Zhoraska the Red Matron

Zhoraska, called the Red Matron, was the last red dragon of Khûm.

Appearance

Zhoraska was an ancient worm, redolent with power. As with many red dragons of her age, Zhoraska's scales were a much deeper crimson, appearing almost violet in certain lights. Her underbelly was carpeted with ingrown treasure – gems and ingots and fabulous jewels plundered from dwarven vaults. She was considerably heavier than other dragons around her size – thicker in body and limb, such that flight proved that much more difficult for her. To make matters worse, a lucky spear toss from Dûnya Dragonbane's Zhagkûnar in 65 2A tore a ragged hole in her left wing, impeding her flight still more.

History

First Age

Precious little was known about Zhoraska's early life as either kobold or dragonborn. She was mostly likely the spawn of Umavrakos First-Flame and an unknown mate, hatching sometime around 110 1A. The first known appearance of a dragon matching her description was dated to 213 1A. Like all the First-Flame's brood, Zhoraska roved throughout much of her younger years, squabbling with her siblings over treasure and territory.
Zhoraska was also unusual in that she laid several broods over her long history. Many of the red dragons dwelling in Khûm's First and Second Ages – Grazthaka Flamebelly, the Recluse and Tyrodax the Wyrmling – were all the products of her first and second spawns, respectively. She changed lairs several times during this period, eventually settling in Cloudfall, the wreckage of a Castle Cloudpeak prototype that crashed in the Flagstones in 710 1A.
As the First Age was drawing to a close, Zhoraska felt the same urge as the rest of her kin. Unexpectedly taking to the wing in 898 1A, she joined the Flight of Dragons and departed Khûm, winging away to somewhere unknown. She – nor any other dragon – was seen in Khûm for 50 years.

Second Age

Shortly after her return, Zhoraska caught word that one of her children - Grazthaka Firebelly – was slain by the upstart dwarven queen Dûnya Truesilver. What's more, she'd slain Vhaskolak Coin-Counter a few years previously and had earned the nickname "Dragonbane". Always cautious to leap into danger, Zhoraska watched this queen as she continued to systematically hunt down the red dragons of Khûm. The death of the Recluse, her favored wyrmling from her first brood, cut her particularly deep.
Once Dûnya downed Umbrakhar the Extinguished, arguably the second most powerful dragon in Khûm, Zhoraska knew she must act to save her final remaining child. In 65 2A, Zhoraska set an ambush. While Dûnya's dragonslayers attempted to infiltrate Tyrodax's lair in the Range of Sovereigns, Zhoraska descended upon the unsuspecting crownguard and decimated them. Their victory all but complete once Tyrodax joined the fight, Zhoraska's worst wound was a spear throw straight through the membrane of her wing, tearing open a ragged hole that impeded her flight.
While Dûnya escaped unharmed, Zhoraska considered this a great victory and retired back to her lair to bask atop her treasure in peace. Little did she know how soon Dûnya would wreak her own revenge.

Personality

For a red dragon, Zhoraska was an unusual specimen on several axises. She was more cautious and less prone to anger than the average creature of her kind. While she valued gold and luxuriated upon an immense hoard in the depths of Cloudfall, her primary concern was for her children, a trait quite uncommon among dragons. When driven to act, she was careful, tactical and deliberate, difficult to goad into action. Only when her children were threatened did she sometimes ask rashly or from spleen.

Abilities

As an ancient red dragon, Zhoraska was approaching god-like in her power. In addition to her sheer size, her claws and teeth were weapons capable of felling giants with single swipes. She could sense treasure and know the properties of magical items from miles away. Her body was heated to such a degree that even standing near her was too much for most mortals to bear. Her greatest weapon – her breath – was hot enough to melt stone.
Due to her weight and injured wing, however, Zhoraska was not an especially flyer, particularly not in combat.

Lair

For her final lair, Zhoraska chose the tumbled, upside castle ruin of Cloudfall. Dropping from the sky thanks to a mechanical malfunction in 710 1A, the shattered ruin lay broken atop the Flagstones, deep in the Firewood. While Zhoraska made her home high in the castle's inverted dungeons, the surrounding forest was warped and transformed by presence. Rivers dried up, trees burnt to cinders, ash rained from the sky.  For miles in every direction, it was a scorched hellscape and no cover from the dragon's blistering gaze. 

Campaigns

The Menagerie 

• Khûm: When Dûnya, her dragonslayers and the Commander's Tent attacked Tyrodax, his roar of outrage was answered by Zhoraska, clear across the kingdom (Chapter 6). As fast as her wings could carry her, the Red Matron flew towards her son's lair but arrived too late to save him. From high atop Havhed's statue, she bellowed a challenge to Dûnya, threatening the queen in no uncertain terms. Catching the Mystriarchy's scent, she pursued the dwarves into a cave and nearly melted the rock before something compelled her away north (Chapter 7).

Name: Zhoraska
Epithet: Red Matron
Born: 110 1A
Height: 86'2"
Weight: 175,000 lbs
Scales: Red
Eyes: Yellow
Alignment: Neutral Evil
First Appeared: Khûm – Chapter 8