Black Dragon King

Todruk-Berthad: The Black Dragon King

The Volcanic Birth

From the deepest volcanic trenches of Marenwe, in the primordial age before mortal kingdoms, emerged Todruk-Berthad. Ancient records describe his initial manifestation during the Age of Shrines, when godlings sought Te Vevutur's favor through grand displays of power. Though counted among the minor Eeirendelios, Todruk-Berthad served faithfully as guardian of the hydrothermal vents - those sacred places where fire and water meet in harmonious creation.

When first he rose from oceanic depths, his scales gleamed copper-bright against abyssal darkness, and gems formed wherever his wings touched stone. The sacred heat of his breath brought forth minerals from the deepest places, enriching waters with life-giving elements.

— Dienean of Merr, First Annalist

Under the guidance of the goddess Iadnan, Todruk-Berthad oversaw the delicate balance of underwater volcanic activity. His domain encompassed thermal vents where fire met water in creative harmony, producing the mineral-rich environments that would later foster Merrvesine civilization. For centuries, he performed these duties with unwavering dedication, his draconic form perfectly suited to withstand both scorching heat and crushing oceanic pressure.
The first Merrvesine settlements erected shrines honoring Todruk-Berthad alongside their primary devotion to Dāéranon. These underwater temples, crafted from coral and volcanic glass, celebrated the harmonious union of opposing elements. Prayers offered at these shrines sought balanced bounty - neither too much volcanic activity, which would boil the waters, nor too little, which would cool the life-giving vents.

Corruption's Touch

The coming of the Black Fire in 7596 forever changed Todruk-Berthad's nature. When Aejeon and Malovatar unleashed this corrupting force, its tendrils reached even into the deepest oceanic trenches. Lavos, most cunning of the Black Fire Generals, recognized the strategic value of corrupting a deity who commanded both fire and water. During a pivotal battle near the Eternal Maelstrom, Lavos engaged Todruk-Berthad directly.
The confrontation proved catastrophic. Though Todruk-Berthad fought valiantly, the corrupting power of the Black Fire overwhelmed his defenses. The transformation began at his core, his molten heart darkening from life-giving fire to consuming void. His copper scales blackened like obsidian, while his creative breath became caustic and destructive.

The dragon who birthed mountains now unmakes stones,
The guardian of life now harbinger of doom,
His heart once bright with creation's fire,
Now beats with darkness beyond naming.
— Lament of the Deep Places

Merrvesine chronicles record the horror of witnessing their guardian's corruption. Whereas once his presence brought mineral wealth and stability to underwater kingdoms, now his approach caused waters to curdle and coral to bleach white with death. The sacred vents under his protection began producing toxic emanations, forcing abandonment of settlements that had thrived for generations.

The Eastern Migration

Unable to maintain his place within Marenwe due to growing conflict with the forces of Dāéranon, Todruk-Berthad fled eastward. His corrupted form could no longer endure prolonged submersion in sacred waters, driving him to seek mountainous regions where his draconic nature might establish new dominion. The eastern territories, less firmly under control of the Major Houses, provided opportunity for his corrupted power to take root.
During this migration, Todruk-Berthad underwent further transformation. His scales hardened into impenetrable armor that repelled both physical and magical attacks. His breath weapon evolved from mere flame to a corrosive mixture that dissolved both matter and spirit. Most significantly, his mental powers expanded dramatically, allowing him to dominate weaker minds across vast distances.
The primitive eastern tribes encountered this transformed deity with mixed response. Some fled before his terrifying aspect, while others prostrated themselves in worship, erecting crude stone temples in his honor. Todruk-Berthad accepted these followers not out of benevolence but pragmatic need - each worshipper strengthened his position while providing necessary resources for his growing ambitions.

He came to our ancestors wreathed in shadow and flame, his voice speaking directly into their minds. Those who resisted perished in acid fire; those who knelt received strange blessings that changed their bloodlines forever.

— Kazidax Nightscale, Dragonborn Historian

Within a century of his arrival, Todruk-Berthad had established firm control over eastern mountain ranges. His primary seat of power, the Obsidian Throne, was carved from an active volcano whose periodic eruptions he controlled with precise application of his corrupted power. From this terrible seat, he gazed westward with hungry eyes, plotting expansion beyond his mountain domain.

The Creation of the Dragonborn

Perhaps Todruk-Berthad's most enduring legacy emerged from his need for capable servants. Ordinary mortals proved too frail for his purposes - their minds shattered under direct telepathic control, while their bodies failed when exposed to the corrosive atmosphere surrounding his volcanic throne. The solution came through dark ritual and corrupted creation magic derived from his original divine purpose.
Selecting seven women from conquered tribes, Todruk-Berthad performed elaborate ceremonies involving blood sacrifice and exposure to concentrated Black Fire essence. These chosen vessels each bore a single offspring, neither fully dragon nor fully humanoid, but something transcending both. These first dragonborn inherited aspects of their father's corrupt power: acid breath, telepathic influence, remarkable longevity, and instinctual command presence.

From seven wombs came seven seeds,
From dragon's breath and mortal need,
Not beast, not man, but something new,
With scales of night and eyes of fire,
To serve the throne for all their days,
And spread their father's dark desire.
— The Birthing Hymn of Kazitar

Each dragonspawn established separate territories across eastern lands, founding bloodlines that would become the noble houses of the future Twin-Headed Empire. Their descendants gradually transformed through generations, scales spreading across increasingly humanoid forms until recognizable dragonborn emerged - distant yet direct heirs to Todruk-Berthad's corrupted legacy.
The seven houses - Kazitar, Vexilus, Norgath, Zhalnost, Ryxanar, Azumar, and Krezak - each specialized in different aspects of their progenitor's power. House Kazitar inherited the strongest telepathic abilities, while Vexilus produced the most potent acid breath. Norgath dragonborn developed nearly impenetrable scales, and Zhalnost members could withstand extreme environments. Ryxanar became masters of draconic sorcery, Azumar produced the most charismatic leaders, and Krezak specialized in battlefield tactics.

The Forging of the Minotaurs

As dragonborn houses established eastern dominance, Todruk-Berthad perceived a fundamental weakness in his created hierarchy. His children, though powerful, inherited his ambition alongside his strengths. Their competitive nature threatened constant internal conflict, potentially undermining his greater goals of western conquest. He required counterbalance - warriors mighty enough to challenge dragonborn if necessary, yet fundamentally different in temperament and loyalty.
Drawing upon half-remembered knowledge of Lavos's summoning techniques, Todruk-Berthad tore small breaches between realms. Through these dimensional rifts, he extracted beings of pure concept - spirits embodying strength, loyalty, and unyielding determination. These abstract entities required physical forms to maintain presence in the material world.
For this purpose, Todruk-Berthad selected the strongest human warriors from conquered tribes. Through magical rituals blending Black Fire corruption with his original creative power, he merged mortal flesh with conceptual spirits. The result produced the first minotaurs - massive bull-headed humanoids whose mental landscape combined human adaptability with unstoppable determination.

We are born of two worlds yet belong to neither. Our bodies come from human stock, our spirits from realms beyond comprehension, our purpose from the Black King's will. Unlike our scaled cousins, we seek not power for its own sake, but honor through service and strength through discipline.

— Kargos Ironhorn, First Minotaur Chronicler

These early minotaurs organized around concepts of honor and duty rather than ambition and domination. Their culture developed complex rituals emphasizing personal responsibility, oath-keeping, and ancestor veneration. While dragonborn established hierarchical societies based on bloodline purity, minotaur communities valued meritocratic advancement through proven deeds and wisdom.
The earliest minotaur settlements arose in valleys surrounding Todruk-Berthad's volcanic throne. There they established agricultural communities supplemented by hunting, their societies organized around tight-knit clans led by councils of elders. Though they acknowledged the Black Dragon King's authority, their daily governance remained largely autonomous, establishing precedent for the balanced rulership that would later characterize the Twin-Headed Empire.

Expansion and Empire

For three centuries following creation of dragonborn and minotaurs, Todruk-Berthad's eastern domains expanded through systematic conquest. Dragonborn noble houses led military campaigns while minotaur legions provided disciplined infantry support. Conquered humans faced three choices: enslavement, sacrifice, or assimilation as second-class citizens within the growing empire.
Todruk-Berthad's direct involvement in governance gradually decreased during this period. His corrupted essence grew increasingly unstable, requiring prolonged meditation within his volcanic throne to maintain physical cohesion. During these meditative periods, which grew longer with each passing decade, administrative authority fell to a council comprising representatives from each dragonborn house and the minotaur high clans.
This council, initially formed as temporary measure, gradually developed into permanent governing body. Though theoretical authority remained with Todruk-Berthad, practical rulership increasingly fell to his created races. This arrangement suited the Black Dragon King's purposes, as it freed him to pursue deeper corruption of his divine essence while his empire continued expanding.

The Dragon sleeps in mountain deep,
While children spread his shadow far,
From eastern peaks to western keep,
From southern plains to northern star.
— Warning Chant of Border Settlements

By the sixth century of his eastern reign, Todruk-Berthad's empire encompassed territories stretching from volcanic mountains to fertile western plains. Three former human kingdoms had fallen to his forces, their traditions preserved only through fragments carried by refugees fleeing westward. These displaced populations brought alarming tales to western realms, warning of black-scaled conquerors, bull-headed warriors, and the shadowy dragon god who commanded their loyalty.

The Western Response

Initial western reaction to refugee reports combined dismissal with complacency. Established kingdoms, secure in their ancient defenses and divine protection, considered eastern Events distant concern at most. This changed dramatically when dragonborn forces breached the Sentinel Mountains, previously considered impassable barrier between east and west.
The fall of Lysoria, westernmost human kingdom beyond the mountains, finally shocked remaining nations into recognition of existential threat. Lysoria's destruction proved particularly horrifying - not merely military defeat, but complete cultural and spiritual annihilation. Survivors reported systematic destruction of temples, libraries, and historical monuments, alongside forced conversion of population to draconic worship.

They came not merely to conquer but to erase. Every stone bearing our history was toppled, every scroll preserving our knowledge burned, every priest maintaining our traditions publicly executed. Within a generation, Lysoria would exist only in memory of refugees.

— Aerlith Stormborn, Lysorian Survivor

Faced with undeniable threat, western kingdoms began unprecedented diplomatic initiative. Ancient rivals swallowed pride and grievances, forming alliance against draconic expansion. High elven spell-shapers from Thiandalune contributed magical expertise, dwarven runesmiths from Zerthia provided enchanted weaponry, and human battle-priests established communication networks spanning multiple kingdoms.
The most surprising alliance formed between Marenwē and Malondria, traditional elemental enemies whose cooperation had previously seemed impossible. Dāéranon and Aergerus, though maintaining mutual distrust, recognized Todruk-Berthad as greater threat to cosmic balance than their traditional rivalry. Together they dispatched divine agents to assist western resistance, providing crucial intelligence regarding Black Fire corruption's weaknesses.

The Order of the Trident

From this multi-realm cooperation emerged the Order of the Trident, elite fighting force specifically trained to combat Black Fire corruption. Founded jointly by representatives from each allied kingdom, the Order combined disparate martial traditions into cohesive methodology. High Elven magic weavers served alongside Dwarven rune-knights and Human battle-chaplains, their traditional techniques blended into new fighting styles.
The Order's name derived from their signature weapon: three-pronged spears representing unity of earth, water, and fire against corruption. Each prong contained different enchantment - earth prong grounded chaotic energies, water prong disrupted telepathic control, and fire prong (ironically) burned away corrupted essence with purified flame. Together, these enchantments could temporarily nullify advantages granted by Black Fire corruption.
Branon, though not directly involved in Order's founding, provided crucial support through earth-blessed weapons and tactical advice. His experience fighting corrupted deities during First Black Fire War proved invaluable for developing strategies against Todruk-Berthad's forces. The Order established training compounds in remote mountainous regions, where recruits underwent rigorous preparation for confronting corrupted beings.

Three points to pierce corruption's heart,
Three realms united against the dark,
Three oaths to bind each warrior's soul:
To stand as shield for those who cannot fight,
To strike as sword against the coming night,
To serve as light when shadows grow too deep.
— Initiation Oath of the Order

Within decade of its founding, the Order of the Trident had established network of watchposts along contested borders. These fortified positions served dual purpose - defensive bulwarks against draconic incursion and intelligence-gathering outposts monitoring enemy movements. Information flowed back to central command through magical communication relays, enabling coordinated response to threats across wide geographical area.

The Seven-Year War

Full-scale conflict erupted in 7690, when minotaur legions supported by dragonborn sorcerers launched simultaneous assaults against three border watchposts. The coordinated nature of attacks suggested Todruk-Berthad's direct involvement, ending centuries of relative dormancy within his volcanic throne. Allied forces found themselves suddenly confronting enemy that combined brute strength with sophisticated magical support and telepathic coordination.
Initial battles favored eastern forces. Minotaur berserkers proved nearly unstoppable on open battlefield, while dragonborn acid breath neutralized defensive fortifications. Most concerning, scout reports indicated Todruk-Berthad himself had emerged from volcanic isolation, leading vanguard of elite corrupted champions whose very presence caused reality distortion.

The earth wept beneath his talons, and the sky darkened above his wings. Those who gazed directly upon his form suffered nightmares for weeks afterward, their minds unable to process such concentrated corruption. Even veteran Trident warriors found themselves paralyzed with supernatural dread in his presence.

— Commander Valthorn, Order of the Trident

Allied command adopted desperate strategy - sacrificial defense of strategic chokepoints while main forces adapted to enemy capabilities. Entire companies volunteered for these delaying actions, knowing their chances of survival measured in hours rather than days. Their heroic last stands became legendary, immortalized in songs still performed throughout western realms.
Gradual adaptation turned tide of conflict. Dwarven engineers developed filtered helmets protecting against acid breath, while elven enchanters created wards disrupting telepathic coordination. Human battle-priests discovered purification rituals that could cleanse areas of lingering corruption, enabling forces to reclaim territory without suffering continuing magical effects.
Most significantly, the Order of the Trident developed specialized tactics for confronting Todruk-Berthad directly. These approaches emphasized mobility over direct engagement, constantly shifting attack vectors to prevent the dragon king from focusing his overwhelming power. Combined with weapons specifically enchanted against corrupted divine essence, these tactics allowed small elite teams to effectively harass the otherwise unstoppable dragon.
The turning point came during Battle of Ashen Valley, when allied forces successfully separated Todruk-Berthad from his dragonborn lieutenants. Isolated from telepathic support network, the Black Dragon King found himself simultaneously engaged by seven Trident strike teams attacking from different directions. Though he slew four teams completely, the remaining three managed to inflict significant wounds using earth-blessed weapons that resisted his corrupted healing factor.

The Final Confrontation

Following victory at Ashen Valley, allied forces pressed advantage through aggressive counter-offensive. Liberated territories quickly secured through combination of military occupation and magical purification, preventing enemy from regrouping. Sensing inevitable defeat through conventional warfare, Todruk-Berthad withdrew remaining forces toward his volcanic throne, preparing for final confrontation where his power would be strongest.
Allied command recognized both opportunity and danger in pursuing enemy to his stronghold. Victory there could end conflict permanently, but volcanic terrain provided overwhelming advantage to corrupted fire deity. After lengthy debate, compromise strategy emerged - main army would secure outlying territories while elite strike force comprising Order of the Trident's finest warriors would infiltrate volcano directly.
This final assault team included representatives from all allied races, each chosen for specific capabilities complementing overall mission. High Elven mages provided magical countermeasures against environmental hazards, Dwarven champions brought expertise navigating underground terrain, and Human assassins contributed stealth techniques for approaching undetected. Supporting these specialists, Order veterans who had survived previous encounters with Todruk-Berthad offered tactical guidance based on hard-won experience.
The approach to volcanic throne required three weeks of careful advancement through increasingly hostile territory. Acidic gases, unstable ground, and corrupted guardian beasts claimed nearly third of strike force before they reached inner sanctum. Those who survived found Todruk-Berthad waiting upon massive obsidian throne, his form having undergone further transformation during retreat.

No longer dragon, no longer god,
But something stretched between definition,
His scales like voids in reality's fabric,
His eyes like windows into howling chaos,
His voice like silence that drowns all thought.
— Survivor's Account, Sealed Archives

The ensuing battle rewrote landscape itself. Todruk-Berthad's corrupted power warped physical laws within volcanic chamber, allowing him to attack from multiple angles simultaneously while remaining physically untouchable. Strike team responded with carefully coordinated assault plan, each member fulfilling specific role while others provided support and distraction.
After hours of desperate combat that claimed half remaining strike force, team leader Commander Aerith Dawnsword identified crucial weakness in enemy's defenses. The corruption sustaining Todruk-Berthad's enhanced form required constant circulation between physical body and volcanic energies below throne. If this connection could be severed, his physical manifestation would become temporarily vulnerable.
Implementation of this insight required supreme sacrifice. Three warriors volunteered to create diversion while Aerith positioned herself beneath obsidian throne. When moment came, she drove earth-blessed spear directly into volcanic conduit, disrupting energy flow at cost of her own life as lava engulfed her position. The resulting magical feedback temporarily neutralized Todruk-Berthad's defensive aura, allowing remaining team members to launch concentrated assault against his physical form.
The Black Dragon King fell to combined efforts of survivors, his body literally torn apart by weapons designed specifically to counter corrupted divine essence. Yet even in defeat, his malevolence persisted - with final breath, he released corrupted soul-energy in explosive wave that killed all remaining attackers and collapsed entire volcanic chamber.

We did not truly vanquish him. His physical form was destroyed, his immediate threat ended, but the corruption he embodied cannot be so easily eliminated. The price was beyond calculation - three hundred thousand lives lost across seven years, irreplaceable artifacts and knowledge destroyed, landscapes permanently scarred by corrupted magic. And his legacy continues through his children's blood.

— General Aelaron Brightblade, Supreme Allied Commander

Legacy and Dormancy

The destruction of Todruk-Berthad's physical form ended immediate threat to western realms but left complex aftermath in eastern territories. Without telepathic dominance of their creator, dragonborn houses and minotaur clans faced existential crisis of purpose. Centuries of expansion under draconic guidance suddenly gave way to power vacuum threatening civil war among competing factions.
Surprisingly, resolution came through unprecedented cooperation between traditional enemies. The dragonborn houses, recognizing that continued conflict would leave all vulnerable to western counter-invasion, proposed power-sharing arrangement with minotaur high clans. This agreement, formalized through elaborate blood-oath ceremonies, established foundations for what would eventually become Twin-Headed Empire.
Under new compact, eastern territories reorganized around principles of balanced governance. Dragonborn houses maintained control over magical and spiritual affairs, while minotaur clans oversaw military and administrative functions. Human populations received limited representation through regional councils, though full citizenship remained restricted to dragonborn and minotaurs.

Two heads upon one mighty body,
Scale and horn in equal measure,
Neither ruling without the other,
Neither bowing before their brother,
United in strength though divided in blood.
— Founding Poem of Twin-Headed Empire

Western alliance, exhausted by seven years of brutal conflict, accepted negotiated peace rather than pressing advantage through continued warfare. The resulting treaty established demilitarized buffer zone between eastern and western territories, with Order of the Trident maintaining watchposts monitoring compliance with terms. Both sides recognized practical necessity of stability, even while maintaining deep ideological differences.
The most troubling aspect of post-war situation concerned Todruk-Berthad's spiritual essence. Unlike normal divine beings whose energy dissipates or transforms upon death, corrupted deities leave unstable spiritual residue that cannot be easily neutralized. Reports from sensitive individuals and magical monitoring stations confirmed that fragments of the Black Dragon King's consciousness persisted, primarily concentrated around seven sites connected to original dragonspawn bloodlines.
These corruption zones became subject of careful study by Order of the Trident specialists. Their research suggested that while immediate resurrection remained impossible, gradual reconstitution could not be ruled out over sufficient time scale. This concern prompted establishment of permanent magical wards around identified sites, combined with regular purification rituals designed to gradually neutralize lingering corruption.

The Twin-Headed Empire Today

In centuries following Todruk-Berthad's defeat, the Twin-Headed Empire has evolved into stable if authoritarian state. Its territory encompasses eastern third of known world, bordered by mountains to west and ocean to east. Internal divisions follow natural geographic features, with seven provinces each dominated by specific dragonborn house, while minotaur high clans maintain separate autonomous regions.
Modern imperial governance operates through complex system of checks and balances. Twin emperors - one dragonborn, one minotaur - share executive authority, with each holding veto power over other's decisions. Supporting imperial throne, High Council comprises representatives from all dragonborn houses and minotaur clans, providing legislative function and resolving disputes between provinces.
Despite centuries of political evolution, Todruk-Berthad's influence remains evident throughout imperial culture. Dragonborn noble houses undergo scarification ceremonies mimicking their progenitor's corruption patterns, with acid breath used to etch accomplishments directly onto scales. Military formations follow tactical patterns established during draconic expansion, while architectural preferences favor obsidian and basalt reminiscent of the original volcanic throne.

We acknowledge our dark heritage without embracing its excesses. The Black King gave us life and purpose, yet we have moved beyond his shadow into our own destiny. His strength flows through our bloodlines, but our choices remain our own.

— Empress Vezixis IV, current dragonborn ruler

Human populations within empire experience complex social position. While discrimination remains institutionalized through separate legal codes and restricted opportunities, gradual reforms have improved conditions over generations. Humans may now own property, operate businesses, and even serve in specialized military units, though political representation remains limited to advisory roles without actual voting authority.
The empire maintains guarded relationship with western nations. Diplomatic exchanges occur regularly through neutral border settlements, while carefully regulated trade benefits both economies. Nevertheless, centuries of ideological differences and historical grievances prevent true normalization of relations. Western populations generally view eastern empire as potential threat held in check only through vigilance and military preparedness.

Whispers of Return

Throughout Twin-Headed Empire, disturbing rumors have recently begun circulating among those sensitive to magical emanations. The corruption zones connected to Todruk-Berthad's essence reportedly show increased activity, with monitoring stations detecting subtle but measurable changes in energy patterns. Dream-seers report nightmares featuring draconic imagery, while diviners find their scrying attempts disrupted by shadowy interference.
Most concerning, seven ancient artifacts allegedly containing fragments of Todruk-Berthad's power have become subjects of renewed interest among certain factions within dragonborn noble houses. These objects - known collectively as "The Dragon's Scales" - supposedly contain essence captured during their progenitor's final moments. According to forbidden texts, reuniting these artifacts under specific circumstances could potentially facilitate Todruk-Berthad's return.
The Order of the Trident maintains heightened alert status along eastern borders, with veteran members recalled from retirement to reinforce watchposts. Their reports indicate increased archaeological activity around suspected corruption zones, along with unusual movement patterns among certain dragonborn noble house military units. Though no treaty violations have occurred, the pattern suggests coordinated preparation for potential future conflict.

The dragon sleeps but does not die,
His dreams touch minds across the land,
His children hear his silent cry,
His essence waits for guiding hand.
Seven scales from seven spawn,
Seven sites of sacred power,
Seven rituals at sacred dawn,
To wake the king in darkest hour.
— Forbidden Prophecy, Imperial Restricted Archives

Within imperial hierarchy, attitudes toward these developments vary dramatically. Traditional factions, particularly among older dragonborn nobles, view potential return of their progenitor as glorious second coming that would restore proper order. Reformist elements, more common among younger generations and minotaur leadership, consider such possibility existential threat to independence they have established over centuries.
Most imperial citizens remain unaware of these esoteric concerns, their lives continuing unchanged despite increasing tension among ruling classes. Markets still operate, festivals still occur, and daily routines proceed without interruption. Yet careful observers note subtle signs of preparation - increased military training exercises, stockpiling of specific resources, and quiet reinforcement of defensive infrastructure along western borders.
Whether these preparations indicate genuine belief in imminent return or merely precautionary measures remains unclear. What cannot be questioned is that shadow of Todruk-Berthad continues influencing imperial policy and culture. The Black Dragon King, though physically defeated centuries ago, maintains posthumous grip on empire born from his corrupted essence, his legacy shaping decisions that affect millions across eastern territories.
The question that haunts both eastern and western leadership remains unanswered: Can corrupted divinity truly die, or does defeat merely initiate period of dormancy before inevitable return? The answer may determine fate of nations and races across known world, as ancient corruption seeks new channels for manifestation in never-ending cycle of cosmic conflict.

We maintain constant vigilance not from fear but from wisdom. The corruption that shaped Todruk-Berthad transcends physical form - it is fundamental perversion of divine purpose that cannot be permanently destroyed, only contained and purified over time. Our work continues not for years or decades, but for centuries yet to come.

— Grandmaster Thalior, current leader of Order of the Trident