Author: Phillip Tomasso
Publisher: Next Chapter Godo-Kaisha
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 386
Book Description
For over two hundred years, the Rye Empire outlawed the use of magic. Now, the empire has fallen and a new, sinister power is rising. Ambitious and corrupt, The Mountain King will stop at nothing to reach his goals. Enslaving a sorceress to do his bidding, he begins his hunt for lost talismans that can help him bring the wizards back, and harness their power. To save the Old Empire from this growing, sinister magic, seventeen-year-old farm boy Mykal and his friends begin a desperate journey: they must collect the talismans before the Mountain King. On their way, Mykal will have to face fears and accept truths he never knew existed. A war is coming, and their time is running out. And if they fail, a terrible darkness will steal the light from the Grey Ashland Realm... forever.
Wizard's Rise
Author: Phillip Tomasso
Publisher: Next Chapter Godo-Kaisha
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 386
Book Description
For over two hundred years, the Rye Empire outlawed the use of magic. Now, the empire has fallen and a new, sinister power is rising. Ambitious and corrupt, The Mountain King will stop at nothing to reach his goals. Enslaving a sorceress to do his bidding, he begins his hunt for lost talismans that can help him bring the wizards back, and harness their power. To save the Old Empire from this growing, sinister magic, seventeen-year-old farm boy Mykal and his friends begin a desperate journey: they must collect the talismans before the Mountain King. On their way, Mykal will have to face fears and accept truths he never knew existed. A war is coming, and their time is running out. And if they fail, a terrible darkness will steal the light from the Grey Ashland Realm... forever.
Publisher: Next Chapter Godo-Kaisha
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 386
Book Description
For over two hundred years, the Rye Empire outlawed the use of magic. Now, the empire has fallen and a new, sinister power is rising. Ambitious and corrupt, The Mountain King will stop at nothing to reach his goals. Enslaving a sorceress to do his bidding, he begins his hunt for lost talismans that can help him bring the wizards back, and harness their power. To save the Old Empire from this growing, sinister magic, seventeen-year-old farm boy Mykal and his friends begin a desperate journey: they must collect the talismans before the Mountain King. On their way, Mykal will have to face fears and accept truths he never knew existed. A war is coming, and their time is running out. And if they fail, a terrible darkness will steal the light from the Grey Ashland Realm... forever.
Game Wizards
Author: Jon Peterson
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262542951
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
The story of the arcane table-top game that became a pop culture phenomenon and the long-running legal battle waged by its cocreators. When Dungeons & Dragons was first released to a small hobby community, it hardly seemed destined for mainstream success--and yet this arcane tabletop role-playing game became an unlikely pop culture phenomenon. In Game Wizards, Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from hobbyist pastime to mass market sensation, from the initial collaboration to the later feud of its creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. As the game's fiftieth anniversary approaches, Peterson--a noted authority on role-playing games--explains how D&D and its creators navigated their successes, setbacks, and controversies. Peterson describes Gygax and Arneson's first meeting and their work toward the 1974 release of the game; the founding of TSR and its growth as a company; and Arneson's acrimonious departure and subsequent challenges to TSR. He recounts the "Satanic Panic" accusations that D&D was sacrilegious and dangerous, and how they made the game famous. And he chronicles TSR's reckless expansion and near-fatal corporate infighting, which culminated with the company in debt and overextended and the end of Gygax's losing battle to retain control over TSR and D&D. With Game Wizards, Peterson restores historical particulars long obscured by competing narratives spun by the one-time partners. That record amply demonstrates how the turbulent experience of creating something as momentous as Dungeons & Dragons can make people remember things a bit differently from the way they actually happened.
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262542951
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
The story of the arcane table-top game that became a pop culture phenomenon and the long-running legal battle waged by its cocreators. When Dungeons & Dragons was first released to a small hobby community, it hardly seemed destined for mainstream success--and yet this arcane tabletop role-playing game became an unlikely pop culture phenomenon. In Game Wizards, Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from hobbyist pastime to mass market sensation, from the initial collaboration to the later feud of its creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. As the game's fiftieth anniversary approaches, Peterson--a noted authority on role-playing games--explains how D&D and its creators navigated their successes, setbacks, and controversies. Peterson describes Gygax and Arneson's first meeting and their work toward the 1974 release of the game; the founding of TSR and its growth as a company; and Arneson's acrimonious departure and subsequent challenges to TSR. He recounts the "Satanic Panic" accusations that D&D was sacrilegious and dangerous, and how they made the game famous. And he chronicles TSR's reckless expansion and near-fatal corporate infighting, which culminated with the company in debt and overextended and the end of Gygax's losing battle to retain control over TSR and D&D. With Game Wizards, Peterson restores historical particulars long obscured by competing narratives spun by the one-time partners. That record amply demonstrates how the turbulent experience of creating something as momentous as Dungeons & Dragons can make people remember things a bit differently from the way they actually happened.
Lord of the Rose
Author: Doug Niles
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 0786962712
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
First in an all-new trilogy from long-time Dragonlance author Douglas Niles. This title kicks off a key new Dragonlance trilogy from popular Dragonlance author Douglas Niles. This series will explore the post-war era in Solamnia, a central region of the Dragonlance world, continuing key story elements from the New York Times best-selling War of Souls series. AUTHOR BIO: Douglas Niles is the author of over 20 fantasy novels, many of which were published with Wizards of the Coast, Inc. He is also an award-winning roleplaying game designer who was part of the original creation team for the Dragonlance setting two decades ago. His most recent books in the Dragonlance world include Wizards’ Conclave and the Icewall Trilogy.
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 0786962712
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
First in an all-new trilogy from long-time Dragonlance author Douglas Niles. This title kicks off a key new Dragonlance trilogy from popular Dragonlance author Douglas Niles. This series will explore the post-war era in Solamnia, a central region of the Dragonlance world, continuing key story elements from the New York Times best-selling War of Souls series. AUTHOR BIO: Douglas Niles is the author of over 20 fantasy novels, many of which were published with Wizards of the Coast, Inc. He is also an award-winning roleplaying game designer who was part of the original creation team for the Dragonlance setting two decades ago. His most recent books in the Dragonlance world include Wizards’ Conclave and the Icewall Trilogy.
The Rise of Tiamat
Author: Wizards RPG Team
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 0786965657
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Avert the Cataclysmic Return of Tiamat in this Adventure for the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game The Cult of the Dragon leads the charge in an unholy crusade to bring Tiamat back to the Realms, and the situation grows more perilous for good people with each passing moment. The battle becomes increasingly political as opportunities to gather allies and gain advantage present themselves. From Waterdeep to the Sea of Moving Ice to Thay, it is a race against Evil. Succeed or succumb to the oppression of draconic tyranny. Win or lose, things will never be the same again. • The second of two adventures in the Tyranny of Dragons™ story arc, The Rise of Tiamat provides everything a Dungeon Master needs to create an exciting and memorable adventure experience. • Fans of the Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game can get a sample of what this product has in store for them through the D&D Encounters™ in-store play program. • Adventure design and development by Kobold Press.
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ISBN: 0786965657
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Avert the Cataclysmic Return of Tiamat in this Adventure for the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game The Cult of the Dragon leads the charge in an unholy crusade to bring Tiamat back to the Realms, and the situation grows more perilous for good people with each passing moment. The battle becomes increasingly political as opportunities to gather allies and gain advantage present themselves. From Waterdeep to the Sea of Moving Ice to Thay, it is a race against Evil. Succeed or succumb to the oppression of draconic tyranny. Win or lose, things will never be the same again. • The second of two adventures in the Tyranny of Dragons™ story arc, The Rise of Tiamat provides everything a Dungeon Master needs to create an exciting and memorable adventure experience. • Fans of the Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game can get a sample of what this product has in store for them through the D&D Encounters™ in-store play program. • Adventure design and development by Kobold Press.
The Rise of Darkness
Author: Matthew Gomez
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1493169254
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 442
Book Description
There I sat in this dilapidated run down shack. It's in the middle of the night and I had to light a fire in the hearth so that I could see better. Now I'm sitting on a wobbly stool. In front of me is a low laying bed with a small figure in it. It was covered all the way to its chin. I watched as my shadow danced on the wall and splayed across the bed and the lonely figure. I can't believe that I came all this way in the pursuit of knowledge. I sat there waiting and finally the person in front of me sat up and was instantly cloaked in the darkness that was my shadow. It was kind of discomforting when his small voice spoke. "Now come closer sonny you need to hear this. I, Brentwin Forrester, the last of the great story tellers, am about to tell you a tale. It is about an extraordinary man with an extraordinary life. I shall begin with his rise to power. If I do not last through the night, the journals on the dresser shall tell you the rest of his story." I leaned closer and watched as Brentwin began his tale of a man that was both myth and legend.
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1493169254
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 442
Book Description
There I sat in this dilapidated run down shack. It's in the middle of the night and I had to light a fire in the hearth so that I could see better. Now I'm sitting on a wobbly stool. In front of me is a low laying bed with a small figure in it. It was covered all the way to its chin. I watched as my shadow danced on the wall and splayed across the bed and the lonely figure. I can't believe that I came all this way in the pursuit of knowledge. I sat there waiting and finally the person in front of me sat up and was instantly cloaked in the darkness that was my shadow. It was kind of discomforting when his small voice spoke. "Now come closer sonny you need to hear this. I, Brentwin Forrester, the last of the great story tellers, am about to tell you a tale. It is about an extraordinary man with an extraordinary life. I shall begin with his rise to power. If I do not last through the night, the journals on the dresser shall tell you the rest of his story." I leaned closer and watched as Brentwin began his tale of a man that was both myth and legend.
Rise of the Mage
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Keary Taylor Book, INC
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
College is hard—classes, homework, bullies. But, being the daughter of renowned professors, I grew up at Alderidge University and was on track to have an easy start to my freshman year. Until I met Nathaniel Nightingale. Aloof and mysterious, Nathaniel’s hands were covered in scars that told me he had a violent history. He started asking questions about my own, and then dark secrets in our family lines collided after a strange discovery in the library. We found words with power, and they unleashed abilities in the both of us that had been lost to the world. Turns out, the witch trials weren’t entirely the product of mass hysteria. As far as we can tell, almost every mage was wiped out – killed for their knowledge and their capabilities. And now I have to wonder if my mother’s disappearance is related. This is dangerous. It’s feels impossible. We have the weight of an entire lost race resting on our shoulders. But we’ve got this. Together, we’ll bring it all back. Together, we’ll resurrect magic. Rise of the Mage is the first installment of the Resurrecting Magic series, a new adult, medium-burn paranormal romance with a whip smart, broody hero and a sassy, brave heroine. This hot new series is perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches, The Magicians, and Ninth House.
Publisher: Keary Taylor Book, INC
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
College is hard—classes, homework, bullies. But, being the daughter of renowned professors, I grew up at Alderidge University and was on track to have an easy start to my freshman year. Until I met Nathaniel Nightingale. Aloof and mysterious, Nathaniel’s hands were covered in scars that told me he had a violent history. He started asking questions about my own, and then dark secrets in our family lines collided after a strange discovery in the library. We found words with power, and they unleashed abilities in the both of us that had been lost to the world. Turns out, the witch trials weren’t entirely the product of mass hysteria. As far as we can tell, almost every mage was wiped out – killed for their knowledge and their capabilities. And now I have to wonder if my mother’s disappearance is related. This is dangerous. It’s feels impossible. We have the weight of an entire lost race resting on our shoulders. But we’ve got this. Together, we’ll bring it all back. Together, we’ll resurrect magic. Rise of the Mage is the first installment of the Resurrecting Magic series, a new adult, medium-burn paranormal romance with a whip smart, broody hero and a sassy, brave heroine. This hot new series is perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches, The Magicians, and Ninth House.
More than Magic Trilogy
Author: Elizabeth Kirke
Publisher: Elizabeth Kirke
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 835
Book Description
Get the first three books in the award-winning, urban fantasy series More than Magic in a single bundle! This set contains the first three books in the More than Magic series; Semester Aboard, Snow Bound, and Soul Choice. Book One: Semester Aboard (Gold Medal winner, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards) I should have packed a stake. I thought a two-month cruise around Latin America would be filled with magical moments. I never imagined I’d be swimming with a mermaid or hiking through a rainforest with a werewolf. That is, until that fateful night when I met Thomas and the others out on deck and discovered that magic is real. Now, they’re teaching me how to use my newfound powers and what’s more, they’ve welcomed me into the close-knit little family they’ve built together. Turns out we aren’t the only paranormal beings on board, and our bloodthirsty enemy isn’t happy we’re here. A week ago, I didn’t even believe vampires were real, but now we’re being stalked by one. Trapped on the ship, with no way to call for help, it’s up to us to stop him and save the rest of the passengers… and ourselves. If we can’t, we might never set foot on land again. Book Two: Snow Bound The wrong person has learned our secret… It has been five months since I found out that I’m a witch. Even my familiar, Rak, isn’t a replacement for spending time with the other magical beings I grew close with over the summer. A ski trip with them is exactly what I need to immerse myself in magic again. It’s wonderful being back with everyone without a vampire stalking us… but the slopes aren’t as peaceful as they seem. Throw in the surprise arrival of my non-magic cousin, a blizzard, and a suspicious werewolf next door, and our relaxing vacation is turning into a nightmare. After an attack leaves one of us on the brink of death, the race is on to defend ourselves from our mysterious enemy. My magic is stronger now, but will it be strong enough to save my friends, my cousin, and get us all off the mountain alive? Book Three: Soul Choice Forget everything you know… about magic. Taking classes to improve my spell-casting and learn more about the magical world has hit an unexpected snag: people keep mistaking me for someone else. And it’s clear that my double is not a popular witch. I try not to worry about it, until being mistaken for her gets me kidnapped by people who want revenge for what she did. But taking me hostage is only part of a larger plan and when Thomas and the others come to my rescue, we find ourselves caught right in the middle of a sinister experiment. Turned into unwilling test subjects and given a dangerous potion, we have less than a week to get the antidote and the clock is ticking fast. But the casualty rate in the experiment is high and at least one of us is already dying. Our only chance rests with the kidnappers and my double. Trusting them might be a mistake, but we don’t have another choice. The More than Magic series is a New Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with witches, vampires, shifters, elementals, and a host of magical creatures. If you like paranormal characters with found family, a dash of sweet romance, and twists and turns you can sink your teeth into, grab the first three books today!
Publisher: Elizabeth Kirke
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 835
Book Description
Get the first three books in the award-winning, urban fantasy series More than Magic in a single bundle! This set contains the first three books in the More than Magic series; Semester Aboard, Snow Bound, and Soul Choice. Book One: Semester Aboard (Gold Medal winner, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards) I should have packed a stake. I thought a two-month cruise around Latin America would be filled with magical moments. I never imagined I’d be swimming with a mermaid or hiking through a rainforest with a werewolf. That is, until that fateful night when I met Thomas and the others out on deck and discovered that magic is real. Now, they’re teaching me how to use my newfound powers and what’s more, they’ve welcomed me into the close-knit little family they’ve built together. Turns out we aren’t the only paranormal beings on board, and our bloodthirsty enemy isn’t happy we’re here. A week ago, I didn’t even believe vampires were real, but now we’re being stalked by one. Trapped on the ship, with no way to call for help, it’s up to us to stop him and save the rest of the passengers… and ourselves. If we can’t, we might never set foot on land again. Book Two: Snow Bound The wrong person has learned our secret… It has been five months since I found out that I’m a witch. Even my familiar, Rak, isn’t a replacement for spending time with the other magical beings I grew close with over the summer. A ski trip with them is exactly what I need to immerse myself in magic again. It’s wonderful being back with everyone without a vampire stalking us… but the slopes aren’t as peaceful as they seem. Throw in the surprise arrival of my non-magic cousin, a blizzard, and a suspicious werewolf next door, and our relaxing vacation is turning into a nightmare. After an attack leaves one of us on the brink of death, the race is on to defend ourselves from our mysterious enemy. My magic is stronger now, but will it be strong enough to save my friends, my cousin, and get us all off the mountain alive? Book Three: Soul Choice Forget everything you know… about magic. Taking classes to improve my spell-casting and learn more about the magical world has hit an unexpected snag: people keep mistaking me for someone else. And it’s clear that my double is not a popular witch. I try not to worry about it, until being mistaken for her gets me kidnapped by people who want revenge for what she did. But taking me hostage is only part of a larger plan and when Thomas and the others come to my rescue, we find ourselves caught right in the middle of a sinister experiment. Turned into unwilling test subjects and given a dangerous potion, we have less than a week to get the antidote and the clock is ticking fast. But the casualty rate in the experiment is high and at least one of us is already dying. Our only chance rests with the kidnappers and my double. Trusting them might be a mistake, but we don’t have another choice. The More than Magic series is a New Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with witches, vampires, shifters, elementals, and a host of magical creatures. If you like paranormal characters with found family, a dash of sweet romance, and twists and turns you can sink your teeth into, grab the first three books today!
The Scholar
Author: JJ Anders
Publisher: Grayton Press
ISBN: 1942896891
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 373
Book Description
A journey of wonders and hazards. Time is running out for the world of Genoa and its magical peoples. A wizard’s past mistake must now be set right if Genoa is to survive the battle that is to come. Anna is clearly different from others. With obvious physical differences and powerful abilities, she’s never quite fit in… anywhere. Having no knowledge of her parents, she sets out to discover her true origin. On the run for most of her life, she’s become a master at eluding capture, even a little cocky you might say. When a sticky situation forces her hand, she hitches a ride with a wizard, who whisks her away to another world, where, according to him, she’d been exiled from as a child. This new magical place seems oddly familiar as Anna discovers powerful enemies and treasured allies on her quest for answers. The dangerous journey thrust her headlong into the arms of Kriston, who finds himself caught between sworn-duty and insatiable curiosity.
Publisher: Grayton Press
ISBN: 1942896891
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 373
Book Description
A journey of wonders and hazards. Time is running out for the world of Genoa and its magical peoples. A wizard’s past mistake must now be set right if Genoa is to survive the battle that is to come. Anna is clearly different from others. With obvious physical differences and powerful abilities, she’s never quite fit in… anywhere. Having no knowledge of her parents, she sets out to discover her true origin. On the run for most of her life, she’s become a master at eluding capture, even a little cocky you might say. When a sticky situation forces her hand, she hitches a ride with a wizard, who whisks her away to another world, where, according to him, she’d been exiled from as a child. This new magical place seems oddly familiar as Anna discovers powerful enemies and treasured allies on her quest for answers. The dangerous journey thrust her headlong into the arms of Kriston, who finds himself caught between sworn-duty and insatiable curiosity.
The Wizard and the Prophet
Author: Charles C. Mann
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307961702
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 641
Book Description
From the bestselling, award-winning author of 1491 and 1493—an incisive portrait of the two little-known twentieth-century scientists, Norman Borlaug and William Vogt, whose diametrically opposed views shaped our ideas about the environment, laying the groundwork for how people in the twenty-first century will choose to live in tomorrow's world. In forty years, Earth's population will reach ten billion. Can our world support that? What kind of world will it be? Those answering these questions generally fall into two deeply divided groups--Wizards and Prophets, as Charles Mann calls them in this balanced, authoritative, nonpolemical new book. The Prophets, he explains, follow William Vogt, a founding environmentalist who believed that in using more than our planet has to give, our prosperity will lead us to ruin. Cut back! was his mantra. Otherwise everyone will lose! The Wizards are the heirs of Norman Borlaug, whose research, in effect, wrangled the world in service to our species to produce modern high-yield crops that then saved millions from starvation. Innovate! was Borlaug's cry. Only in that way can everyone win! Mann delves into these diverging viewpoints to assess the four great challenges humanity faces--food, water, energy, climate change--grounding each in historical context and weighing the options for the future. With our civilization on the line, the author's insightful analysis is an essential addition to the urgent conversation about how our children will fare on an increasingly crowded Earth.
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307961702
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 641
Book Description
From the bestselling, award-winning author of 1491 and 1493—an incisive portrait of the two little-known twentieth-century scientists, Norman Borlaug and William Vogt, whose diametrically opposed views shaped our ideas about the environment, laying the groundwork for how people in the twenty-first century will choose to live in tomorrow's world. In forty years, Earth's population will reach ten billion. Can our world support that? What kind of world will it be? Those answering these questions generally fall into two deeply divided groups--Wizards and Prophets, as Charles Mann calls them in this balanced, authoritative, nonpolemical new book. The Prophets, he explains, follow William Vogt, a founding environmentalist who believed that in using more than our planet has to give, our prosperity will lead us to ruin. Cut back! was his mantra. Otherwise everyone will lose! The Wizards are the heirs of Norman Borlaug, whose research, in effect, wrangled the world in service to our species to produce modern high-yield crops that then saved millions from starvation. Innovate! was Borlaug's cry. Only in that way can everyone win! Mann delves into these diverging viewpoints to assess the four great challenges humanity faces--food, water, energy, climate change--grounding each in historical context and weighing the options for the future. With our civilization on the line, the author's insightful analysis is an essential addition to the urgent conversation about how our children will fare on an increasingly crowded Earth.
The Games Master
Author: David Brosbell
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1491751851
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 545
Book Description
Stunned and grateful to have survived a ferocious battle against an impossible foe, the Games Master, four comrades and warriors contemplate what future awaits them. War is brewing in the lands, but it is not glorious. These are tense times for all who live in the path of conflict. The Silver Allegiance, the dominant ruling kingdom, has expanded as far north and west as it can. And a new, powerful consortium known as the Dark Realm has grown as far east and south as it can. Caught between these two powerhouse kingdoms is a small strip of towns and villages, where terrified citizens await what comes next. As each side prepares for battle, the people caught in the middle do all they can to survive. Kruno and his men have no interest in being a part of the impending conflict, but how can they stay out of it? Their adventures will take them to hostile lands, where they meet exceptional creatures. Can they survive their encounters with the sand sorceresses, gargoyles, cryptons, and the most feared beasts of all - dragons? Can they avoid the inevitable horrors of war?
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1491751851
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 545
Book Description
Stunned and grateful to have survived a ferocious battle against an impossible foe, the Games Master, four comrades and warriors contemplate what future awaits them. War is brewing in the lands, but it is not glorious. These are tense times for all who live in the path of conflict. The Silver Allegiance, the dominant ruling kingdom, has expanded as far north and west as it can. And a new, powerful consortium known as the Dark Realm has grown as far east and south as it can. Caught between these two powerhouse kingdoms is a small strip of towns and villages, where terrified citizens await what comes next. As each side prepares for battle, the people caught in the middle do all they can to survive. Kruno and his men have no interest in being a part of the impending conflict, but how can they stay out of it? Their adventures will take them to hostile lands, where they meet exceptional creatures. Can they survive their encounters with the sand sorceresses, gargoyles, cryptons, and the most feared beasts of all - dragons? Can they avoid the inevitable horrors of war?