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‘Blowing our horn for the People of Bereny’

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VAMPIRES BRING DRAGON TERROR TO CROWNHEART

Dateline: 21-06-520

The dragon Alrakedeem claims to have been the victim of a magical attack which has left it diseased, disorientated and filled with uncontrollable rage

Fear and uncertainty has gripped Crownheart after allegations that two vampires have used evil magical powers emanating from the Land of the Dead itself to ensorcell a dragon in an attempt to get it to attack the people of the city.

The Flare Dragon Alrakedeem arrived in the vicinity of Crownheart two months ago. Initially it created much apprehension among the populous, but with assurances from adventuring companions, and the Dwarven Runeforge Guild, that it meant no harm, and was actually assisting in hunting down the remnants of the Helltroops still roaming the ravaged countryside near the city, people became used to the sight of it flying above the city.

“Not only has Alrakedeem escaped its ancient curse of needing to regularly sleep upon a treasure horde, but it actually prefers the company of good folk and adventurers to its traditional evil kin,” adventurer and bard Charles Lane, who has been Alrakedeem's companion for several years, told the Bugle. “He does not talk as much as he used to, but we have always fought for the Citizens of Bereny. A nice dragon!”

However this has all changed in the last few days, as Alrakedeem alleges that it has been the victim of a magical attack which has left it diseased, confused and filled with uncontrollable rage. The perpetrators of this attack are, it claims, two vampires, Thirsty and Nightlock.

Witnesses report seeing the dragon dripping with diseased mucus, flying erratically, and “looking pretty angry” after the alleged attack. It is now some leagues south-west of Crownheart, and associates have told the Bugle that, despite its disorientated state, it has deliberately tried to fly away from the city to avoid the risk that it might attack anyone involuntarily. There are no reports that it has actually attacked anyone.

Technically an attack on a dragon by a vampire is not a crime as both are considered to be monsters under Berenian Law. However because of the threat of collateral damage to the citizens of Crownheart, the Crown is taking the allegations very seriously. The King’s personal secretary, Lord Isander Whiteflame, conducted an interview with the dragon (from a safe distance using a megaphone), and King Dirk has himself intervened to demand that the two vampires explain themselves.

The vampires themselves have withdrawn into the city, and are understood to have privately denied the allegations to the King. Witnesses have told how they present a fearful sight, looking more demonic than human. “They are both wearing armour and carrying longbows, but their skin is covered in occult symbols which ooze some sort of greenish pus, and they seem to glow with an inner fire that looks like it is consuming them - they actually look charred in places and you can see thin wisps of smoke rising from them, and they are both hideously haggard and wasted,” one citizen told the Bugle.

Those who have seen them report that both vampires are displaying guild insignia - Thirsty wears the medallion of a member of BEEF, and Nightlock wears the armband of a member of the Walkers on the Edge. Neither guild has made any public statement to confirm or comment upon the vampires’ membership.

The latest news is that the two vampires have been surrounded by a force of White Tower knights, who have delivered an ultimatum from Duke Ephraim Stryker that they leave the city immediately or be summarily attacked. “We understand and support the King's need for evidence as defined by the Laws of the land and the wise way he chooses to govern. We however do not need such high standards of evidence to draw our conclusions and act,” the ultimatum is quoted as saying.