Mist Dragons

"When the blue flames descended, some say it burned away all the magic in the world. And they say those dragons, so full of magic themselves, the fire devoured them whole and licked at their bones. But now, just like the damned mists, hoverin' just off shore and rolling into the city walls when its gets dark, so too do the dragons who used to rule these lands soar overhead, watching and waiting for their next meal."

Historical Basis

Numerous accounts of "unblinking reptilian eyes" and "massive soaring wings" seen within the constantly shiftings mists of the Shrouding are recorded throughout the stories of sailors and merchant expeditions. In the years of turmoil following the catastrophe, a theory of how the Shrouding destroyed magic and thus many of the most powerful creatures and monsters as well rapidly grew to popularity and eventually cultural assumption. Scholars challenge the causality of such a claim, instead preferring to claim the events are correlated and both likely tied to the Shrouding, but lack empirical evidence to confirm such a relation. Arcanists, on the other hand, outright deny the destruction of magic as the cause of the Shrouding or its numerous consequences, citing the divine isolation and all manners of other theories as to why their spells no longer function as intended.

Variations & Mutation

In addition to seeing dragons in the fog, those who make a living or habit of traveling beyond the walls into the mist often return with stories of seeing all manners of other creatures beyond the mist, including depictions of monstrous creatures not previously recorded.
When speaking of Mist Dragons specifically, no two tellings nor descriptions of the dragon are ever the same. Some describe eyes of blue flame gazing toward them through the fog. Others describe the sudden wind of the flapping of wings filling their sails. Most cannot describe the physical nature, but express the haunting sensation of being observed and stalked by something unnervingly powerful.

Cultural Reception

Once this legend of a dragon composed of mist swirling above the Dela Sea reached the shores of Chalon, the story spread like a flame through the Towerview district. Since becoming a cultural touchstone, grander stories and more intense encounters with Mist Dragons constantly crop up in taverns and market exchanges.

Date of First Recording

1386