back into these foolish warmongers!” The thunder-wyrm raised his wings. Raurgoth glanced down at Ryo, uncertain. “Pfft, what are you looking at me for? You’re a dragon! You don’t need permission from me,” Ryo said and waved a hand through the air. Raurgoth’s expression lightened. “Feel free, cut loose, have some fun. We’ll be back for you after we’ve dealt with Teirhan.” The two dragons prepared to takeoff and the Ronin ducked from the resulting sand buffets.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 9

A freak dimensional rift draws the Ronin into another Realm where they encounter another titan in Ch. 9 "Betrayed". After they are duped by the treacherous Men dwelling there, Ryo is forced to summon Raurgoth by General Kavan, who hopes to pit titan against titan and eliminate thunder wyrm Vaughisdrough as an obstacle to Teirhan's plans for conquest.
Blackblaze destroys Teirhan's scepter of command in his palace, disabling the magical bindings on the younger Ronin. Raurgoth greets Vaugh like an old friend and-with Ryo's explicit permission-gleefully chows down on the haughty general, swallowing him whole before roasting him on the way down. The two dragon titans team up and go to town on Teirhan's armies, permanently putting an end to their unchecked ambitions. Raurgoth makes a brief appearance in Ch. 11 "Ascendant" when Ryo summons him on request from Danae's brother Chi Chi Lina, Azuro. Azuro asks the dragon titan to devour the body of fellow metraind Rothenn in order to cleanse his spirit in the Afterworld. Raurgoth happily obliges and swallows the snack-uh, offering.

“We should probably port to the entrance of the castle. There’s no telling what traps Teirhan might have left in the throne room,” Rowen shouted above the noise. The Ronin looked up and saw Raurgoth’s silvery belly as the two dragons soared overhead. Ryo looked over his shoulder as the dragon titans set upon Kavan’s troops. Lightning crackled and surged out of the thunder wyrm’s mouth, amplified by the two tusks. Fire erupted from between Raurgoth’s jaws and blanketed the mass of figures. The thunder-wyrm swatted siege machines away savagely, and Raurgoth himself thrashed his tail into the ground at an angle, sending men flying. What had horrified Ryo merely hours ago he now found strangely beautiful, and he smiled.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 9

Assault on Talpa's Fortress

When Azuro leads several Ranks against the Dynasty in Ch. 16 "The Bloody Oath and the Grim Pact", he demands Ryo and the Ronin sit out the battle as a matter of honor. To work around that, Ryo summons the Inferno Incarnation to join the fight, where Raurgoth gets the chance to unleash his full might, plowing through the Dynasty fleet and nearly tearing the lower floors out of Talpa's fortress. Dygra engages a powerful spell to shift the Dynasty forces out of the Realm entirely, forcing Raurgoth to disengage and make a rough landing on a building. The Thangiens consider the withdrawal a victory and Raurgoth celebrates alongside them. The Ronin set into motion a plan to permanently eliminate several key Dynasty minions in Ch. 17 "Symphony of Flame". Mia Koji, Roxi Hirochner, and Brianna Johansen act as bait to lure the Mutant Warlords to the lake docks. Instead of cornering the seemingly helpless women, the three beastly former humans find themselves eyed as a potential snack as the Inferno Incarnation rises from the lake and gives chase. It is unknown whether he eventually ate them.

Raurgoth dug his teeth into the fortress and wrenched his head from side to side. He leaned back and began taking deep breaths, but before he had a chance to unleash his flame, crackling bolts of black energy struck his body and caused him to lose his grip. Nalore squeaked and threw up her arms reflexively when the Inferno Dragon fell towards the building she’d landed on. The skyscraper shuddered and cracked under the weight. The long tail draped down the side of the building. Inside, civilians ignorant of the battle raging above the clouds panicked and evacuated their offices.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 16

Enter Mal Daggur

“There is something on scanners…coming from below…” The hapless pilot of the lowermost craft barely had time to cry in alarm before a huge white clawed hand reached up and swatted it towards the ground. White clouds peeled away to expose the pearl-scaled leviathan as it rose after them, bellowing in rage. The dragon seized another craft in its jaws and crushed it to bits and flicked a third from the skies with a wingtip. The fourth tried to bank and wheel about, but the pilot cowered in its’ seat when the long tail whipped about and shattered the craft.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 22

A new, vastly more edible enemy appears in Ch. 22 "Claws and Daggurs" when Rowen comes across a hostile fleet lurking above the planet and is severely injured while trying to evade his pursuers. Ryo deploys Raurgoth to save the Warrior of Air from striking the ground with lethal force, using his wing to catch him. Before the other Ronin have a chance to process what happened, Raurgoth takes to the air to intercept elite fighters in pursuit of Rowen, smashing the self-styled dragon-men's toys to bits and eating a crash survivor-unfortunately before the Ronin can gain any crucial information. As Mal Daggur begins setting his plans into motion and maneuvering supplies into place, the Ronin are able to thwart his schemes thanks to information provided by Bak Thraplek and his Dissident crew. During one such intercept operation in Ch. 26 "Overload", Raurgoth swiftly tackles an entire troopship out of the air before it has a chance to escape. Much to his dismay, Ryo prohibits him from snacking on the entire crew, viewing them as prisoners of war rather than food for the dragon titan.

The next day Raurgoth is called forth yet again this time to deal with a transformed Kento. The white dragon overestimates his abilities and underestimates his foe as despite trying to pull the giant Kento out of the city, the feral Ronin Warrior quickly turns the tables and proceeds to use the Inferno Incarnation as a punching bag. Ryo is forced to recall Raurgoth back into the insignia ring but not after the dragon inadvertently damaged several blocks of the city during the titanic tussle. The Inferno Incarnation gets to blow off some much-needed steam in Ch. 28 "The Rune Waters" while giving chase to a troopship convoy led by Mal Daggur's right hand Bru Ranir, devouring several Nobeyls in the process.

RaurSnackAttackSketchb.jpg

Raurgoth Snack Attack (Sketch) by Mardrena

Refined Ink Pen Sketch

“Raurgoth!! Move Kento out of the city, but don’t hurt him!” Raurgoth glanced from the towering humanoid that opposed him then down at Ryo. “I mean it!” Ryo ordered sternly. Raurgoth’s wing shoulders sagged slightly before he gathered himself and reared his long neck above the skyline. He raised his wings like colossal sails and held his arms wide. Despite only measuring close to the dragon’s shoulders in height, the transformed Kento remained undaunted by the challenge. He tightened his grip on his weapon and tensed to charge. Raurgoth pitched forward and let loose a grating hiss. He fanned his wings, but the black tips of the wing ribs scraped against buildings. Kento charged forward to grapple with the dragon, but Raurgoth had other ideas. He drew his tail under himself and managed to lift his bulk upon it high enough to lash out with his legs, striking Kento in the stomach and sending him staggering. Before Kento had a chance to recover, the White Dragon grabbed him in an arm-lock and began dragging Kento away towards the suburbs. Once he cleared the taller buildings, he began flapping his wings. Sage arrived and met up with Rowen and Ryo and the three of them watched in awe as the Inferno Dragon rose into the air carrying the transformed Kento of Hardrock. Without warning, Kento wrenched his right arm free of Raurgoth’s grip and reached up, grabbing the lower edge of the right wing. Raurgoth hissed when felt the excruciating pinching and could not rise any higher. He began sagging down, flapping his left wing desperately to guide his landing. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Kento drove his right elbow into the dragon’s gut, disorienting Raurgoth long enough to wrench free of his grip entirely. Raurgoth recovered and roared angrily, but Kento punched the side of the wedge-shaped head. Raurgoth’s tail lashed from side to side, slamming into the walls of taller buildings and shearing the roofs off of smaller ones. His wings caught power lines and tore them off their fastenings. Kento lunged forward and grabbed the dragon by the shoulders. Raurgoth tried biting at Kento’s right shoulder, close to the neck, but his jaws could not open wide enough. “RAURGOTH! I said don’t hurt him!” Ryo scolded shrilly. “Dragons aren’t exactly known for diplomacy, Ryo,” Rowen quipped. Gas began rippling around Raurgoth’s mouth and his chest swelled to belch fire. Before the gas had a chance to ignite, Kento reached up and grabbed the dragon’s throat, stifling the flame.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 26

Siege of the Ramahatesguad

Raurgoth gets the chance to let loose once again as Mal Daggur deploys one of his supercarriers over the sea mere miles from the mainland in Ch. 29 "Avatar of Justice". With swarms of D-class fighters en-route to the city, Raurgoth alerts civilian motorists to evacuate the bridge. Raurgoth makes creative use of the ocean spray tossed up by his wings, deploying his flame breath to create dense steam clouds and throw fighters into disarray. Curiously enough, he gets in a few licks on Dynasty barges targeting the supercarrier as Mal Daggur's ego clashes with Talpa's ambition.

RaurgothBridgeFight2b.jpg

Hold the Bridge (Scene from Foes From Another World Ch. 29) by Mardrena

Made with BlackInk

Raurgoth hovered over the bay near the support pillars, flapping his wings and tossing spray up high into the air. The Thunthen pilots didn’t know what to make of the relatively harmless water. They did not notice air rippling around the dragon’s mouth. Raurgoth pitched forward and unleashed his fire into the spray, causing the air all over the bay to erupt with thick billowing steam. The heat interfered with the fighter’s sensors and they flew into the cloud effectively blind. One pilot squealed in terror when jaws emerged from the thick and clamped tight around the aircraft. Phergon blasts reflected off of Raurgoth’s silver-plated belly uselessly. More and more fighters entered the cloud only to be struck down by the dragon’s flailing paws.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 29

Events of Fight Alone

Raurgoth closed both eyes and his mighty chest rose and fell with each breath as he settled in for a comfortable nap atop the deck of the captured ship. Ryo, Rowen, and Naz blinked dumbly. They didn’t so much as glance at Anubis as he sauntered over, holding his helmet in his right hand with two fingers lazily. He placed left hand on his hip and cocked his head to one side. “You know…the old myths of dragons hoarding treasure have their roots in fact. Precious metals tend to be the only bedding dragons can sleep on without it bursting into flame.” “Well…” Ryo made a face and scratched the back of his head. Rowen raised an eyebrow and Naz merely stood there, staring dumbly. “…he is sorta sleeping on treasure.” Raurgoth’s nostrils flared and he yawned briefly, displaying his teeth.
— Fight Alone Ch. 3

Dragon Treasure

The testing of a prototype vehicle designed by Naz Dassyr draws the attention of an otherworldly foe in Ch.3 "Avitor", and Ryo hurriedly summons Raurgoth to save Anubis from being abducted by this strange enemy. He, along with Ryo, Rowen, and the craft still in Raurgoth's paws are drawn into a pocket Realm created by a self-styled superior being.
Raurgoth cares little for the philisophical debate and doesn't appreciate when the false god unleashes his flying drones against him. Their weapons fail to damage his scale armor and at most inconvenience him as he is left drifting in a zero-g environment. He quickly adapts and almost giddily maneuvers his great bulk through the pocket realm, using his momentum to great effect against fleets of ships created by the creature calling itself Avitor. While Ryo and Rowen use their AnimArmor sub-armors to assist, Anubis engages in single combat with the presumptive god and ultimately defeats him. The Ronin move to escape the Realm before the portal closes, but Raurgoth insists on dragging through one of the remaining intact ships. Rowen has to use his powers to keep the ship from crashing onto the ground once back in the Mortal Realm's gravity, and Naz is delighted at the prospect of studying it. However Raurgoth didn't procure the craft out of scientific curiosity or even as a battle trophy: he wanted something big enough to nap on. Thus the Ronin come into possession of the immense vessel, which is later dubbed Sky Platform Argonauth.

Raurgoth makes it clear he prefers to enjoy the fresh air and bright sun in Ch. 4 "Elements of Power", treating the deck of the Argonauth as a bed when not in combat. A holo-shield array set up by Bak's crew keeps both the sky platform and the dragon titan out of sight. In Neo Ronin Ch. 7 "Torrent" he unexpectedly joins an expedition alongside members of Bak's crew and Tanya and the former Warlords to salvage parts for the Argonauth from Avitor's abandoned pocket Realm: not because he wanted to contribute to the effort, but because he didn't want to lose his new favorite sleeping spot. In Fight Alone Ch. 6 "The Myth, The Magic, and The Machine", he is shown retrieving heavy engine blocks from other ships, enjoying flying in the zero-g environment. The expedition make their return in Neo Ronin Ch. 8 "Junior Juvenile Delinquent Society" and Raurgoth happily resumes his favorite sleeping spot on the deck of the refitted Argonauth. He is briefly seen in Neo Ronin Ch. 9 "Teamwork" rousing from his nap and idly observing members of the newly-assembled team.

RaurSnoozeSketchb.jpg

Dragons Sleep on Treasure (Sketch) by Mardrena

Refined Ink Pen Sketch

“Man, this is some gorgeous countryside out here,” Crystal commented as they proceeded through the woods up the slope. “Yeah. It’s pretty nice n’ quiet. I bet nothing crazy goes on here like it does in the city…” Davie remarked. The four children passed a large rocky ridge encrusted with trees and shrubbery. Raurgoth lifted his head out of the illusion field and peered down at the four children who walked past the cloaked Argonauth. He watched them leave then snorted and sank back below the illusion field to resume his nap.
— Neo Ronin Ch. 9

RaurgothDeathb.jpg

Raurgoth's Fate (Scene from Fight Alone Ch. 9) by Mardrena

Made with BlackInk

Echoes of Entide

Reeling from the aftermath of the torment he endured because of Mal Daggur, Sage seeks seclusion in the forest to clear his thoughts and slips into a feverish state in Ch. 9 "Knife Through Nerves", his mind drifting through multiple visions including a bizarre scene where an armor-clad Raurgoth battles a shadowy titan wearing black armor, and a glimpse of what can only be the End Tide. In this potential future, Raurgoth engages enemy forces with fellow titans Vaughisdrough and Dragon Master at his side only to be pierced through the heart by a city-ship's capital weapon. The Inferno Incarnation manages to land on the ground before screaming one last time as his body turns to stone. It seems his life force is tied to that of the other Incarnations as they are similarly petrified.

Vaugh and the lung managed to bank and avoid it, but Raurgoth’s reflective silver-clad belly did not protect him, and the beam penetrated his chest, punching through his heart. He hovered in the air, suspended briefly before sagging down towards the ground. His jaw hung open in shock and he pawed at the air helplessly as he fell. He landed on his hind feet and stood there, neck hanging limp and wings drooping at his sides. With an ear-splitting final scream, he threw back his head and spread his wings wide. His body turned to stone abruptly.
— Fight Alone Ch. 9

Last Dance

Raurgoth is killed in the End Tide, but because the Totalitary expended energy targeting him and the Argonauth, they are caught off-guard by the arrival of reinforcements from the Three Allies. In Generation Nexxus, Ryu mentions that Vaughisdrough has taken Raurgoth's place as Inferno Dragon Incarnation since the Continental Armors being worked on by Eyurodin have not had their corresponding Infernos completed.

Events of Cataclysm War

Ryo fails to stop Dynasty fanatic Patrov from detonating his Nether-empowered device, setting the Cataclysm into motion in Ch. 2 "Fire From Below". The Inferno AnimArmor protects him from the blast at ground zero and he quickly dispatches Raurgoth to assist in any capacity possible. The White Dragon materializes not far from Cye's position and the Warrior of Water enlists his aid with evacuating civilian children as the city starts collapsing from the inside out. The group barely manage to escape the leading edge, but not without suffering a couple tragic casualties. Having done what he could, Raurgoth answers Ryo's summons once again as he attempts to save Sage from falling into flame. At the end of the day, despite the monumental undertaking, hundreds of fatalities are reported among the civilian populace, Toyama is left a smoldering, smoking ruin, and Sage of Halo is recorded as KIA.

The children staggered back, afraid initially. Raurgoth laid his neck against the pavement and tilted his head sideways slightly, glancing at the children invitingly. “Hey kids, how would you like to ride a real live dragon?” Cye asked and smiled, walking towards Raurgoth. One of the bolder kids followed and gazed upon the magnificent wyrm. He marveled at the silvery lower scales and the way Raurgoth’s chest rose and his nostrils flared with each breath.
— Cataclysm War Ch. 2

Raurgoth spread his wings majestically, the silvery ribbed membrane shining brilliantly as he swept the wings backward. The wing muscles creaked loudly and the air snapped and howled as the dragon flapped his wings, sending hurricane-force gusts against the beast army. Any birds in the path had their wings snapped in half or torn off completely, and beasts on the ground tumbled down the street. Raurgoth opened his maw wide and the air around his teeth rippled. He pitched forward and the air popped with the sound of exploding gas as fire erupted from his gullet and spilled into the streets with such potency that it tore the flesh right off of any beasts caught in the torrent, their skeletons flailing and thrashing in agony. “YEAH RAURGOTH!! Lay the stomp down on those guys!!” Kento cheered enthusiastically and pumped his fist as Raurgoth expelled more gas and trudged forward step by step.
— Cataclysm War Ch. 3

RaurgothLayTheStompDownb.jpg

Laying the Stomp Down (Scene from Cataclysm War Ch. 3) by Mardrena

Made with BlackInk

The Ronin and their allies have no chance for respite as the Dynasty attempts to capitalize on the disaster in Ch. 3 "Enter Beastlord". Instead of reaping the fruits of his destructive plot, Talpa can only watch as a newly-arrived foe completely annihilates his vast army. The leader of this unknown third party proudly declares himself an enemy, ordering one of his generals to attack the Ronin. With the city in ruins and civilians having long since fled, Raurgoth is completely free from any restrictions and unleashes his unfettered wrath upon the enemy hordes.

The Ronin underestimate the insidious power of their new foe, and Raurgoth is trapped by Beastlord's strange power. The brazen horde of beasts set upon the dragon in a mad frenzy, attempting to cut off his head and managing to crack the scale armor and cut the soft flesh below. Unexpected intervention from the newly-arrived Warrior of Light frees Raurgoth, and he wastes no time retaliating against the murderous beasts. He coordinates with Ryo, who uses the Armor of Inferno to drive the Menagerie from the battlefield. However, the combined wrath of the Inferno Incarnation and the Armor of Inferno at most put a tiny dent in Beastlord's vast army. Victory eludes them that day and the Ronin and their allies must recover from their losses, but not before Raurgoth enjoys a brief snack...

Raurgoth leaned down and reached out with his tongue, plucking a charred body from the ground and pulling it inside his mouth. He chewed noisily and sought out more meals. “Just the way he likes ‘em; Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside I suppose,” Cye commented and scratched the back of his head.
— Cataclysm War Ch. 3

The White Dragon is seen the next day in Ch. 4 "The Gargoyle", enjoying a nice fresh meal from the lake, his wound fitted with a custom-made elastic bandage provided by Bak's crew. He does not get to enjoy his feasting long as he senses Ryo suffering a serious wound from one of Beastlord's minions and immediately departs in energy form to form the Inferno AnimArmor around Ryo. With Ryo drifting in and out of consciousness, Raurgoth takes over flying himself and Ryo manages to limp back to the Roost on "auto-pilot", arriving in the nick of time to receive medical treatment.

Raurgoth yanked his head out from below the surface, sending water showering in all directions. He bellowed shrilly and rose onto his hind legs, fanning his wings at full stretch. Cye glanced up from where he sat on the edge of the dock with his elbow on his knee and his knuckles against his cheek. Raurgoth dissolved into a surge of white light that shot of into the distance in the direction of the city. “Oh yeah? Well good riddance! Bloody glutton...” Cye grumbled.
— Cataclysm War Ch. 4

When Dais is unexpectedly abducted by his biological mother in Ch. 6 "Phantoms of the Past", Rowen makes haste alongside the Inferno Incarnation to intercept Captain Caroline Wendell's ship Blue Isis but are thwarted when the cruiser executes a jump burst, narrowly escaping the dragon titan's wrath.

“Captain...those turrets are not armed...” T’Brandon stated as he read ship scans. “I knew it...the little shit’s bluffing,” Caroline sneered. “That’s not a bluff! We’ve got incoming starboard side! Is...is that a titanodracoasaur?” Huonohunolon exclaimed. Two shapes arrowed up through the clouds, one small, the other very large. Raurgoth beat his wings and bellowed a challenge as he approached the Blue Isis. Rowen flew beside him using Eagle AnimArmor.
— Cataclysm War Ch. 6

The Ronin and their allies spend some time planning a surefire strategy to dislodge the hostile Menagerie from the Pit, leaving the Incarnation with aught to do but rest and wait.

Assault on the Pit

Showing a remarkable level of restraint in the multi-pronged attack, the White Dragon abstains from unleashing his dragon fire and instead makes creative use of an undamaged gas pipeline, turning it into a flamethrower to spook the invading beasts into a stampede. While Beastlord and his forces evacuate through the dimensional rifts, Raurgoth stands guard by a single one, blocking it with his tail until Ryo and the other Ronin Warriors are ready to slip through the intact rift. The Inferno Incarnation stays behind to make sure not a single stray beast remains in the Mortal Realm. The Ronin Warriors return triumphant and participate in a rare celestial celebration hosted on Planet Thanged, but Raurgoth does not concern himself with such formalities.

Events of Spacequake

The Ronin scramble to evacuate their close allies and loved ones into the Nether Realm as an unfathomable force barrels towards Planet Earth in Ch. 1 "Spacequake". Ryo recalls Raurgoth into the insignia ring and bequeaths it to Mia, advising her not to summon him unless it's an emergency since he'd "eat like it's going out of style". Alot of events unfold in the following days, but Raurgoth cares little for otherworldly gods or new allies. He is next seen in Ch. 10 "Confluence" up to his sea-food stealing shenanigans. An alien-possessed Cye uses his strength to apparently permanently break Raurgoth's habit of gorging in the lake. Whether Cye acted on his own or the alien acted on his behalf is unclear, but Raurgoth seemed genuinely terrified of the hybridized Ronin Warrior. He participates in an ambush alongside the Northern Garrison when Mal Daggur appears to send a guarded convoy of troopships into the remote mountain forests in Ch. 15 "Twist the Daggur Slowly". While he and Thanged's Ranks succeed in downing the troopships and driving off the fighter squadrons, they learn too late that the whole convoy was part of an elaborate scheme to separate the Ronin from any nearby support and abduct them.

Spoiler Warning: Planned Content!

Three Wars

Raurgoth joins the attack against the Baltokor vessel positioned over Toyama, using a rolling dive to plow through the city-sized ship in the War of Rage. While the Ronin go after the mothership lurking in Africa, Raurgoth joins the Northern Garrison and Neo Ronin aboard the Argonauth in hunting down ships across the globe. The Inferno Incarnation ferries the Ronin to Talpa's fortress to put a decisive end to the Dark Lord of the Dynasty. Talpa channels the Dark Power to regain his titanic size but Raurgoth ultimately overwhelms him and apparently destroys him, freeing the soul fragments Dygra had stolen from the guys to tether Talpa to his physical form. Kaosu vanishes since he only maintained corporeal form because of Talpa's existence and bids the Ronin a fond farewell as his spirit is restored to the Afterworld. The Ronin learn their fight against the Dynasty Emperor is not yet over, as Talpa has one final trump card to play. In ages past, the Dark Warlords captured Graunin, the Shadow of Spain, and Badamon placed him in magical slumber. Talpa's spirit possesses the dark dragon titan, a facsimile of his Armor of Darkness manifesting over Graunin's body. Ryo's new Spectronin Armor allows him to link minds with Raurgoth and loans use of the Spectra Inferno Armor to the Incarnation. The two dragons engage in battle in the sky above the city, evenly matched at first until Raurgoth unleashes the full power of the upgraded Inferno Armor and incinerates Talpa-body and soul-from the Mortal Realm. Dynasty loyalists such as the sorceress Ashgzra and cursed lieutenant Bronze King linger to trouble the Ronin, but Talpa himself is killed once and for all in the finale of the War of Wrath. General Toshido unleashes what is later discovered to be a biological weapon against Kento and Raurgoth, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities between the Ronin Warriors and the military during the War of Woe. Ryo is off-Realm seeking information from Lord Sabrestryke in the Afterworld, leaving Rowen in charge of the team. When Rowen learns the weapon was derived from fungi native to Planet Thunthen, he orders the Neo Ronin to lay waste to the research facility in a fit of rage. Tar Uhnin, Charles O'Connor, and Trakar work together to distill and administer a cure it before it's too late.

War of Woe

"Rowen!! Raurgoth just crash-landed outside!!" Shannon shouted as she leaned into the room. "What??" Rowen whirled away from the unresponsive Kento sharply. The two took off running through the exit tunnel. They didn't have to run far nor did Rowen have to use his sky board as they came across the White Dragon sprawled limply across the land between the estate and the lake. He apparently attempted to land on the Argonauth but lost control and now lay on his belly with his wings unfurled at his sides, a huge trench extending out behind him from where he landed. His eyes had closed and his upper jaw rest crookedly over the lower, his tongue lolling out through the scaled lips. Shannon had to stand up on her tiptoes to reach and pressed her palms against Raurgoth's lower eyelid on his left side, trying to pull it down slightly. Rowen carefully pressed his palms against the upper eyelid and gently pushed it up, shocked to see the large dilated pupils and inflamed capillaries. Shannon stepped away and walked further down his head towards his neck. She had to wriggle her fingers under the edge but managed to push her hand under one of the white scales and lift it up just enough to glimpse the skin underneath. Instead of pale pink it looked angry and riddled with inflamed capillaries. "...these are the exact same symptoms as Kento..." Shannon muttered and stepped away, eyes wide in horror. Raurgoth's breath rattled out of his throat as he lacked the strength to even move. "My God...what did they do to them?" "Miss?" Shannon and Rowen glanced behind them sharply, startled to hear the voice of a child. A half-dozen children had gathered a few feet away, some of them clad in summer clothes or swimwear. Likely residents of nearby communities who had watched Raurgoth fish and bathe in the lake over the years. "Is he going to be okay?" a young boy asked. Shannon didn't know how to respond and exchanged glances with Rowen. "We don't know...he's sick...really sick...his body can't cool itself," Shannon stammered. Rowen's face lit up and he snapped his fingers. "Hey kids! I just thought of a way you can help him! Gather all your friends, as many as are willing to help! Make a fire line all the way to the lake and bring water to him. Splash it anywhere! His face, his body, as much as you can to help him stay hydrated! Can you do that?" The children nodded energetically. "Good! Hop to it!" The children scampered off to fetch any container they could be it sand pails or watering cans. Meanwhile Shannon ran her hands over Raurgoth's silver-scaled throat. "I just hope it'll be enough to buy them some time...Ryo...come back soon..."

War of Woe

"Tar can take care of Kento, but I'll need help getting this out to Raurgoth," Charles hefted the spray tank off the table and turned around, expecting Trakar to offer to carry it. Instead, the Reptilloid had turned sideways and hunkered low to the floor. "Climb on," Trakar simply said. Charles raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. "I thought your people didn't like being used as mounts," he quipped and carefully straddled him, setting the tank on his lap and bracing it against the rearmost of Trakar's back spines. "We don't. For this once, I will suffer it," Trakar replied and waited for Charles to grab ahold of the two large foremost back spines before standing up and rushing out of the chamber with the bizarre kangaroo-hop his kind used. The even movement kept the tank from jolting out of place and Charles squinted his eyes against the rushing air as they made their way through the forest and to the ailing Incarnation. The children tending to him backed away to give them room as Trakar came to a stop by Raurgoth's head. "I'll need to get this down his throat as much as possible..." Charles hopped off and shook loose the nozzle and hose as he carried the can over to Raurgoth's cheek. Much to his surprise, Raurgoth's mouth started to open and Charles looked to the side, amazed to see Trakar holding the dragon titan's upper jaw with ease. Charles ducked down and carefully stuck the nozzle down Raurgoth's throat before throwing his entire shoulder into working the pump as quickly as possible. Raurgoth had yet to respond, not so much as even gagging with the nozzle running over his tongue. "C'moooon..." Charles growled as he continued pumping. The antidote would take time to work, but they were quickly running out of time. The children stood by and watched anxiously. Raurgoth let out a gurgling growl and rolled his head to the other side slowly. Charles hurriedly pulled back his arm but left the hose inside and kept raising the pump. The dragon let out another croak of protest before coughing abruptly, forcing Trakar to release his upper jaw and Charles to scoot back. The tank tipped over and the children scurried away to a safe distance as the dragon coughed several more times, slowly lifting his head and pulling his forepaws under his belly. The children cheered joyfully and Charles raised his arm, wanting to exchange a high five with Trakar, but had to settle for giving him a hearty pat on the shoulder instead. Everyone watched baffled as Raurgoth clambered over the ground towards the lake before dipping his muzzle into the cool water. His throat undulated as he drank and drank seemingly without end. The water level actually started to recede ever so slightly. "He appears to be recovering from severe dehydration as a result of the bio-agent..." Trakar intoned. "I'll say..." Charles grimaced.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Killed Demon Warrior Cerberus
Ate Demon Warrior Dair
Helped break the energy shield holding the Ronin captive
Ate High General Kavan
Helped Vaugh destroy Teirhan's army
Helped Azuro with a personal request (Ate Rothenn's body)
Caused significant structural damage to Talpa's flying fortress
Sent the Mutant Warlords blasting off (for good it seems)
Saved Rowen from a fatal fall
Downed an entire D-class squadron
Ate an Obsidian Guard
Captured a troopship
Downed nearly an entire troopship convoy and ate a Nobeyl
Defended the bridge from the Ramahatesguad
Procured Sky Platform Argonauth (as a bed)
Saved Mia's life
Helped Cye evacuate civilians
Ate Avar General Kysir
Incinerated large numbers of the Menagerie
Saved Ryo from a serious injury
Participated in the Assault on the Pit
Honored on Thanged in a performance
Engaged a Thunthen forces alongside the Northern Garrison

Failures & Embarrassments

Pancaked a newly-constructed luxury high rise
Caused significant structural damage to part of the city with dragon fire
Caused significant structural damage to a skyscraper
Got the stuffing beat out of him by Kento
Got disabled and nearly decapitated by the Menagerie
Missed catching the Blue Isis by seconds
Got scolded by Cyebrid

Mental Trauma

Raurgoth originally despised Humans for the murder of his parents. Kaosu spent many days and nights debating with him and extolling the inherent virtues of the Human spirit. He even theorized the same shadowy agent responsible for scattering the Mystic Alliance orchestrated the deaths of Ruhuian and Aurigoth. Having realized the truth, Raurgoth channels all of his intense rage into fighting evil with all the fury afforded one of his kind.

Intellectual Characteristics

Despite never speaking, not even via telepathic broadcast, Raurgoth possesses a human-like intelligence unlike the other Incarnations. He can act on initiative without any express commands from Ryo and make use of his surroundings in battle, such as using his fire to create steam or fishing out a subterranean gas line to use as a weapon. He even manages to navigate a zero-g environment by directing his momentum. He can understand Human speech perfectly and Ryo can understand him to a degree. Because he is still a living creature, as well as a dragon, this results in him being far more independently-minded than any other animal companion.

Morality & Philosophy

Live long, smash bad guys: that is the gist of the directive established by Kaosu. As long as he protects the Mortal Realm, obeys the wearer of the Inferno AnimArmor, and safeguards Humanity, Raurgoth is free to unleash his full draconic might against whatever threat presents itself.

Taboos

People often make the mistake of assuming Raurgoth is a dumb beast because he never speaks. He is quick to correct their errors and remind opponents that he is still a dragon.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Originally wishing for simple solitude, Raurgoth has decided to dedicate his might to protecting the Mortal Realm and serving the bearer of the Inferno Dragon AnimArmor. Simply smashing his foes can prove satisfying enough, but fighting a truly wicked, evil foe gives him joy, and should something prove a dire threat, he will attack with a terrible awesome rage evoking the legends of old.

The beast hovering near the north side shuddered when Raurgoth brought down the elbow spike on his left arm, impaling it through its head. The body disintegrated into bluish goo that promptly evaporated before it hit the ground. Raurgoth whirled around and brought his thick tail down with such force to completely decapitate the beast on the west side. Raurgoth? Impossible! I thought he went with the others into Avitor’s Realm! Sage stared in disbelief. Somehow, Ryo’s will proved strong enough to draw the Inferno Dragon back into the pocket realm in which he normally resided, and from which he emerged into the here and now. Raurgoth lunged at the beast looming near the south wall and clamped his jaws around its neck tightly. He tossed his head from side to side, lips peeled back far enough to expose the killing fangs. Sage could see skin bunching up near the dragon’s maw from the strain. The dragon released the lifeless body then turned his wrath against the east side’s attacker. The spell devourer remained undeterred and the energy crackling in its maw intensified. Raurgoth lunged shrieking at the spell devourer and seized its maw with both hands, prying in opposite directions. Sage gasped in shock as Raurgoth literally tore the beast in half. He’d never seen Raurgoth attack so savagely before. With all four beasts destroyed, Raurgoth craned his head to the side and let out a bellowing shriek powerful enough to rattle every window in the vicinity. Sage felt relieved initially and glanced to the side. He blinked when he saw the expression on Ryo’s face. The Ronin Leader’s brow furrowed angrily and his lips pulled tight over his gums, teeth bared. He looked as if he wanted to tear the spell-devourers apart with his own bare hands. Somehow, the thought of the creatures harming not only his wife but his unborn child caused his rage to echo into Raurgoth.
— Fight Alone Ch. 5

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Raurgoth will not ignore a request for aid and has never expressly ignored Ryo's commands, but sometimes dragon solutions to problems end up causing more collateral damage than human solutions...

Raurgoth, however, rebounded off the shield spectacularly. The dazed dragon flailed through the air and crashed back-first into a recently completed luxury hotel. The entire building cracked in two and the halves sagged to either side, destroying an adjacent shopping center and theatre with them. The ten Ronin watched aghast as debris rained in all directions. The air glittered with countless glass shards and the Inferno Dragon became lost amid the ruin. “Wasn’t that the new place that was scheduled to open next week?” the pilot commented as he paused in his diagnostics of the helicopter upon hearing the stupendous impact. “Please tell me you got that…” the reporter whispered, watching the dust settle. “Yup,” the cameraman chirped and focused the lens on the devastation. “I’m not seeing this…” Ryo had landed on the edge of the roof and clamped both hands over his face. Sehkmet stood close to him and raised an eyebrow. He reached over with one hand and pulled Ryo’s left away from his face. Ryo yanked his wrist away and covered his face again. Sehkmet reached out and grabbed both Ryo’s wrists and pulled his hands away, but Ryo wrenched free and buried his face in his palms once more. Sehkmet reached out for the Ronin Leader’s left wrist again, but Ryo quickly swatted him before returning to his shame.
— Foes From Another World Ch 5

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

Smashing bad guys
Eating bad guys
Sunning on Argonauth's deck
Eating LOTS and lots of fish
Mud baths
Flying
Fighting

Dislikes

Being insulted
Being scolded
Interruptions to nap time
Interruptions to meal time
Being cooped up in the ring
Holding back in battle
Getting beaten up

Virtues & Personality perks

Due to his intelligence, Raurgoth often takes initiative to act to protect civilian bystanders such as catching a news crews' helicopter in danger of crashing or attempting to move a battle out of a densely populated area.

Just when it seemed they would hit the side of a building, the helicopter jerked to a halt, nearly throwing the crew out if not for their safety harnesses. The reporter looked outside and blinked, surprised to see the door blocked by a strange white material. At first glance it looked like a cross between canvas and leather. She scooted towards the door and reached out gingerly, setting her palm against it. It felt warm. The surface twitched suddenly and the reporter staggered back into her seat and watched in awe as it seemed a thick white pillar moved away. The crew could only sit and wait as they moved through the air, heading towards an open rooftop slowly. The helicopter rocked as the pillars peeled back and scooted out from under the landing struts. The reporter hurriedly unbuckled her harness and clambered towards the door and slipped out. She set her feet on the rooftop and stepped away from the craft, awestruck by the immense white-scaled, winged creature that stood in the street, towering above most buildings.
— Foes From Another World Ch. 5

Vices & Personality flaws

Because there are few places he can go in Japan without drawing a lot of attention, Raurgoth has-much to Cye's chagrin-gotten into the habit of dredging fish out of the nearby lake. He will dip his entire head under the water and hold his jaws open while moving his head back and forth and catching as many in his mouth before swallowing the entire catch. On more than one occasion Cye's been forced to watch helplessly as little fish heads and tails poke out of the interlocked teeth, flapping about as Raurgoth gleefully ignores his demands to drop the load. Ryo has teased that Raurgoth might decide to snack on a certain fussy Ronin Warrior without a ready supply of meat. If Raurgoth were to lose access to the lake, he would have to find his catch elsewhere...

Spoiler Warning: Planned Content!

God Wars

Kento could hear chatter over the open channel as he wove his way through shattered thoroughfares and abandoned structures. Sage:: "I've got a group of rescues inbound, but I've got hostiles blocking the way back!" Tuv:: "Illiad here! Covering fire incoming! Painting the target!" Kento looked over his shoulder and saw a row of lights appear down a debris-clogged street. Illiad's great barrels swung forward and dozens of balls of white hot light sprayed forth, clearing the pathway. Even from so far away, he could see Sage leading a group of bedraggled Females. Behind them swarmed hostile Males in hot pursuit. Raurgoth trudged forward and waited until Sage reached the safety of the Argonauth before lashing up with his tail and bringing it crashing down onto the path, flattening the feral Geods. More attempted to swarm in and he flooded the path with fire, Roth's protective dome giving him all the oxygen he needed. Witheren:: "Wildfire! I like that dragon of yours! How much do you want for him?" Ryo:: "He's not a pet to be sold!!" Witheren:: "Oh come now! A beast of his size, feeding must be an issue for you. All of Kundain could be his hunting ground..." No response. "Well?" Ryo:: "I'm thinking..."

Personality Quirks

For a seemingly cold-blooded colossal reptile, Raurgoth can be quite expressive and responds very poorly to being talked down to. He does not speak in any Human tongue, but whether he is unable to or simply chooses not to remains unknown.

“You know, I wonder how come Raurgoth never talks,” Kento spoke up suddenly. “In most fantasy lore dragons are super smart and can talk, but we never hear anything from him even though Vaugh can talk.” Kento said to those seated behind him. The White Dragon paused and turned his head to one side, glancing out the corner of his eyes. “Is it because he’s not old enough to talk or is he just not smart?” The other Ronin looked annoyed but then cringed in terror at something. “You’d think if he and Vaugh are the same type he could do it…”

RaurpissedSketchb.jpg

Smart Enough to Know... (Sketch) by Mardrena

Refined Ink Sketch

Kento paused when he sensed something and looked forward. He saw his reflection in a shining white surface and for some reason thought of a refrigerator. Then his gaze moved up and he saw the absolutely most ticked off golden eyes staring out from under a thick white brow. Ryo and Sage, who sat infront of Kento, had to duck down almost flattening themselves against Raurgoth’s back as only inches separated their heads from the dragon’s lower jaw. “He’s smart enough to know when someone’s talking shit about him,” Ryo said. “…Oh! That! Pfft, don’t pay any mind to me. That’s just me shooting off my mouth,” Kento said and waved a hand. Raurgoth continued to stare down at him for several moments. *PFFFAFFFT!* Raurgoth expelled a mixture of soot and snot from his nostrils. Ryo and Sage couldn’t help but chuckle while the others shouted and groaned in protest. “….I deserved that…” Kento blinked several times and tried wiping his face. “What about the rest of us?!” Rowen yelled. Cye, who sat directly behind Kento, bopped his friend on the helmet.
— Foes From Another Realm Ch. 9

Hygiene

Because dirt and dust stands out quite alot on a white hide, Raurgoth will periodically fully-immerse himself in a large body of water, be it a lake or bay. He will use handfuls of silt or sand to scrub out the small gaps between his scales and rub his back and spines against mud before finishing it all with a nice solid rinse.

Raurgoth submerged himself up to the base of his neck then stood up waist-high in the water, sending waves of tidal-proportions in all directions. Birds squawked in protest as the waves all-but flung them out of the lake. The churning didn’t stop especially when the White Dragon shook his wings and shrugged his shoulders. He rolled backwards slightly and sagged down then shoved upward, rubbing his spines into the soil hard enough to alter the shoreline. On one of the piers close to the bathing dragon stood a white-armored figure. Long swatches of fabric hung from his arms, which were folded over his chest. He reached up and placed two fingertips against his eyebrows and shook his head. “Allright, Raurgoth? The only reason I agreed to let you do this was that you promised you wouldn’t make a scene, and…you’re making a scene.” Raurgoth continued blissfully scrubbing his back. “That does it, back you go-AACK!” Ryo recoiled as he found himself staring at his blurred reflection in Raurgoth’s nose plate. Water dripped from the exposed killing fangs. Steam drifted through his teeth. “OKAY OKAY! I’ll let you finish!!” Raurgoth withdrew and returned to his bath. “Dragons…” Ryo muttered and shook his head again. Raurgoth reached deep below the surface of the lake and bobbed back up, holding a fistful of lakebed silt in his talons. He stood up again and began smearing the mud all over his armpits, thoroughly coating his white hide before submerging again to rinse. “At least tigers can fit in the tub…”
— Foes From Another World Ch. 6

Representation & Legacy

The temple housing the AnimArmors features carvings of the current Incarnations along with Raurgoth looming above them, striding into battle. When twisted to the side, the filigree forming the Lion AnimArmor insignia ring will turn into that of a dragon looking over its wing. The enchanted metal plate covering Raurgoth while he slumbered displayed the same design. Master Playwright Khanphe used his artistic flair and impressive financial resources to fashion a life-sized animatronic puppet of the White Dragon, featured in his latest llaudaun "The Emperor and the Dragon" where Raurgoth is shown challenging Talpa, or "Ouagli the Demon-King" as the Thangiens call him. Despite all the pomp and circumstance the Thangiens afford him, Raurgoth has yet to actually set foot on Thanged.

Inferno Dragon Insignia by Mardrena

IncarnationsCarving2b.jpg

Incarnations Engraving by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape and BlackInk

Social

Contacts & Relations

Ryo of the Wildfire

Loyal. Ryo himself acknowledges Raurgoth's independent mentality that he is less of a servant or pet and more like a moody cat. Raurgoth might chafe at orders but ultimately obeys commands-assuming he hears them. Because Raurgoth spent centuries in magical stasis, he takes every opportunity to enjoy his freedom and lets Ryo know it. In the rare occasions a battle goes poorly for the dragon titan, Ryo quickly recalls him into the insignia ring to recuperate. While they do not quite have a telepathic bond, Ryo is able to understand Raurgoth's draconic vocalizations. He can sense when Ryo is in mortal danger and has acted on initiative to protect him a number of times. Even though he generally avoids collateral damage, situations can sometimes get out of hand, embarrassing Ryo immensely. His excessive eating habits can be irritating, but Ryo grants him the few luxuries he craves.

Inferno Dragon Sub-Armor by Mardrena

RaurgothvsCerberusc.jpg

Dynasty Goons for Breakfast (Scene from Aftermath Ch. 10) by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape and BlackInk

The Dragon sub-armor displays Raurgoth's visage with his brow forming the chest plate and horns jutting above the shoulders. The wings run along the arm connecting from the back to the forearm with the pincer claws mounted on the back of the wrist. The tail is not featured in the sub-armor. In full Armor, Raurgoth's head forms the helmet and visor and the wings stretch from the back and shoulders. Raurgoth's claws and talons form the gauntlets and boots and the tail extends out from the back of the waist plate. Raurgoth's head is also depicted forming the base of the Inferno AnimArmor's Dragon Lance weapon.

Spoiler Warning: Planned Content!

Ronin WarriorSpectra

Kaosu paused and frowned, peering at one of the side screens showing an overhead view of the parked Argonauth. Raurgoth, the White Dragon, lay sprawled across the deck as he often tended to do. The Incarnation's face looked relaxed and peaceful, not at all distressed or grieving. "Captain..." Bak paused when addressed. "Do you not find it unusual that Raurgoth does not seem the least bit upset at what has transpired?" Bak raised an eyebrow and looked at the screen, seeing the dragon titan peacefully asleep. "I am to understand he is not like the other beasts. He is a living creature, is he not? Perhaps he does not respond as they do." "He has answered Ryo's summons in the past, no matter the situation or distance..." Kaosu countered, recalling how Raurgoth rushed to aid Ryo when the Ronin Leader was grievously injured. "If the other beasts could not assist their masters, perhaps the distance was too great, even for them. In any case, it does not change the fact that the Ronin are dead, and we are left to deal with the repercussions of their loss," the Thunthen captain replied grimly and turned to exit the room. Kaosu lingered by the console, watching the live camera feed. Raurgoth stretched and yawned briefly before shaking his head and shifting position. Ryo and the younger Ronin had been wearing their insignia rings at the time of their capture. If they had met their end as Bak's informant claimed, the rings would have been destroyed along with them. The spells used in their creation linked their spirits to that of Raurgoth. Should that link be severed, he would have noticed it. Not only that, the loss of the Lion ring would have freed Raurgoth from his obligations...and yet he remained. Kaosu wrinkled his brow: he could simply ask, but the White Dragon was notoriously difficult to engage in conversation, even back then. Only Ryo seemed to have developed a true bond. Either Raurgoth knew something the rest of them did not, or he simply remained unbothered by his master's apparent death.

Kaosu the Ancient One

Cordial. Ruinhuriangoth was but a hatchling when his parents were run to ground, but by the time the Ancient travelled to meet him he had matured into a proper majestic titan. Initially dismissive of the Human monk, Ruinhuriangoth soon came to understand his entreaties and agreed to become the Inferno Incarnation. Even after being revived in an extremely diminished state, the two have had little chance to exchange words, but Raurgoth abides by Kaosu's pact despite the passage of time.

Ronin Warriors

Cordial. Raurgoth typically only answers to Ryo but will coordinate and cooperate with the others when necessary, such as Rowen when pursuing airborne targets. He's mostly indifferent to the former Warlords, apparently able to sense that they are friends now and not food. He has gotten annoyed with Kento running his mouth behind his back but almost seems to enjoy irritating Cye by dredging the lake for his regular intake of fish.

Vaughisdrough

Friendly. Likely because they came from the same region in Europe, the Norwegian Thunder Wyrm knows him well enough to address him by his proper draconic name. Precisely when and where they crossed paths is unknown, but unlike Raurgoth, Vaugh can easily broadcast his voice in Human tongues, perhaps because he is older or more experienced. As a fellow titan, he is prophesized to join the final battle against the Dread Enemy.

Dragon Master

Neutral. The two have not yet been shown interacting, but the ancient lung knows of Ruinhuriangoth, either from meeting him in the past or simply because the lung makes it his business to know everything and anything. Since he is far older, it is possible he came across a young dragon and extended an invitation to depart the Mortal Realm in favor of the sanctuary of Thorolk. In any case, Raurgoth threw his lot in with Kaosu, and Dragon Master took up residence off-Realm. He is prophesized to fight alongside Raurgoth and Vaughisdrough in the final battle.

Mortal Allies

Cordial. Raurgoth takes great pains to avoid causing any casualties to mortal bystanders, such as when frightening civilians off the bridge to get them out of combat or nudging Shannon and Kayura out of harms way.

Thangien Allies

Respectful. Regarded as a legendary beast on par with popular myths in their culture. He has fought alongside the Ranks of the Northern Garrison on occasion.

Thunthen Allies

Cordial. The dragon-men give the dragon titan a respectable distance. Though they seldom work alongside each other, Thunthen technology has benefited Raurgoth such as when recovering from injuries sustained from the Menagerie.

The Dynasty

Extremely Hostile. Raurgoth's favorite targets to smash, not so fun eating due to the scarcity of meat. If able to, he would happily tear Talpa's fortress to shreds.

Mal Daggur's Forces

Extremely Hostile. Perhaps his favorite snack as of late, Raurgoth views every D-class fighter and troopship as a potential meal. Ryo actively tries to discourage him from eating Nobeyls too much since "the spikes don't come out the right way".

Beastlord's Forces

Extremely Hostile. With the city a smoldering ruin, Raurgoth could fully and freely devour his foes without fear of collateral damage and gleefully went after a multitude of enemy beasts. But for the sheer staggering numbers of the Menagerie and their wily leader's mysterious powers, he would have readily hunted to his heart's content.

Family Ties

Ruhuian

Dam-Deceased. Little is known of her save she had a petite snout and short curved bifurcated horns.

Aurigoth

Sire-Deceased. Ancient sketches depict a very lean face with a long, sharp snout and a single spike crest.

Speech

Dragon titans are not known for being subtle-Dragon Master being the exception. When Raurgoth enters the fray, he makes sure everyone knows it. Vocalizations range from gurgling hisses to shrieking bellows that would make the biggest monsters of the silver screen shudder in fear. That's a Tie-rah-no-sawr-us-wrecks!

Yes he does the Jurassic Park roar, just much, much, much, much, much louder....

RaurgothRisingb.jpg

Awaken, Raurgoth! (Scene from Aftermath Ch. 10) by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape and BlackInk

The being finished stretching its body and shook itself from side to side, shrugging off several hundreds of pounds of dirt that had accumulated around the row of white fin-shaped spines running from the head just behind its horns down its neck and back and along the tail, most of which remained hidden in the hole it had emerged from. It opened and closed its jaws and ran a thin pointed tongue over parched lips. "What the crap is that!?" Cale exclaimed. "That's a dragon! That's a very big dragon!" Dais shouted.
— Aftermath Ch.10

Current Status

Residing in Japan

Age

500+ Earth Years

Children

Current Residence

Deck of the Argonauth

Sex

Male

Eyes

golden-yellow with slit pupils

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

smooth white scales, silvery belly and underside of wings

Height

Colossal

Weight

Immense

For a moment, Raurgoth held Dair with his teeth, the tips just barely poking into the skin. Then the Ronin heard a splattering crack, followed by wet crunching sounds, and Raurgoth tossed his head up and about, like a cat chewing on a stubborn piece of kibble. "I think I'm gonna lose my lunch," Kento clamped a hand over his mouth. "I think I just lost my appetite," Sage grimaced.
— Aftermath Ch. 10

All artwork used is self-made and belongs to me unless otherwise stated, such as kitbashes and commissions. Age of Defiance does not and will not use or feature RW/YST original artwork out of consideration for the OAS creators

Entry for WorldEmber 2024

Answering: "Character"

Visit Mardrena's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage

Comments

Author's Notes

Raurgoth as a character and a concept was inspired by the old cartoon "King Arthur and the Knights of Justice" where Arthur King a.k.a King Arthur could use his magical armor to summon a mighty dragon. His design is loosely based off of several old school D&D artworks including one portraying a cross between a unicorn and a dragon fighting a larger evil dragon clutching birds in its paws. I'm not sure the name of the artist or the creature. His brow is based off of Silvaria from old school D&D. The idea for the AnimArmors originated from both "Knights of Justice" and the old "Metal Mutants" toyline from TMNT.

Please Login in order to comment!