[i]
The time has come.

I can feel it in my bones. I have witnessed the wickedness of men, the endless bickering of orcs, the vain prattle of elves, and the primitive constructs of dwarves. I have seen civilizations, even whole races, rise and fall in my time.

But something has changed. The dynamics have shifted. Some things that were buried have risen again. Some secrets that were long hidden shall be exposed. The truth fled from me as a hare flees from a falcon, and the earth rose up as a forest to swallow her. Yet I spotted her from afar, and with a swift claw I shall catch her. I know now, as none yet do, what lies beyond the Dark. The proof sits upon a little golden throne, in plain view of all, but unseen to any. Give me time but a little, and all that we seek shall be found.
[/i]
_____

The air burned his wings as the dragon Caradras glided several miles away toward Midhaven. Many eons had passed since he had last flown, and despite the pain, it felt good to exercise again. His golems overran the key locations around the city as planned - the barracks, market, major industries, and dense residential districts. Exceptional losses came from the market, doubtless inflicted by the few "exceptional" individuals he'd heard about.

[i]How far you've fallen, Reaper, to have chosen such pathetic Heroes.[/i] He folded his wings and nose-dived for his grand entrance. A cloud of dust and brick flung up into the air at his landing in Midhaven's south gate. His foot nearly crushed a house. People all over the city who could see the gigantic dragon dropped everything and fled shrieking. He took a single step and levelled an entire block. [i]This might be fun if it weren't beneath me to end their short lives prematurely.[/i] He waited until everyone evacuated the next block before stepping on it.

Caradras spotted unusual movement from the corner of his eye. He turned to see the three individuals who caused him trouble at the start of his operation: the vain man, the dragon man, and the Reaper. So he drew his head closer to street level and studied them with his left eye.

That dragon man. He knew him. His toughest foe during the Void War, the Black Dragon "Edward," now stood before him in the stature and likeness of humans. Caradras knew better than to underestimate him, though. His gaze twitched right to Edward's recruiter. The two locked eyes, both unflinching.

[i]Your confidence speaks well of them,[/i] he mused. [i]I suppose I shall wait and see how you shape them before judging them with my fire.[/i]

One of the humans, though, he felt needed a good scare. His turned his gaze to Ravadon and held it for half a minute. He narrowed his eye and emitted a low, almost inaudible, but deeply unsettling growl.

The Reaper spoke up with a measured, respectful tone.

"Everyone, no sudden moves. Meet Lord Caradras, the Fire Guardian."