The tunnel shudders under a slow, rolling growl from deeper below. The ward at the nest mouth brightens, then flickers hard toward the sound.
In the far cave, a vast blue dragon steps into view. His scales catch the green-white light like wet stone, and his bulk fills the opening.
Thovik
I am Thovik. This den reeks of stolen warmth. Who binds the deep and dares call it safe?
The ward answers him with a sharp flare, and the glow around the eggs pulses brighter. The beacon has found its eye.
Thovik
Little keeper, bring your strength to the cave mouth, or watch your hatchling line be broken.
Erma stands between the nest and the dark, while the ward line hums at full tension. The challenge is clear, Thovik has come straight for the sanctuary’s heart.
✓ Quest Accepted
Hold the sanctuary ward against Thovik
“I breath weapon divine light Thovik”
SUCCESS (Superb Electric offensive, rolled +0)
Erma exhales, and divine light pours from his jaws in a clean, blinding line. It strikes Thovik full in the chest and throat, washing the blue scales in white-gold glare.
Thovik
Ghh... what are you?
The rival dragon staggers back into the cave mouth, claws scraping stone. Green-white static crackles across the threshold, and the ward flashes in answer without breaking.
A spray of dust bursts from the cave lip as Thovik lowers one wing to shield his face. Behind Erma, the newborn dragon stares up in bright, awe-struck silence.
The Elder Knight
The line holds. Hold to it, Erma.
Thovik drags one claw across the blue-lit stone, then pulls back beyond the mouth, shaken and forced off the ward.
Quest Complete
Hold the sanctuary ward against Thovik