The Battle of Blyth Field

Diplomatic action

A farming village is tormented by a great beast who unintentionally crossed the Divide. As one of the first major incidents following the Event, the "Battle" of Blyth Field triggers reactions from both sides that will reverberate for years.

Several days after the Event, a small farming village hundreds of miles from the Divide reports that they’ve defeated a “great flying beast”. In a time when press coverage is spread thin, Blyth Field receives limited attention until the pictures begin to spread; pictures of the severed head of a very large gold dragon.   Initial reports tell the story of the dragon’s rampage thru the town and the townspeople’s brave and costly battle to defeat the beast. Given the chaos of the time, these reports are accepted without question. In the months that follow, reports begin to contradict the initial story. As it turns out, no townspeople died in the battle. The more serious wounds appear to be self-inflicted; the result of unskilled combatants. Damage to the village also doesn’t match the story of a rampaging beast.   Many groups come forward to question the events. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen the dragon crashing into a barn and stumbling around town confused. A few townspeople say it was trying to fly away unsuccessfully, even before it was initially attacked. A 10-year anniversary newspaper report tells an alternate, fanciful version where the dragon saves a young boy from the collapsing barn and tries to communicate with him.   Based on the events and questions surrounding the Battle of Blyth Field, the States along the Divide announce that dragons are not allowed unescorted into their territory. The Overflight, a ruling body of ancient dragons, goes further, forbidding any of its kind from entering the World of Science. Rumors spread that dragons cannot travel too far into the World of Science without losing their powers.