The Great Dragon Fall Feud
There is something to be said for Dragon Falls.
It's a rarity, yes, if a Dragon is slain-but even more so if they're slain within human proximation. Which is why it was such an oddity that when an ancient greying dragon hobbled down the side of the mountain, it simply flopped in a field between two towns and passed away while everyone slept. It simply found a spot in a bit of unclaimed land, circled once or twice. Laid down as a cat or a large dog would. And quietly passed during the night.
Now some would be driven to excitement-its horde is now unguarded and its cave now a massive TROVE of adventure and discovery. Others would be perturbed for the fact a creature that big and fierce some simply laid down and DIED near humans like that. But for the two towns the Dragon's body lay between-it was financial opportunity.
You see, when a Dragon Fall happens-wealth is to follow. The parts can be harvested. Claws, Teeth, Scales, Spikes-all important ingredients in spells and potions and armor. Its organs could be harvested and cut up to make skins for pouches, waterproof cloaks and contraceptives, it's blood if harvested quickly enough made for hearty soup stock. The meat with the right hands and right preparation-would last two whole winters. Bones could be used to make the skeletons of new houses and would bring good luck in the fragments that splintered off to those who carried it. If lucky-the massive stones that form in its throat much like a tonsil stone-a Dragon Stone-could be found. And change a puttering poor village into a city of overflowing wealth.
That being said-the Dragon Fall was between two towns.
When they discovered the Dragon Fall, in its final repose-the question wasn't for once 'how do we harvest this all?' 'How long has it been here?' 'How can we make the most of this?' as most sensible people would think.
No-their immediate first thought was 'Who gets the rights to the Dragon Fall.'
They started by measuring. Whoever's town was closest to the Dragon Fall could claim it.
The Dragon Fall happened at exact equal distance between the two Towns. Right down to the property line that divided the two pieces of land-it laid dead equally on either side.
Then came the arguments and the documents. Dredging up old maps and such to try and find some kind of loophole declaring that there was just a BIT more of the Dragon Fall on their side. No go.
Then came to the people who actually OWNED the land where the Dragon died. Which was no one on either side-Which was no one. It was unused public fields that were kept untouched to encourage wild game to flourish so that both towns could hunt recreationally.
The bidding wars began-Now people of their respective lands were trying to find anyway to prove THEY legally owned the land of the Dragon Fall in hopes that they could at least have some SAY and CLAIM to the wealth. Old Grudges were stirred back up, Bets and barters made by Great Grandparents were resurfaced-agreements on bar napkins, lost poker games, verbal contracts-At least 4 people died in fights over the intangibility of the ownership of a piece of land that they didn't care about a fortnight ago.
There is something to be said-ironically-for those who wait to harvest a Dragon Fall.
If you don't pick up after yourself quickly-a scavenger would soon come along and do it for you.
A Necromancer, amiable and relatively bored one day happened upon the two towns. Watched with perusing interest at the fights occurring-the rivalries and blood feuds now boiling over not just the two towns but between themselves-with the curiosity of a tourist minus the tropical shirt.
They eventually made their way down to the unguarded Dragon Fall-neither of the towns considered that they should set up any kind of system of guards for their priceless commodity and took a good look at it. Aside from the natural decay of being in the elements and a few nibbles some animals had taken out of it-the Dragon had been in marvelous condition. Muscles and ligaments still there, bones unbothered and well preserved for a creature it's size aside from a bit of liquid loss.
I neededn't tell you what the Necromancer did-we usually know what they're inclined to do when unsupervised. And if a Necromancer is a scavenger-then a Dragon Fall is great opportunity to he who finds it.
That being said, Both Towns were SHOCKED to see a massive Dragon flying overhead to the skies yonder and frantically when to check their Dragon Fall.
All that was left was the ground-discolored from the blood of it's body pooling where it laid. Making a strange sort of impression on the ground in the shape of the dragon.
The people felt rather embarrassed after all that.
Instead of simply dividing the Dragon Fall equally and both sides profiting, their greed drove them to see who had claim to the whole kit and kaboodle. Greed and Selfishness made enemies of friends and neighbors.
Red Cheeked, everyone went home. It took time. An immense amount of time for everyone to repair the damages they did to each other over 'The Great Dragon Fall Feud' as many great grandchildren would later call it. Old wounds still harbored by some people-gradually healed over and mended with time over one of the more stupid things to happen to two nice towns.
As for the Necromancer and their Undead Dragon?
Again, I couldn't tell you-it's not my business or place to discuss what a Necromancer gets up to.
But I have heard of a massive Necropolis to the East; a city filled with every type of undead creature imaginable coexisting with each other in relative peace. And the new Mascot they've recently acquired. A Massive Undead Dragon who spends their days sleeping on ancient temple roofs.
I heard it's a lovely place to visit during the summer.
