Draconic Gazette for July 6

Ashenpeak Awakens Amid Ash and Fury

The month of Ashenpeak dawns, shrouding the Isle in drifting clouds of volcanic ash. Across the peaks of Ember Watch and beyond, elder fire dragons stir, roaring their grief and rage into skies darkened by rising smoke plumes.

But nature’s fury pales beside the devastating tragedy that has rocked the Isle to its very core.

Pyraxys the Inferno Slain in Unthinkable Betrayal

A large centaur war party approached the gates of the Dragonlands near Drakaris under a banner of truce. The centaur chieftain presented a mysterious egg to Pyraxys the Inferno as a token of peace.

When Pyraxys accepted the gift, the egg burst apart in a storm of searing magic, revealing a monstrous creature: a half-dragon, half-centaur hybrid that instantly grew to the size of a dragon, wreathed in fiery power.

A brutal battle erupted. The creature turned on Pyraxys with devastating force, aided by rogue magic emanating from the Veil of Ash and Wails. Despite fighting with unmatched fury, Pyraxys fell, his body crashing into the mountainside in a final cascade of molten flame. Most of his Skywardens perished alongside him.

Heroes of Honeywood Turn Against One Another

Adding to the heartbreak, the two factions of the Heroes of Honeywood were present during the chaos. Instead of defending either the dragons or the centaurs, they clashed violently with one another, spells and blades igniting the battlefield.

Witnesses report the heroes screaming accusations of betrayal at each other. Neither side assisted in the fight against the monstrous hybrid.

Notably absent was Ruby, the dragon elf druid, whose presence may have tipped the balance

A Death that Shakes the Isle’s Foundation

The death of a Dragon Council member is no mere loss—it is a world-altering event. Ancient pacts tied to Pyraxys’s essence have begun to unravel. Volcanic tremors pulse across the Isle, geysers of molten rock spewing from unexpected places. Firestorms have struck at random, devouring fields and forests.

Councilor Zarythas the Stormcaller spoke:

“Pyraxys’s flame burned bright enough to hold back old darkness. Now it has gone out, and shadows stir.”

War Council Declares Total Lockdown

In response, the War Council has issued an uncompromising decree:

“From this moment on, there shall be no travel between settlements—by land or by air. Remain within your cities and villages. Any who defy this order shall be executed without question.”

Skywardens and local guards now enforce curfews and patrol town gates. Dragons fly overhead, scanning for breaches of the new laws.

Dragons Hunt the Skies

Multiple sightings report dragons flying over settlements and wilderness, searching relentlessly. Rumors abound:

• Some say they hunt the monstrous hybrid who slew Pyraxys.
• Others whisper that they seek the true traitors behind the centaur’s treachery.
• A few believe they are searching for Ruby, whose absence grows more suspicious by the hour.

The Ashen Voice Returns Triumphant

Amidst the darkness, one bright spark emerges: Annabelle, the Ashen Voice, has made a full recovery from her assassination attempt.

She was seen riding atop a massive silver dragon over Sanctuary, wind tearing her crimson cloak as she cast protective wards over the city. Citizens cheered, though fear still lingers behind every eye.

City & Town Updates — Ashenpeak Edition

Honeywood

• Lanterns of Ember: Despite the lockdown, Honeywood weavers crafted Pyraxian lanterns—woven red reeds lit by flickering charms. They hang from every door, burning day and night in solemn vigil.
• Division Among Neighbors: Citizens remain bitterly split over the Heroes of Honeywood, arguing whether they are traitors or victims of conspiracy. Fights have broken out in markets, forcing the town guard to declare martial law during the evenings.

Darkwood

• Ashenpeak Gathering: Darkwood druids hold silent rituals beneath the Elderroot, scattering ground gemstones into volcanic ash as tribute to Pyraxys. Local animals are reported to sit quietly during the rites, as though mourning.
• Floating Mystwood Debris: The Mystwood trees shed glowing red leaves, which hover in midair before vanishing. Locals avoid the groves, fearing they harbor echoes of Pyraxys’s final scream.

Alaryn Refuge

• Forged Flame Memorials: Artificers produce small Pyraxian flame charms, which flicker with harmless magical fire. Proceeds support families of fallen Skywardens.
• Molten Veins in Stone: Since Pyraxys’s death, fiery veins of molten rock have appeared in the city’s stone streets. Artificers warn they might burst into flames without warning.

Darkaris

• Council of Silence: Darkaris’s Arcane Guild has declared a week of silence, suspending all spell research in honor of Pyraxys. Mages instead paint runes of fire across the city’s towers.
• Ashenpeak Reflection Pools: Citizens gather around shallow pools enchanted to glow like magma, where reflections shimmer as if Pyraxys himself watches over them.

Sanctuary

• Healing Flames Rituals: Clerics conduct nightly Ashenpeak Candle Circles, where citizens pray for Pyraxys’s spirit to find peace and for balance to return.
• Public Debates: Heated discussions rage over whether the centaurs should be hunted down or negotiated with. Sanctuary’s plaza has become a forum for debate and argument, with tensions running dangerously high.

Vaelora

• Sealed Spire: The Spire remains under heavy guard, its gates sealed shut. Citizens gather outside to lay crimson gemstones in honor of Pyraxys, whose death was felt most acutely in Vaelora.
• Draconic Dirges: Bards perform funereal hymns across Vaelora’s squares. Dragons overhead join in with low, mournful roars that echo like distant thunder.

Frosthaven Port

• Sea of Flames Tribute: Fishermen released floating lanterns carved like dragons into the harbor. Waves glowed red under volcanic ash, though several lanterns were shattered by sudden whirlwinds.
• Markets in Mourning: Merchants wrap their stalls in black and red cloth. Even rare goods are hidden away, as traders fear offending dragons by conducting business too openly during mourning.

Ember Watch

• Eternal Flame Kindled: The grand forge has lit an eternal pyre for Pyraxys. Citizens stand in shifts to maintain the flame, tossing in copper, obsidian, and gems as offerings.
• Ashenpeak Arena Memorials: Martial contests have been suspended, replaced by ritual duels of mourning, where warriors strike burning effigies of monstrous foes in Pyraxys’s memory.

Final Word from the Council

As ash continues to fall and tremors ripple through the ground, the Council’s communique ends with a stark proclamation:

“Pyraxys’s flame is gone. Let none mistake our sorrow for weakness. In fire, we endure. In vengeance, we shall rise.”