a comprehensive list of where Dragons might call Home Sweet Home.
THE MAGICAL WORLD OF FAIRY RINGS
What you should know about these enchanted mystic portals.
Chapters One & Two CHRONICLES OF
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From the Editor:
JULY
Welcome to the inaugural issue of “The Dragon’s Call,” a labor of love born from my lifelong fascination with these magnificent creatures and the magical world they inhabit. As we embark on this journey together, I’m thrilled to share with you a treasure trove of draconic lore, fantastical tales, and breathtaking artwork.
In this issue, we’ll explore the diverse habitats of dragons across our world, from fiery volcanoes to the depths of the seas.
Our main feature, “Dragons Through the Ages,” takes you on a captivating journey through time, examining how these beings have evolved in our collective imagination.
As you’ll discover, dragons are powerful symbols that reflect our fears, aspirations, and the very essence of human creativity.
We’re honored to showcase the stunning works of Dreamers Zen, whose AIaided creations push the boundaries of imagination. For a change of pace, we’ve included a fascinating guest piece by Maria O’Reilly on the mysterious world of fairy rings, adding a touch of earthly magic to our draconic theme. And don’t miss our “Dragon of the Month” feature, spotlighting the fascinating Amphiptere.
Fiction lovers will delight in the first two chapters of “Chronicles of Elenwyth: Evoker’s Fury,” where you’ll meet Barnabus Siltstrife, a mischievous halfling kleptomaniac, and Misty, the blue shopkeeper who deals in Barney’s found treasures. Oh, and don’t worry- there’s a dragon involved!
As we take flight with this first issue, I invite you to lose yourself in the pages filled with artwork, photographs, and stories. “The Dragon’s Call” is more than just a magazine; it’s a portal to a world where the impossible takes wing.
The biggest Thank YOU to my son, Alex who contributed SO MUCH to this issue. I’m so lucky he sees the vision. Thank you for joining us on this adventure.
Yvette Tripp
Dragon Habitats Around the World 04
From Volcanic regions, to mountain caves, under the depths of the ocean and to the heavens above, travel to the realm of the dragon to discover where they call home.
Artist Spotlight: Meet Dreamers Zen 08
Meet the artist who continually blows us away with his creativity, attention to detail and sheer magic. Nicholas is the artist of the Month and an artist you need to know.
Dragons Through the Ages 10
From the beginnings of time, Dragons have been here to remind us of the endless creativity of the human spirit.
The Magical World of Fairy Rings 18
Guest writer, Maria O’Reilly explores the secret world of fairy rings, mystic portals of imagination and mystery
The Amphitere 22
A mystic mix of serpent and avian, this dragon begins our monthly exploration into discovering facts about lesser known dragons.
Chronicles of Elenwyth: Evoker’s Fury
24
Barney Siltstrife just can’t keep his hands to himself. This time it has landed him in a heap of trouble. Author, Alex Unger takes us on an action-filled memorable adventure.
Our Next Issue
31
Frozen in Time: Greenlands Ice Dragon Mummies - The Mechanics of Dragon Flight - How to Run Your Own Fantasy Pub - Chapters 3 & 4 of Chronicles of Elenwyth and more! 22 DRAGON OF THE MONTH
Meet the Amphiptere Dragons without limbs, flying with powerful wings. Learn more about this wise hybrid.
Dragon Habitats Around the World
FROM HEAVENS TO EARTH AND BELOW, DRAGONS MAKE THEMSELVES AT HOME WHEREVER THEY PLEASE
When most people think of dragons, they think of massive creatures lurking in caves or hidden deep within remote mountain ranges, far from human civilization. While these may be the most iconic dragon habitats, dragons can live in every biome on Earth… or above it!
MOUNTAINS AND CAVES
Hoard Storage & Protection
Caves have long been depicted as dragon dwellings across various cultures worldwide, a testament to their suitability for a wide variety of dragon types. Most dragons that call caves
home do so to protect their valuables and loved ones from the greed of humans that would steal away all they hold dear. Caves offer natural defenses in that they often have only a single primary entrance, and for dragons with a preternatural ability to see in the dark, it also affords them some element of surprise when they choose to strike against would-be ‘heroes’, regardless of their size.
The same traits that made it easily defensible can quickly turn a dragon’s home into a tomb in the event that its denizen needs to flee, though. Limited entrances are also limited exits, and against a prepared foe, being trapped in ones own cave can be
a death sentence. Additionally, the same remoteness that protects the dragon from mortals can also create significant roadblocks to growing a hoard, if the dragon prizes refined materials over raw goods, and makes social activities needlessly difficult.
Caverns thus make particularly good demesnes for older, solitary dragons with little desire to do much more than enjoy the company of themselves and the treasures they’ve slowly collected over their long lives, but are not particularly well-suited to younger dragons or those that have little material goods that require protecting.
VOLCANIC REGIONS
Solitude in the Flames
Drawing comparisons between dragons and volcanoes makes sense; they’re powerful forces of nature who are defined primarily by their capacity for unmitigated destruction. The dragon Typhon, for example, is one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology and in many myths is said to be buried beneath Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. Nidhogg, a dragon from Norse mythology, is also said to live deep underground, chewing on the roots of the World Tree and causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Like caves, volcanoes make attractive living options for solitary, reclusive dragons with a natural tolerance for heat. One advantage that volcanoes offer over caverns is that in addition to being incredibly difficult to attack, the natural landscape can also defeat their foes without the dragon themselves ever having to lift a claw. If they are somehow still targeted by an enemy that can withstand the heat, a volcano offers even more defensive options, especially if the dragon can withstand swimming in the magma itself.
The solitude of a volcanic home can be troublesome, however; food sources are incredibly limited, forcing the dragon to leave their safety net, and maintaining personal belongings of any kind is nearly impossible. Thus, volcanoes are best suited for dragons that can withstand the calefaction and crave isolation and don’t care for the trimmings and trappings of a material existence.
UNDERWATER REALMS
Sea Serpents
& Water Dragons
Beneath the waves or rolling rivers, some dragons take the form of sea serpents and fill roles as water deities. In Hawai’ian mythology, Mo’o’inanea is the mother of the Mo’o, draconic water spirits that protect the fishing ponds of the islands and protect the people from the volcano goddess Pele. Many Eastern dragons, like the Japanese ryū, live in the sea or rivers as well, bringing rain to the crops of nearby farmers.
The biggest barrier to a subaqueous home is the need for aquatic respiration, a characteristic that many Western dragons don’t possess. In addition, living in or near water all but guarantees that the dragon will come into contact with people from time to time unless they can also withstand the pressures of the deep ocean. If these physiological requirements are met, though, life underwater offers many advantages. Food is plentiful, solitude is an option when desired but not required, and there are no end of places to hide valuables… as long as they’re waterproof!
FORESTS AND JUNGLES
Woodland Dragons & Wyverns Forests and jungles provide a lush and mystical backdrop for dragon legends. In Slavic mythology, the Zmey is a dragon that inhabits dense forests, often depicted as a guardian of nature and a challenger
to heroes. In Mesoamerican culture, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is a deity associated with both the forest and the sky, representing the lifegiving forces of the jungle.
Forests and jungles are often a broad geographical area to call home and may offer opportunities for secrecy and seclusion in areas with expansive contiguous tree cover,and there are usually also abundant sources of food and water. They tend to also have fairly consistent moderate temperatures, so they’re an approachable nesting ground for a broad range of dragons. Larger dragons may find the proximity of the trees difficult to navigate, however, and forests have an increased risk of human interaction over more secluded areas, so forests are best suited for groups of smaller dragons that can easily fly between the trees and take advantage of natural hiding places to remain unobserved.
DESERT WASTELANDS
Draconic Guardians of Desolate Places
Deserts offer unmatched seclusion and safety from humans, but also harbor incredibly limited resources; the primary draw of life in the desert is the wide open space and visibility for miles, making them a favorite for large, sedentary dragons that rest as often as possible, exerting energy only when necessary.
SKY AND CLOUDS
Celestial Dragons & Wind Serpents
While many dragons and their cousins can fly, very few make the sky their home. Those that do tend to be Eastern dragons, like the tengshe and tianlong from Chinese legend, who are often painted as benevolent harbingers of rainfall, or the Tibetan druk who are thunder dragons using their powers over storms to awaken those that need an awakening because they have lost touch with reality.
URBAN LEGENDS
Modern Dragon Sightings in Cities and Towns
In modern times, where humanfree areas are few and far between, some dragons have embraced quietly living alongside mortals. In London, tales of a serpent in the River Thames persist, while the sewer dragons of Hell’s Kitchen have long been staples in the city’s history. Rather than an antagonistic relationship with humanity, these dragons have molded themselves to an ecological niche in secret symbiosis with the people that call these cities home.
The risk of discovery is nearconstant, but the hustle and bustle of an urban area does afford some plausible deniability that can be useful to an enterprising dragon; the constantly-raided trash cans can be chalked up to raccoons or particularly large rats, and any unintentional noise can be covered by the incessant sound of rush hour traffic. Food and water are plentiful, as are interesting knickknacks and valuables to add to a hoard, so for a smaller dragon that thrives on a sense of danger
Deserts, with their harsh and
unforgiving environments, are still home to dragons in various mythologies. Middle Eastern legends speak of desert drakes that guard hidden treasures and ancient secrets, and in Australian Aboriginal mythology, the Bunyip is a fearsome creature said to inhabit the arid regions, protecting the land and its sacred sites.
More than any other domain, sky dragons have ultimate freedom, for better or for worse. Having a consistent home can often be a struggle, and resources are scarce, which is
scarce, which particularly difficult given the necessary energy a dragon must expend to remain constantly aloft. Still, for dragons that have an especially efficient metabolism or fly utilizing some mechanism other than wings, the sky offers the highest degree of protection from humans and substantial opportunity for travel.
and adventure, a city can make a fine place to call home.
In Conclusion: From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky, from ancient desert ruins to modern urban centers, dragons persist as powerful symbols of the unknown, the dangerous, and the awe-inspiring aspects of our world and ourselves, thriving wherever someone dares to hope they exist.
DRAGON OF THE MONTH
Meet the Amphiptere Dragons without limbs, flying with powerful wings. Learn more about this wise hybrid.
DREAMERS ZEN
Nicholas Brown, known by his artist’s name Dreamers Zen, has always had a passion for art. From a young age, he experimented with various mediums, with a particular focus on sketching and painting. In his mid-20s, Nicholas even tried his hand at bone carving, honing his skills as a craftsman.
Despite his love for art, Nicholas had to put his creative pursuits on hold for many years due to family and work commitments. However, the rise of AI art has rekindled his passion and inspired him to embark on a new artistic journey.
Drawing on his experience and skills, Nicholas has launched Dreamers Zen, a wearable art clothing brand that showcases his unique artistic vision. In addition to his clothing line, Nicholas also offers a range of prints that allow art lovers to enjoy his work in their homes.
You can find his amazing work at www.dreamerszen.com or find him on facebook: DreamersZen
By Alex Unger
DRAGONS THROUGH THE AGES
FROM ANCIENT MYTHS TO MODERN FANTASY: DISCOVER THE EVOLUTION OF DRAGON LORE ACROSS CULTURES AND TIME
An Anthology of Dragons from the Beginning
CHINA - 4700 BCE
Long Dragons and the Dragon Throne. Bringers of good fortune. Found in art and architecture.
KING ARTHUR - 500S CE
Legendary King Arthur slew a fearsome dragon, symbolizing his power and divine right to rule Britain, according to some medieval tales.
BEOWULF 650 - 800 CE
This Epic poem recounts Scandinavian hero Beowulf’s ba les against monsters, including Grendel and a dragon. Blends pagan and Christian elements.
FAERIE QUEENE - 1590 CE
by Edmund Spenser: Epic allegorical poem about knightly virtues. Features dragon-slaying heroics.
GRIMM - 1812 CE
Brothers Grimm collected folk tales, including dragon stories. “The Two Brothers” features dragon-slaying. Influenced modern fairy tale tradition.
From the misty depths of ancient mythology to the fiery realms of modern fantasy, dragons have captivated human imagination for millennia. These awe-inspiring creatures, with their serpentine bodies, fearsome claws, and (often, but not always) the ability to breathe fire, have slithered their way through countless stories, artworks, and cultural traditions. As we embark on a journey through time and across continents, we’ll discover how dragons have evolved in mythology and art across cultures and time, reflecting changing human fears, aspirations, and understanding of the world around us.
EASTERN DRAGON MYTHS
The earliest known depiction of dragons is the long, or Chinese dragon, that was a benevolent and wise being associated with water, rainfall, and (eventually) imperial power. Dragons in Chinese art are typically depicted without wings, serpentine in form, with deer-like antlers and whiskers, embodying the forces of nature and the universe.
First depicted as early as 4500 BCE as carved jade
statuettes, these dragons were seen as bringers of good fortune and appeared often in art and architecture. The emperor’s throne was known as the Dragon Throne from the beginning of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE to the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912 CE, and the dragon was a symbol of the emperor himself.
Japanese dragon myths, while influenced by Chinese traditions, developed their own unique characteristics. Japanese dragons, or ryū, are often associated with water, inhabiting rivers, lakes, and the sea. The dragon king, Ryūjin, was believed to control the tides from his underwater palace. Though the earliest written record of ryū are the Kojiki and Nihongi, mythohistories written around 680 and 720 CE respectively, Japanese dragons were likely introduced well before this time, though it’s hard to know exactly when.
Similarly, Korean dragon lore is derived from Chinese traditions, and their dragons share many similarities with Japanese dragons. Korean dragons, or yong, are also associated with water and rainfall. They were seen as benevolent creatures, bringers of rain and abundance,
and protectors against fire and flood. Unfortunately, the earliest recorded history of these dragons is only c. 1100 CE; the majority of the Korean written record of these magnificent creatures was lost during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula in 1910 CE, so their history is limited to a few surviving texts and a rich oral history.
THE BIRTH OF THE WESTERN DRAGON
Though it didn’t appear in its modern form until much later, the roots of Western dragon lore stretch back to the cradle of civilization: the Mediterranean.
In ancient Mesopotamia, the earliest known civilization, the
primordial goddess Tiamat embodied the chaos of the primordial sea. Though she is named in an Akkadian inscription dating back to c. 2300 BCE, she isn’t substantially discussed in the written record until the reign of Hammurabi in c. 1750 BCE. Often depicted as a sea serpent rather than a modern dragon, Tiamat’s eventual defeat at the hands of the god Marduk symbolized the triumph of order over chaos, a theme that would echo through later Western dragon myths.
Depicted as early as 4000 BCE, the ancient Egyptian serpent god Apep (also known as Apophis in Greek) was the eternal enemy of Ra, the sun god. According to myth, Apep would attempt to devour Ra as he traveled
A MODERN TIMELINE OF DRAGON TALES
1937 TOLKEIN
1959 DISNEY’S SLEEPING BEAUTY
1967 PERN SERIES
1974 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
1994 THE ELDER SCROLLS VIDEO GAMES
1996 A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE
2011 HBO GAME OF THRONES
through the underworld each night, threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness. This cosmic struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, also became a recurring motif in dragon legends.
Greek and Roman mythology also featured numerous dragonlike creatures, likely derived from those they encountered in North Africa and the Middle East. The Python, slain by Apollo at Delphi, and Ladon, the hundredheaded dragon guarding the golden apples of the Hesperides, exemplify the Greek concept of dragons as fearsome guardians of sacred places or treasures and is the earliest throughline of western dragons’ tendency to hoard wealth.
DRAGONS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE
As Christianity spread across Europe during the medieval era, dragons began to resemble the modern western dragon and took on new symbolic significance. In Christian iconography, dragons often represented Satan or the forces of evil. The imagery of St. Michael or Christ triumphing over a dragon (which was
first referenced in the book of Revelations in 96 CE) symbolized the victory of good over evil, faith over paganism, a carryover from the myths of the very people they were conquering.
Perhaps the most famous dragon tale from medieval England is that of St. George and the Dragon. This story from the
DID YOU KNOW:
pre-medieval period, in which a brave knight rescues a princess from a terrorizing dragon, became a recurring allegory for Christian virtue triumphing over evil. It also established for the first time the archetypal image of the European dragon: a fire-breathing, winged reptile, and a fearsome adversary to be vanquished by
THE TOES KNOWS Despite their similar appearance, one of the easiest ways to tell Eastern dragons apart is by counting their toes? Chinese Imperial Dragons have five toes, Korean and ordinary Chinese dragons have four, and Japanese dragons have three! According to Japanese mythology, the first dragons were Japanese and gained toes as they traveled west; in reality, however, the opposite is true! The earliest depictions of Chinese dragons also had three toes, and it’s likely that they simply made the transition to Korea and Japan during di erent parts of their development cycle. heroes.
THE PROPHECY OF THE TWO DRAGONS
“I will now unfold to you the meaning of this mystery. The pool is the emblem of this world, and the tent that of your kingdom: the two serpents are two dragons; the red serpent is your dragon, but the white serpent is the dragon of the people who occupy several provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from sea to sea: at length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the Saxon race from beyond the sea, whence they originally came; but do you depart from this place, where you are not permi ed to erect a citadel; I, to whom fate has allo ed this mansion, shall remain here; whilst to you it is incumbent to seek other provinces, where you may build a fortress.”
Even Arthurian legends wove dragons into the fabric of chivalric romance. The red dragon of Wales, featured in the prophecies of Merlin, became a powerful national symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of the invading Anglo-Saxons. Meanwhile, the story of Uther Pendragon, whose surname means “chief dragon” or “head dragon,” linked the creatures to royal lineage and power, similar to the Dragon Throne of ancient China but with a notably more aggressive undertone.
similar to the Dragon
DRAGONS IN RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN LITERATURE
As Europe entered the Renaissance and Early Modern
period, dragons found new life in literature. The Old English epic “Beowulf,” published c. 1000 CE and considered one of the most influential works in English literature and still one of the best examples of the genre, features the hero’s final battle against a treasure-guarding dragon became a defining moment in English literature and the earliest example of this particular genre of fantasy epic.
Another significant English epic, Edmund Spenser’s allegorical “The Faerie Queene” published for the first time in 1590 CE, featured several dragons within its more than 4000 stanzas. The most notable dragon of these the one slain by the
Redcrosse Knight in Book I. It is later revealed that this knight and dragon are actually St. George and “the dragon of the abyss” from that legend, but its use in this story served as an allegory for human vices or as tests of the hero’s virtue (in the case of Spenser’s Redcrosse Knight, Holiness).
During this period, dragons also featured prominently in folklore and fairy tales outside of England. Stories like “The Two Brothers” collected by the Brothers Grimm in 1819 echoed ancient myths (with the SevenHeaded Serpent reminiscent of the Greek Ladon) while still speaking to contemporary fears and providing the moral lessons expected of fables.
THE SCIENTIFIC AGE AND RATIONALIZING DRAGON LORE
The advent of modern scientific thought during the Scientific Revolution of the late 1500s brought new perspectives to dragon lore as it spread across Europe. Natural historians and paleontologists began to uncover the remains of long-extinct creatures, and some speculated that dragons might have been inspired by these ancient beasts. The discovery of dinosaur fossils in the 19th century led to a reimagining of what dragons might have looked like, influencing a shift in their depiction in art and literature from the long, thin dragons of the medieval era to the stocky, muscular dragons we have today.
dragons we have today. In the realm of
In the realm of cryptozoology, the concept of dragons took on a new life as potential “living fossils.” Some enthusiasts speculated that dragons might be dinosaurs or other prehistoric reptiles, surviving millenia by remaining hidden in remote corners of the world. While these theories lack scientific support, they further demonstrate the enduring grip of dragon lore on the human imagination, even in an age of scientific enlightenment.
DRAGONS IN MODERN POPULAR CULTURE
The 20th and 21st centuries have seen an explosion of dragon representations in popular culture. In literature, authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, and George R.R. Martin have created complex dragon mythologies that have
captured readers’ imaginations worldwide. Tolkien’s Smaug, with his marked intelligence and insatiable greed, harks back to ancient dragon guardians of treasure. McCaffrey’s telepathic, rideable dragons of Pern offer a science fiction twist on the traditional mythology, while Martin’s dragons in “A Song of Ice and Fire” serve as living weapons of mass destruction, reflecting modern anxieties.
Film and television have brought dragons to life with increasing realism, from the animated Maleficent in Disney’s 1959 animated film “Sleeping Beauty” to the photorealistic Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” in 2011. These representations have further cemented the dragon’s place in our collective imagination as more people than ever before can visualize dragons existing alongside them in crystal-clear 4k definition.
In the world of gaming, dragons have become staples of fantasy games, both tabletop and digital, which
has contributed to the massive success of role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and video game series like The Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, or the critically acclaimed 2023 Game of the Year Baldur’s Gate 3. The interactive experiences afforded by video games allow people to engage with dragon lore in new and immersive ways, and have all but guaranteed that dragons aren’t leaving pop culture any time soon.
IN CONCLUSION
all but guaranteed that dragons culture the have
Dragons have been a constant presence in human culture for thousands of years, evolving and adapting to reflect the changing values, fears, and aspirations of the societies that created them. From the chaos-embodying Tiamat of ancient Mesopotamia to the CGI-enhanced wonders of “House of the Dragon”, dragons have served as powerful symbols of the unknown, the dangerous, and the aweinspiring aspects of our world and ourselves.
The enduring appeal of dragons lies in their versatility as symbols and their capacity to embody both our deepest fears and our highest aspirations. Whether seen as destructive forces to be vanquished or wise beings to be revered, dragons continue to fire our imaginations, reminding us of the power of myth and the endless creativity of the human spirit. As we face the challenges of the future, it seems certain that dragons will continue to evolve, offering new generations the chance to dream, to wonder, and to explore the boundaries of possibility.
GUEST COLUMN
Maria O’Reilly
THE MAGICAL WORLD OF FAIRY RINGS
“IF YOU SEE A FAIRY RING IN A FIELD OF GRASS, VERY LIGHTLY STEP AROUND, TIPTOE AS YOU PASS; LAST NIGHT FAIRIES FROLICKED THERE, AND THEY’RE SLEEPING SOMEWHERE NEAR.” WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Do a search for fairy rings on the internet and you will find pages and pages on the subject. Science tells us that fairy rings are caused by poor quality soils that are full of fungus, robbing the area of precious nutrients. Once the soil is depleted the fungi move outwards, forming a circle with dead or unhealthy patches in
the centre. The size of these circles can range from teeny tiny to almost one-thousand feet across!
Folklore tells us that fairy rings are caused by witches dancing, calling upon the devil. Perhaps it was elves, fairies or pixies dancing in a circle celebrating the moon and all its blessings. Other stories claim they are made when a dragon’s tail burns the ground, ensuring that nothing else will grow there for seven years or more. I personally like the idea that it is an entrance to the fairy realm or that it shows there is a fairy village.
The myths and legends surrounding these fairy rings are scattered throughout literature, mainly in European and North American cultures, although there a few tales
from Africa and Australia. The narrative most often involves a report of someone coming upon a fairy ring and becoming trapped inside by the mystical creatures that created the circle or becoming very ill and dying shortly after. The general consensus being that fairy rings are not a place to find yourself entering, unless of course, you manage to counteract the magic by walking around the outside perimeter nine times in a clockwise direction, usually on the night of the full moon.
If you are unlucky enough to get caught in the world of fairy or be cursed for entering the circle, there are just as many ways to rescue someone trapped inside as there are reasons for their existence. You could have someone pull you out, but be ware that they must keep a foot
in the real world, or they may join you. Someone could poke you with an iron rod, but be careful, it could also turn you to dust. Saying a prayer should rid you of the evil that holds you there. None of these guarantees you will be safe after you escape though. You may yet become sick over time, withering away, wishing to be back with the fey folk.
Not all accounts are tragedies. Some claim that fairy rings are simply a place that fairies go to dine and celebrate, that if you come across one you will be blessed with good fortune or good health. There are tales that farms or houses built on a fairy ring will be prosperous. It is considered a sign that your ancestors are nearby, supporting you. The key is to show respect. Honour the fairy ring and what it represents.
Our intrigue and curiosity are peaked because generally, in nature, shapes are random, rarely symmetrical. A fairy ring, just like crop circles, invokes a sense of wonder. We see mushrooms and daisies and grass growing all the time. Randomly. When it grows in a perfect, or near perfect, circle we wonder what mystery is involved in creating such a thing, it inspires our imagination. In history, without modern day science to guide us, the fairy ring would indeed have been a cause for wonderment. Most of our tales come from not knowing.
WHY ARE WE SO FASCINATED BY THE FAIRY RING?
Beautiful paintings
It isn’t just the written word that extolls the dangers or the blessings. Art, throughout the ages, captures the unique mystery and beauty of the fairy ring. Beautiful paintings of fairy rings and dancing fey folk, hang in museums. Recently the explosion of AI art has given new life to exploring the magical and mystical places of the fairy folk. Some artists are showcasing the beauty and some the darkness.
WHILE SCIENCE MAY HAVE GIVEN US A SOLID EXPLANATION FOR THE FAIRY RING, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE OF US WHO DON’T WANT TO LET GO OF THE MAGIC. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW HOW THE WORLD WORKS AND WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THINGS TO HAPPEN THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO NOT LOSE THAT CHILDLIKE WONDER, THE HOPE AND THE REVERENCE FOR ALL THE BEAUTY AND MYSTERY THAT IS OUT THERE.
I may know how a fairy ring is formed in this world, but I will always see one and walk around it nine times, not ten, following the path of the sun and listen for the sounds of the fairy folk celebrating in the moonlight. I will see that patch as a blessing from my ancestors and as a sign of all the possibilities available to us.
Maria O’Reilly is a Canada- based author who specializes in fantasy and sci-fi storytelling. You can find her on facebook on her author page “Snippets & Shorts” where she expertly narrates art pieces from various artists.
DRAGON OF THE MONTH:
The AmphipTere:
THE
AMPHIPTERE IS
A HYBRID PRIMARILY FOUND IN EUROPEAN HERALDRY, HALF SNAKE AND HALF BIRD.
The amphiptere (also called an amphithere, amphitere, or phipthere) represents the harmonious fusion of serpent and bird. This chimera embodies the mystical convergence of earth and sky, seamlessly blending the sinuous grace of a snake with the ethereal majesty of avian flight. As we delve into the lore of this fascinating creature, we uncover a rich tapestry of symbolism, artistic representation, and enduring cultural significance.
ORIGINS AND APPEARANCE:
The amphiptere is typically depicted as a winged serpent, possessing a long, scaled body adorned with feathered wings. It is devoid of any limbs or appendages, and its scales often shimmer with an iridescent quality, while its wings may display vibrant hues reminiscent of exotic birds. The creature’s head can vary in representations, sometimes appearing more serpentine, and other times bearing a beak-like structure.
SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE:
This creature embodies transformation and the ability to navigate between different realms, making it a powerful symbol of adaptability and transcendence.
IN HERALDRY, THE AMPHIPTERE OFTEN SYMBOLIZES THE DUALITY OF NATURETHE GROUNDED WISDOM OF THE SERPENT COMBINED WITH THE LOFTY ASPIRATIONS REPRESENTED BY WINGS. This unique combination makes the amphiptere a perfect symbol for those who seek to bridge the gap between worldly knowledge and limitless ideals. Moreover, the creature’s ability to navigate both land and sky positions it as a master of multiple domains, suggesting versatility and adaptability. Medieval bestiaries and illuminated manuscripts frequently featured the amphiptere as a fearsome guardian of sacred sites or hidden treasures. or as a guide between different realms of existence, further enhancing its mystical allure. These artistic representations not only served to illustrate the creature’s physical form, but also conveyed complex moral and spiritual lessons to the viewer.
The amphiptere’s dual nature also made it a particularly versatile symbol in both religious and secular contexts. In Christian iconography, it could represent the struggle between earthly temptations and heavenly aspirations, while in royal heraldry, it might symbolize a monarch’s dominion over both land and sea.
CULTURAL IMPACT
The Amphiptere’s influence extends far beyond the confines of heraldic shields and banners. Across various cultures, this creature has woven itself into the fabric of folklore and legend. For example, in Celtic traditions, winged serpents were often associated with healing and rebirth, possibly contributing to the Amphiptere’s cultural staying power.
The Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl, whose name literally means “Feathered Serpent,” can also be considered a form of Amphiptere. This god of wisdom, creation, and wind was a central figure in many preColumbian cultures, illustrating how the concept of a winged serpent resonated across different civilizations and continents. The parallels with its European counterparts demonstrates the universal appeal of combining serpentine and avian attributes to create a powerful, mythical being.
MODERN INTERPRETATIONS
In the modern era, the Amphiptere has found new life in the realms of fantasy literature, art, and popular culture. Authors and artists have reimagined this mythical beast in myriad ways, often expanding upon its traditional attributes to create complex characters or formidable creatures in fantastical worlds.
Fantasy literature has embraced the Amphiptere as a wise mentor figure, capable of imparting ancient wisdom while embodying the mystery of the natural world. In role-playing games and digital media, the creature appears as a challenging adversary or a powerful ally, its dual nature lending itself to nuanced storytelling and game mechanics.
Contemporary artists find inspiration in the Amphiptere’s unique form, creating stunning visual interpretations that blend traditional heraldic elements with modern artistic techniques. These new depictions often explore themes of environmental balance, the fusion of technology and nature, or the bridging of cultural divides.
The enduring fascination with the Amphiptere reflects our ongoing desire to explore the boundaries between the known and the unknown, the earthly and the divine. As we continue to reinterpret and reimagine this mythical creature, we keep alive a rich tradition of symbolism and storytelling that connects us to our cultural heritage while inspiring new visions of the fantastic.
CHRONICLES OF ELENWYTH: EVOKER’S FURY
By Alex Unger
Chapter One AN UNTIMELY ACQUISITION
Barney’s vision swam as a mudball collided with his jaw much more solidly than it should have. Holding his hand to his face, the warm crimson wetness of his own blood confirmed his suspicions: the Samson Special, a chunk of ice caked in mud intended to hurt as much as humiliate. A quick glance around confirmed that Sammy, the butcher’s pre-teen brat, had flung the sphere of muddied ice from a little ways farther down the pier than where Barney had been napping in the midafternoon sun.
“You’ve got mud on your face, grig,” he sneered. “Maybe you should go back to whatever hole you crawled out of before we squash you like the bug you are.”
Barney sighed as he wiped the blood from his chin. Sammy and his gang were always looking for an easy target, and even in a city as diverse as Shendrikar, humans still outnumbered the other races and old prejudices died hard.
Sammy and the other two boys were leering at him from where the dock met the shore and seemed content to wait for him to approach, so Barney weighed his options. Despite being around twice their age, Barney was almost half their size at just over two feet tall, which was small, even for a grig. He knew from experience that he would lose any direct confrontation; since they blocked the end of the pier, Barney opted instead to take the only avenue of escape he had, toppling off the worn warm wooden planks into the frigid saltwater below. He forced himself to keep his mouth shut as he hit the water, even though every fiber of his being wanted to gasp for air from the sudden change of temperature. He had made that mistake once, and nearly paid for it with his life. He knew he wasn’t very smart, but he did his best to learn from his mistakes.
Once his body acclimated to the water and his gasp reflex stopped trying to actively kill him, he swam to shore, taking care to stay far enough below the surface that the choppy seafoam would help keep him hidden from the eyes of Sammy and his goons, who were no doubt trying to find their favorite punching bag. When he finally breached the surface of the water, he saw that the current had done its job and carried him far enough away that he could make a stealthy exit into the hustle and bustle of dockworkers and machines unloading their ships’ cargo. He shivered as a cool breeze began slowly whisking away the water that had beaded into tiny droplets on his bare skin, and was thankful that the loose-fitting cotton shirt and threadbare trousers he wore didn’t retain much moisture.
Barney wove through the crowd, his small size an advantage in the chaos. Pucks with their cloven hooves clattered on the wooden planks, their brawny forms a common sight on the docks due to frequent employment hauling heavy cargo. Ship captains shouted orders, their voices carrying over the din of creaking ships and clanking machinery as Barney’s lithe fingers filched an apple from the back of a dieselcart. Buffing it on his shirt, he took a bite as he ducked into an alley, looking for somewhere he could scramble up to a better vantage point to both watch the intriguing bustle of the docks and to make sure he wasn’t surprised by Sammy or his cronies again.
He discovered a rain gutter about halfway down the alley that made no attempt at emptying its contents into a gutter, instead puddling on the street. Gripping the apple in his teeth, he scampered up the drainpipe with ease and plopped his feet over the side of the roof as he felt the sun’s rays begin to leech the cold from his meatless bones.
Scanning the dozen or so ships he could see from his perch on the rooftop’s edge, he saw that only two had a significant number of grigs on board, something that he took as a good sign. As his gaze reached the last ship on the dock, he was surprised to see a fen standing at the front of the ship, wearing a uniform that looked very official and what he figured was a captain’s hat. Fens were rare enough in Shendrikar to begin with, but one in command was unusual.
Barney could see from the captain’s fin-like ears and blue-hued skin that she was a seafen, the only kind he had ever seen in person. He knew there were other kinds of fens, just like there were probably other kinds of pucks and maybe even grigs, but he hadn’t ever seen any. Then again, he spent most of his considerable free time down at the docks, so maybe his limited experience was to blame.
The fen was making some sort of complex hand motions towards the dock now, her hands moving fluidly from one configuration to the next. He followed her gaze and was surprised to see that she was looking at a grig who was making convoluted gestures back, their fingers dancing in silent conversation. Barney made a mental note that he would have to learn that trick some day.
The two stopped finger-wiggling, and the grig began to give orders to the pucks that stood on the dock nearby. If everything up to this point had captured his attention, that had him enraptured. A seafen captain was unusual, but a grig giving orders was practically unheard of, and the pucks seemed to respect him at least enough to obey as he motioned for a half dozen of them to return to the ship.
He was shaken from his reverie by the return of the pucks from belowdecks, carrying some sort of ornately decorated crate. No, he realized with amazement, it wasn’t a crate. It was a chest. And chests meant treasure.
He scampered down from the rooftop, his mind racing as he considered the possibilities of what might be contained within that beautiful box. ‘Maybe it’s Rakhnid silks! Or Alluman jewelry! Or, if I’m really lucky, fresh sardines!’
A small crowd had gathered to observe the group disembarking the ship for a second time, the group of nine staying close to the chest, warily eyeing the crowd. As Barney hurried to get closer to the chest, one of the nearby deckhands murmured, “Ain’t that the ship what came in from Depmor?”
Barney didn’t know where Depmor was, but he didn’t care. He trailed the group, noting how the crowds parted for them. Even in Shendrikar, where the unusual was commonplace, this diverse group drew attention. The grig quartermaster led with a confidence that belied his small stature and the pucks’ militant stride spoke of specialized training beyond typical dock work.
Barney eyed the retinue as they loaded the chest onto an intricate clockwork workbeast vaguely reminiscent of an ox that whirred and clanked as it bore the weight of the chest. From his position just behind the retinue, Barney marveled at the brass gears visible through its translucent sides, a testament to Shendrikar’s reputation as a hub of mechanical innovation as much as it was an indicator of wealth. Even the stuffy Kobblin artificers couldn’t match the ingenuity or rugged practicality of Shendrikaran workbeasts, a fact that most denizens of the City of Sludge were quick to remind critics of despite the fact that the majority of them would never have enough money to own one themselves.
With a belch of black smoke, the ox shuddered into motion and the retinue began the slow, clanking journey towards the city center, the grig in front, the six pucks guarding the chest, and the beautiful seafen captain in the rear.
Hang on. Barney knew he wasn’t very smart, but he had a fantastic memory. There had been nine in the group before, and he had only just accounted for eight. He clambered up a nearby stack of crates for a better view, and as he quickly glanced over the number of heads in the small group, he quickly counted nine. When he tried to see who he had missed, his brain got fuzzy, as if a nest of bees had suddenly taken up residence there. He shook his head to clear it, but by the time he was able to focus again, he had lost sight of the group in the throng of onlookers.
He scampered down and decided to keep pace with the group and count sets of feet instead. That was easier anyway, because they were closer to his eye level. As the escort drew level with where he lurked in the crowd, he started counting. One set of tiny work boots. Six sets of cloven hooves. One set of dark red claws. One set of shiny captain’s boots.
His headache intensified. Claws? Those didn’t belong to anyone he had counted already. He continued to focus on the claws trying to see who he had missed, and the bees began to buzz more loudly just behind his eyes. Then, just as quickly as they had arrived, the bees
were gone. He was shocked that he had somehow failed to notice the ninth member of the group before. She was enormous, standing almost a full head above the tallest puck and probably half again as wide. Her skin was covered in deep red scales and a ridge of bony horns swept backward from her forehead, giving the impression of hair. She wore an intricately embroidered dress, black with gold trim that played a dark contrast to her vibrant scales, as well as a small leather satchel with a brass fasten and a small jeweled golden crown that rested gently atop her head. He didn’t know who or even what she was, but she commanded respect simply by her regal presence, and Barney knew he simply HAD to meet her.
Breaking through the assembled onlookers that seemed to still be enraptured by the box, the ox, the captain, or some combination of the three, Barney quickly ducked underneath the ox before gawping up at the scaled woman with unadulterated admiration. She seemed surprised that he had noticed her, and her expression shifted from what had seemed like something akin to boredom to a toothy grin of dangerous intrigue. She spoke, her dulcet voice like warm honey on a breezy summer’s day, and it took Barney half a moment to comprehend what she had said.
“Hello, grigling. You must be either exceptionally foolish or indescribably brave to approach me.”
Barney cleared his throat and licked his lips before replying earnestly, “I ain’t brave ma’am and I don’t know what foolish means but I ‘spect I ain’t that neither. I’m just dumber-n-shit ma’am, everybody says so, and Miss T says it’s my best care-ick-tur-isstick.” He struggled with the last word, but Miss T always said it was important to use the appropriate words for every situation.
The scaled woman made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a roar, and the seafen looked over in alarm. “Lady Lyrvy, I don’t-”
“Silence.”
The seafen immediately closed her mouth, and the scaled woman continued, “Captain Llewellyn has ruined our introductions, and you have me at a disadvantage, grigling. You know my name, but I do not know yours.”
Barney cleared his throat again, but Lady Lyrvy waited patiently, her topaz eyes seeming to burrow into his very soul. He almost told her his name was Barney, but that wasn’t his actual name… and
someone this regal deserved the full answer. “My name is Barnabas Siltstrife, ma’am.”
Her grin widened, and she hissed just loud enough for him to hear, “Well, Barnabas Siltstrife, I have business to attend to with your Patrician. But after, I think I should like to have you for supper.”
Barney didn’t know anything about what a Patrician was or what “attend” meant, but he was very familiar with the concept of supper… her tone sounded like a threat more than a pleasant evening in her company, though, so he answered, “If it’s alright, ma’am, I think I’d rather not.”
She laughed again, and this time the pucks seemed to become aware of her presence for the first time, though they didn’t deviate from their course. “Verywellthen,youngBarnabas.Another time perhaps. Run along now.” She licked her lips, and he caught a glimpse of a very big number of very sharp teeth. He impulsively wrapped his arms around her waist before darting back into the crowd.
He had made it almost two full blocks away before her roar of rage rattled the windows and shook free whatever cobwebs the remainder of the crowd had in their heads, and an audible tumult began to ripple through the streets as the onlookers became aware of the fearsome woman for the first time.
Really, it wasn’t his fault. Missus always said that he just had a special talent for finding things, especially things that were in other people’s pockets.
Or in this case, their satchels. Behind him, the crowd was whipped into a fervor at the aweinspiring sight of Lady Lyrvy, which made his quick exit unnoticed that much easier. The beautifully terrifying scaled woman roared,
“FIND BARNABAS SILTSTRIFE AND BRING HIM TO ME AT ONCE!”
Barney figured that now was as good a time as any to disappear and slipped through a nearby storm drain into the sewers beneath the city, clutching Lady Lyrvy’s book tightly to his chest like his life depended on it, because he suspected it very much did.
Chapter Two A TREASURE TOO HOT
As the commotion from the docks echoed through the narrow streets of Shendrikar, Misty cursed under her breath as the fuel in her stove failed to light. Again. She had a hard enough time as it was getting her hands on the diesel fuel required to run the damn thing, and given the number of problems she had getting it to fire up reliably, she suspected she had a leak somewhere. Either that, or her supplier was cutting his diesel with something else. Or maybe fate was telling her that she was literally out of her element, mucking about with fire. Tucking a loose strand of seafoam green hair behind one finned ear, she begrudgingly turned off the fuel supply and began rummaging around her cupboards for charcoal briquettes to make a small fire for her tea instead.
As she waited for the water to boil, she looked around her homely storefront/apartment with a critical eye. She could have done much better for herself, she knew, but she was risking discovery as it was. The “store” was little more than a series of plain bookshelves and a single long countertop facing the front door, the storage space underneath accessible from behind but hidden from the front. She had toyed with the notion of having all of her merchandise be visible to her clientele, but having a prospective customer potentially recognizing some of their own ‘misplaced’ belongings wasn’t worth the risk. To avoid that potential problem, she had opted instead to keep only the common items visible and keep the more unique treasures out of sight. Doing so also afforded her the opportunity to paint a picture of what she wanted the buyer to see, instead of allowing them to form their own opinion by gawping at it through the glass. It didn’t always result in a sale, of course, but it was effective enough to keep her rent paid, and for now that was enough.
The store was separated from her living space by a curtain that was clearly of higher quality than the rest of her demesnes, a lucky acquisition by one of her suppliers that hinted at the wealth hidden just beyond. The austere facade ended there, however; her living area was a stark contrast to the storefront, just as dingy as the rest of the docks and probably twice as cluttered as any reasonable person would keep their home. She often had to take time with the products her suppliers provided to prepare them for sale, and her home was littered with a half-dozen unfinished projects at any given moment.
She remembered belatedly that she needed to finish polishing the silver candelabra she had acquired that morning; it was mostly clean now, but it still sported a few smears of grave dirt that wouldn’t make it very attractive to a potential buyer. As she rummaged around under her sink for a scrap of cloth clean enough to buff the candelabra, she caught sight of a discarded teabag and suddenly remembered that she had set water to boiling and went to check on her tea.
The coals had long since burned out, now little more than piles of ash, and the water had all boiled away. She cursed her absentmindedness and had just begun the laborious process of locating additional charcoal in a cupboard when she was startled by her back door suddenly crashing open. The sudden noise caused her to smash the back of her head on the underside of her countertop, and her vision swam. She whipped around to see who had been so rude as to barge into her home unannounced, and was relieved to see that it was just Barney.
see who had been so rude as to barge into provided her with all
colored leather and sported a clasp of polished brass. There was a title, or possibly a name, inked onto the cover in a triangular runic script she didn’t recognize. “What is this?”
Barney replied, “Idunno, I cain’t read…”
She sighed exasperatedly at his obtuseness as she moved to undo the clasp. “I know you can’t read, Barney, I’m not an imbecile.” Misty noted that the journal’s clasp was locked, and said emphatically, “Nevermind. Where is the key?”
He looked at the floor abashedly and replied, “I din get it, Miss T…”
“Misty,” she grumbled reflexively, not for the first time. “Not Miss T, Misty. All one word.”
He stood about two and a half feet tall, which made him the smallest grig she had ever met, but also made him a great pickpocket. He provided her with all kinds of interesting products for her storefront, and though he was obnoxious, he was far too stupid to be anything more than a mild nuisance at worst. “Dammit, Barney, you can’t scare me like that. Thought maybe the guard had finally caught up to me.” He didn’t acknowledge her as he hurried past her and around the sales counter, cradling something inside his shirt against his chest and leaving the stench of the sewers in his wake as he hurried to the front window to peer nervously out at the street. Misty sighed heavily and continued, “Though I suppose the day is still young enough for that to happen…”
to be anything more worst. “Dammit, Barney, you
She strode over to the window and pulled the grimy curtain closed before tugging the diminutive Barney back with little trouble. She spun him around, and he avoided her gaze. Sternly she demanded, “What did you get? Anything I can use or sell?” Barney sheepishly produced a book from within his shirt. It was well-bound in a soft, light-
she rolled her eyes. Barney had the city, an orphan that had somehow managed to survive on his own instead of joining a street gang or Her arrangement with him some small luxuries, had needed. After some time, she acquisitions, and he seemed to neither profits, which suited her just fine.
“Sorry, Miss T…” Barney mumbled, and she rolled her eyes. Barney had been a streetrat for longer than she had been in the city, an orphan that had somehow managed to survive on his own instead of joining a street gang or the local thieves guild. Her arrangement with him would have afforded him some small luxuries, had he wanted them, but he seemed content to grift or lift what he needed. After some time, she simply stopped paying him for his acquisitions, and he seemed to neither notice nor care. It meant she had more profits, which suited her just fine.
Inspecting the spine of the book, she noted the lack of creases in the pale leather seemed to suggest the book had been opened sparingly, if ever. It was hand-bound with red thread, and the pages appeared to be vellum. Much more expensive and durable than paper, but with the puckish printing presses being so much more widespread these days, nobody took the time to handwrite much of anything anymore, unless it was just a quick note of no importance… or something exceedingly valuable.
“Barney, be a dear and go fetch my picks, will you?” she murmured, trying to contain her rising excitement as she placed the book gently on her worn dining table. Barney had flown back to the front window while she was inspecting the book, and seemed reluctant to leave. She demanded more
firmly, “Barney. My picks, please.” He slowly peeled himself from the window, and hurried to a small pile of metal odds and ends scattered across a dingy oil-streaked workbench. A few moments later, he unceremoniously dumped her lockpicks onto the table and hurried back to the window, almost fast enough that she didn’t notice the misshapen lump inside his shirt. “Barney, what else did you take?” He pretended not to hear her, so she snapped, “Barnabas Siltstrife, return my property this instant.”
For the second time in as many minutes, he sheepishly opened his shirt, this time removing a small clockwork bird and placing it gently on the table next to the book. She rapped him on the back of his hand with her tension wrench, firm enough that it’d sting, but not enough to actually hurt.
His “collecting” was an impulse, and it had served her well, but he needed to be reminded occasionally that he was supposed to bring her things, not take them. Especially not something as important as the clockwork bird.
A dieselcart rumbled past the window, and Barney flinched out of view, his eyes screwed shut with fear. Misty shook her head as if to physically dislodge her thoughts, grabbed a pick in her free hand, and began applying pressure with the tension wrench she held in the other before realizing what she was dealing with. “This has a warded lock… what antique store did you find this in? Nobody has used one of these for at least a century…” Putting her picks down, she went to the table of scrap metal herself, looking for something sturdy enough to activate the lever, pliable enough to bend past the wards inside the lock, but small enough to fit past the keyhole. “This is going to be a pain in the ass.”
“Di’n’t find it inna shop,” Barney murmured from where he cowered near the window. “Lifted it at the docks.”
Misty frowned. “From the docks? Who would have a hundred-year-old book in pristine condition at the docks?”
Not looking away from his focus on the road outside, Barney replied, “Lady Lyrvy. Had scales an’ horns an’ claws. She was real pretty.”
Misty hesitated a moment to parse that statement when Barney added, “One of the guys said she was from a deep moor or somethin.”
Misty’s eyes widened and she whipped around to stare Barney down. “Depmor? You stole this from a Lady of Depmor?!” Her mind reeled as she considered the implication. She was substantially more well-traveled than most, but even she had never been to that dreadful place. Nobody had, or at least nobody that lived to tell about it.
Barney avoided her gaze as he focused on his vigil at the window. “That’s why I’s watchin’ the roads. Cos she’s prolly gonna kill me. She were pretty mad I taked her book.”
Misty turned to look at the book with a newfound appreciation, practically salivating at the priceless artifact that sat just beside her broken bird. She probably couldn’t sell it, nobody could have possibly afforded it had she tried, but the knowledge surely contained within… her feet itched at the prospect of finally being able to put this damnable city behind her and return to a life of adventure.
Her momentary hope was soon replaced with a deepseated sense of dread as she realized which denizens of Depmor might have scales or call themselves Lady. She murmured, as much to herself as to him, “Barney… you just stole this book from a dragon.”
to be continued...
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
FROZEN IN TIME - GREENLAND’S ICE MUMMIES
Prepare for a chilling journey into the Arctic past! Our upcoming issue transports you to the icy expanses of Greenland, where an astonishing discovery has emerged from the permafrost. A team of researchers has unearthed perfectly preserved Inuit mummies, frozen for centuries in the unforgiving tundra. We’ll take you to the remote excavation site where these ancient ancestors of modern Greenlanders were found, their features and clothing remarkably intact.
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Unravel the aerodynamic mysteries of these mythical beasts! Our experts analyze wing structure, muscle power, and magical properties to explain how dragons defy gravity. Discover the science behind legendary flight.
DRAGON OF THE MONTH: DRAKES:
Spotlight on the sleek, agile cousins of full-grown dragons. Learn about drake habitats, behavior, and unique abilities. From forest to mountain, discover why these smaller dragons are formidable in their own right.
HOW TO RUN A FANTASY PUB:
Your guide to managing the ultimate tavern! From stocking mystical brews to handling rowdy adventurers, we cover it all. Learn to create the perfect atmosphere for quests, gossip, and fantastical refreshments.
CHRONICLES OF ELENWYTH:
EVOKER’S FURY Return for the adventures of Barney, Misty and the wrath they will soon face in the next two chapters!
