The keep is the most defensible position in Burden’s Rest, but centuries ago, even so quite a settlement had to be prepared to resist invasion from its rivals. That’s why the children and others incapable of taking up arms were sent there, in hope that the keep’s guards could protect them.

Now they’re in danger.

Whether the enemy intends to slaughter the helpless out of spite as a final act of brutality against Burden’s Rest, or hopes to gain control of the keep and hold it against the townspeople, they cannot be permitted to succeed.

As Felix heads towards the entrance, the huge doors begin to close. The creatures hold the hall, and are trying to bar him out. Felix breaks into a sprint. He had to get inside before they could shut the doors, else the was keep going be lost.

Felix and those of his companions fleetest of foot barge through the gap between the doors, smashing the bestial creatures aside. Felix became breathless, but charges into them for all his worth, fighting to give the others time to enter.

The hall is now secured the foul creatures swiftly killed, Felix then begins to search the keep. He makes it up to the upper floors, but the enemy have entrenched themselves on the staircases. With a curse He switches his weapon to his left hand, so that he could fight his way up the clockwise spiral.

As Felix got closer to the end of the clockwise spiral staircase, he heard the distant shouting of young children. After beheading the last creature he ran towards the shouts he had heard before.

A remarkable scene greets his eyes.

The children and the enfeebled, those sent away from the battle, must have taken spears from their armory. Now they’re holding a doorway, keeping the monsters at bay with a forest of jabbing steel. Their bravery won’t be in vain. Felix runs to help them. With a leap he lands on of the creatures backs and begins hacking away at its neck, ending its life with a slice at the throat.. The rest of the creatures already put down by his companions.

Now that the current danger was over…..

The children began to babble at him with dozens of excited tongues, explaining that the mayor lured the ogre away so they would only have to hold off his minions. Felix instructs most of his companions to escort the children to safety in case any more monsters are still lurking around the keep. Then Felix leads his hand-picked warriors in search of the Ogre.

As Felix moves further up the keep, a savage growl reveals his location. Felix comes out onto the battlements to see the brutish Ogre facing off against Solus Tullian, the mayor of Burden’s Rest.

Mayor Tullian, wounded and gasping meets your gaze as the Ogre swings his club. He smiles, knowing by Felix’s presence that the children were now safe, that the monsters had failed to hold the keep against the townsfolk. Then the club smashes into his side, launching him over the ramparts.

The Ogre gives a rumbling laugh then turns as he hears you approaching.

“Was fun,” he declares, gesturing to the empty space where Solus Tullian plunged to his doom.

“Do it again, To you”

Felix yelled in fury, the smile of the doomed but brave mayer haunting his thoughts. He and his companions run forward their eyes blazing with anger.

The Ogre staggers against the battlements, his hulking body covered with wounds. One of Felix’s companions raises his blade to finish him off but Felix hold him back. He had another death in mind for this monster.

Casting his weapon aside he grabs one of the ogres legs. Its thick and immovable as a tree trunk. But his comrades understood his intent. They all secure a grasp and with a mighty heave the Ogre is sent howling over the edge.

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Felix then returns to the Town Square and witness both happy family reunions and the wailing of the children who find themselves orphaned. The blue dragon whelp is still there, his head darting around as he absorbs the sight of the new world in which he finds himself. He bounds over as he sees Felix, causing the fellows he had left watching over him to leap out-of-the-way. His forked tongue darts out, cleaning the blood off of Felix’s cheek.

One of the children walks up the dragon, wonder eclipsing fear in her young mind.

“Is he yours?” the girl asks.

“I… I suppose so,” he replies.

“Whats his name?”

The question seems absurd, but after what Felix witnessed today his threshold for absurdity was rather different from what it once was.

“I’m going to call him… Solus” he says.

The girl nods in approval. Then she reluctantly returns to her nervous parents, who are urging her away from the dragon.

Now that the fight’s over a tide of weariness washes over Felix. His muscles feel like they are made of lead, weighing him down and threatening to make him collapse. As if sensing this, Solus turns, presenting Felix with his flank, his long neck stretches round and he nudges Felix towards his back.

The townspeople are looking on at the bizarre scene. Felix’s face reddens slightly at the thought of the comical spectacle he must be presenting. Then he shrugs. If ever people needed a good spectacle to distract them, it’s now. He climbs onto Solus’ back, hoping he won’t buck him off too hard.

The dragon shifts slightly as if to make his position under him more comfortable. Then he begins to trot around the square to the delight and cheers of the townsfolk. And to think that this morning he was harvesting turnips…

Later that day a company of the kings soldiers arrives. Their commander asks to see the mayor, and instead is brought to speak with Felix. With Solus Tullian gone, Felix appears to have been made the unofficial leader in Burden’s Rest. By the time the commander reaches Felix the townspeople have filled his ears with such exaggerated tales of Felix’s exploits as to put Felix on par with the great heroes of legend. An impression which is only heightened when he sees Solus curled up beside him.

Once he’s overcome his trepidation at the sight of the dragon, the commander explains what’s been happening beyond the town. He tells Felix of a vast army which has invaded the kingdom, a dark horde lead by dragons. Where they came from is a mystery, but they struck suddenly – wiping out several of the kingdoms smaller settlements.

The commander’s orders were to secure Burden’s Rest and then enlist aid for the Fallows. A larger portion of the dragons’ army is marching for that town and all able body fighters in the region are being sent there to bolster its defenses.

For a moment he consider refusing. Burden’s Rest is his home, he gladly fought for it, but he was no soldier. Why should he march off to the Fallows, to fight for a king he’s never even seen? Then he thinks back to Solus Tullian, giving his life to save the children, he thinks of all the innocent blood spilled today.

And so Felix heads out from Burden’s Rest, perhaps never to see its gleaming buildings again. Across the countryside lies Fallows, the town he now sworn to defend.

Felix’s companions are filled with confidence, and gladly follow where he leads. They sing a boisterous war song as he marches. He wished he could share their enthusiasm. But he had touched the egg. He saw the dragon, a creature a hundred times deadlier than anything he had fought in Burden’s Rest. Felix knew that far greater challenges awaited Him.