Strakor
(RAW NOTES - POSSIBLE EDITS FORTHCOMING)
By the mid 9th century BM, Dwarden was become unpeopled, with only bold fortresses and castles withstanding the flood of monsters. The dragon Narmarkander had grown to be immensely powerful, and he hated the men of Dwarden, destroying their keeps and stealing all their treasures.
Born into this came Strakor, a poor knight who lost his keep at Kalvanak to a red dragon. Strakor was a holy warrior, devout to Vandadon. Incredibly strong, Strakor adventured throughout many lands, slaying powerful monsters. Wishing to free his poor remaining villagers, he slew the dragon that threatened Kalvanak, and became famous as the only knight who had slain a dragon in living memory.
With a small band of followers, Strakor slew orcs, and he was the first to slay the Duergar of the mountains, who came in the night to steal weapons and food. Strakor traveled to Thousiers, and approached the Elder Throne for help after saving their lost prince, for which the elves gave to him magical elven items, including a great sword and a half-elf wizard named Palenor.
Strakor slew giants in the Nargad, and relieved the gnomes of the mountains, who taught him secrets and lore, and Strakor became friends with the Amethyst dragon, a young one that had survived the destruction of the lake.
Traveling to the West, Strakor slew evil kings and wizards, and became a great hero. He also became a hero of the sea dwarves, and learned the sailing of ships, and adventured beneath the waves. At last he took the girdle of Dwarden from the sea, and was given his bow, and once again the sea dwarves made enchanted arrows and lance with which to slay Narmarkander.
Slaying the great dragon’s lieutenants, the beast eventually came forth into Strakor’s trap, but saw through it and nearly burned the mighty knight to death. Strakor then went on a religious pilgrimage to the great shrines of old, and built a new shrine to Kalantor. The god granted him a magical steed that could fly through the air, along with his followers, and so began a series of terrible battles from mountain to mountain, and from keep to destroyed keep. At last Strakor cornered Narmarkander at Mount Inrendoldren, and with his god-blessed lance slew the dragon at last.
Strakor returned in great glory to Kalvanak, and with his treasures built a great castle there, and many shrines. He still rode forth, destroying great monsters from time to time, accumulating greater treasures still, and building fine temples to the gods, and to Dwarden. He even built ships, founding the city of Elentor, after his wife, and conquered islands off the coast, and founding settlements there after clearing away the monsters.
In 801, at 67 years old, and yet appearing still quite young, Strakor summoned his followers to say his goodbyes, and rode upon a rainbow horse into the sky. Strakor was then a demigod, and was worshiped in his own shrines.
