“In many cultures they were once worshiped among the gods, if as gods themselves. But now they live among us, hiding in human skins, ruling from on high,” Master Hunter Garion took a brief pause as he looked for signs of recognition among the new hunters. this small group, of what amounted to little more than a few children really, might one day have a chance to slay one of mankind’s greatest enemies… or so he imagined. That was, if they survived long enough, and he prepared them properly. There enemies were the monster which sought to devour the world of man, and none were so terrifyingly powerful as dragons. Dragons were not the gold hoarding beast of lore, they were once the gods of men. Rather their only interest in gold was that they coveted the power and influence which it bought them, that which had been lost when men turned to new gods. To them it was a form of glory or perhaps prestige, to hold a large horde of treasures. Yet the treasures themselves were little more than symbols… like the offerings of old, to the gods they were once thought to be.

“Dragons, the true enemy of the Slayer… and of mankind,” Master Garion added the last part as a reminder, that slayers had taken an oath to protect mankind from its unseen enemies. “Yes, it is true. I assure you dragons are real, and they are more dangerous than any foe you have ever heard about, or have yet to encounter. However, they do not appear as you may imagine. No, the garish forms depicted in the media are born from a memory of something past, a memory of something far more unreasonable to the mind. Dragons were borne of the greatest beasts, beast that would not die, creatures no longer anchored to their host form, who became so much more than nature could have designed. Most are from an era that predates man, an era of monsters that would have seen man as little more than a passing snack. Relatively few have been borne in the age of man. Yet, none retain the forms for which they have become known, but you must not be fooled for they are no less powerful or dangerous as ever they were. Although they wear a human guise, its but a mask, one they might discard at anytime in favor of their chosen forms. Yet even as humans they hold extraordinary abilities, even beyond those of goblins and trolls. Abilities you will learn something of in the days to come. Beyond this however, they hold great influence and have many resources at their disposal. They used the wealth they gathered in ancient times, from offerings and raids, to become the rulers of men, and they hold such positions even to this day… though now they more often rule through wealth than political office. Once the high kings and queens of our lands, now the wealthy elite that control the companies and governments of the world. But do not be fooled by human hubris, for it is not wealth that Dragons crave. Rather it is the power it grants them, which they most covet.  And make no mistake, they will do anything to attain power, with or without wealth. They will leverage your hopes, your dreams, your shame, and your relationships, for money is not the only currency which moves men. They are ruthless and without remorse, and they care no more for us than we care for the lives of cattle,” He allowed another moment for all that he had said to sink-in, before he continued. each one among his new disciples considering the weight of what he had said until this point, and waiting quietly for the next revelation to come-forth.

“In truth, many of the creatures you have encountered up until now, are either borne of the unnatural union between man and dragon kind, or are known to act in service to them. Such as the goblins with which you have no doubt become familiar, so named because of the tainted blood which gives them inhuman strength and fortitude. As for the creatures known as trolls, which you have heard tell of and probably imagined to be the subject of this induction ceremony, they number among the Dragons’ pawns. Near immortal creatures, hired as mercenaries or kept as guard dogs, for their dragon masters. And yes, unfortunately, like dragons and goblins they too appear human, if a bit larger than most. Though historically they have been known to dress in animal skins and other bizarre costumes to invoke fear in their victims. If these tactics, this psychological warfare, was not enough, in addition to their strength and size, trolls recover from injuries almost immediately. Nothing short of a relentless barrage of lethal strikes can hope to even slow them down. That is save for one thing, decapitation, the separation of the head from the body, which must be followed by the immediate removal of the heart. Should these specific steps not be followed, the troll will simply grow a new head and be reborn, scared and enraged by the hormones flooding its system, far more dangerous than it was before. But even then, they pale in comparison to that which we call a dragon.” He looked upon them for another moment, to see if his words had shaken any of them, before he continued introducing them to the lore of Man’s adversaries.

“But beware, for not all of the Dragon’s servants will  seem so monstrous, or be so straight forwards in their assaults. Among them there are those who can steal a man’s very soul from him, those who seduce and fill one’s head with illusion. Dragon’s have long used Succubi to manipulate their prey, and gather information. This is the reason that many among the order have taken the vows, that we may resist the temptation that such creatures prey upon. Though this is no longer required, as it has been known to make some more susceptible rather than fortifying their resolve. And perhaps, worst of all, their are creatures which may not only wear our skins, but our minds as well. These doppelgangers can masquerade as your closest loved ones, attempting to learn your weaknesses and infiltrate the order. The only way to guard against them, is to harden yourself to your former relationships, and rely on your brothers at arms. Discovering their deceit is ever harder, making them the perfect spies and puppets for the Dragon’s. Though it is believed that over time they lose or perhaps confuse the long term memories of their host form… and have even been known to forget that they were inhuman to begin with, as dementia from all the minds they have stolen, or perhaps the age of their own, eventually overcomes them. So we must be ever suspicious of those among us who forget themselves, in order to protect the order. So always remember your days of honor, as they have been recorded by the order… and always be prepared to recite them, as proof of yourself.”