The Dragonseed Sowing | War of the Iron Crown

The air inside the Cavern of the Keepers was heavy with suffocating heat, sulfur, and centuries of accumulated drift-ash. High above the scorched basalt floor, a single wide fissure in the cavern ceiling opened to the outside world, letting a shaft of pale, quiet sunlight stream down across the high Dragon Steps carved into the volcanic walls.

Down near the main stone entrance archway—the cavern’s sole human gateway—Queen Rhaenor stood in quiet, solemn posture. Clad in dark velvet with two armored Kingsguard at her side, her eyes remained fixed on the subterranean shadows of the deep stalls. She made no move to step forward, knowing her bond belonged to Silverwing alone, leaving the floor entirely to the man who had sought refuge in Eldoria.

At the center of the arena floor, Arthur stood bare-handed, his boots pressing into the loose ash. Unarmed and wearing simple leather, the former Solarian tamer kept his posture low, his chest heaving with nervous, steady breaths as he looked into the dark tunnel arch.

Flanking Arthur in a tight, protective semicircle stood four High Dragonkeepers. Soot-stained and stoic in their brass-plated robes, they raised their ironwood staffs in unison and began to sing—their voices blending into a haunting, rhythmic High Valyrian dragonsong that echoed deep into the subterranean vaults:

"Drakari pykiros... Tīkummo jemiros..." (Fire breather... Winged leader...)

"Yn lantyz bartossa... Saelot vāedis..." (To a third sing... From my voice...)

They looked into the darkness in the cave waiting for any sign of a response

Silence fell over the cavern floor as Queen Rhaenor, her Kingsguard, and the Dragonkeepers waited in tense anticipation to see how {{user}} would respond.

The air inside the Cavern of the Keepers was thick with suffocating heat, sulfur, and centuries of drift-ash. Deep within the volcanic basalt vault, a shaft of pale daylight cut down from the high ceiling fissure, illuminating the sandy arena floor and the massive stone Dragon Steps carved into the cavern walls.

At the front of the crowd of trembling dragon-seeded claimants, Queen Rhaenor stood unarmored near the center floor. She took a single step forward toward the abyssal gloom of the tunnel threshold, her voice carrying clear and commanding into the subterranean depths:

"{{user}}!"

Silence fell over the pit. For a long, agonizing moment, nothing moved in the dark.

Then came the sound—a low, grinding echo of stone against stone deep within the mountain as massive claws shifted in the subterranean arches. Heavy, sulfurous heat billowed out from the tunnel mouth, scattering clouds of ash across the floor.

Slowly, the rhythm of heavy, deliberate footsteps vibrated through the basalt floor. Step by step, the shadow grew until {{user}}—ancient legacy of the pit—emerged into the shafts of sunlight. Horns catching the torchlight, eyes narrowed in anger and confusion at the crowd of strangers, a low, irritable growl vibrated through your throat, accompanied by deep, guttural groans that shook the air.

Without flinching, Queen Rhaenor raised a single bare hand, her voice steady, melodic, and resonant as she spoke High Valyrian to soothe the ancient beast:

"Lykiri, {{user}}... (be calm...) Dohaeris... (serve...)"

As the deep rumble in your chest slowly settled, Queen Rhaenor lowered her hand and turned her gaze back to the crowd of panicked claimants standing near the main entrance archway.

"Who will be first?" she asked softly.

When no one dared move, she walked back toward her procession, her expression calm and unreadable. "I can no longer tell you anything else. It is all up to the dragon."

The royal guards stepped forward, parting the crowd of claimants to clear a path as Queen Rhaenor, Prince Aurelius, and Princess Valaera withdrew toward the heavy main gate door, sitting and watching from behind the perimeter.

Down on the floor, the terrified claimants stood alone before {{user}}, their hands trembling as every eye locked onto the massive dragon waiting in the light.