Parvathirax V.S. Virago
Blue Dragon by Sandara Tang
NPC: Parvathirax
Sailors tell tales of storms that come on faster than seems possible, of rain that comes down hard enough to flood the decks and lightning that seems almost malicious, and of a dragon whose very presence is enough to sink ships. This is the legacy of Parvathirax the Flood Bringer. - Leovold Marrow, scholar and maritime specialist for the Infinite Arcanum
The ancient blue dragon who once made her home among the mountains of the Stormblight Canyons is a well-known threat not just to those who trek too close to her home, but to seafarers as well. While her lair may be in the canyons, the oceans are her hunting grounds. Sailors speak of her in hushed tones whenever a storm seems to be moving just a little too fast, and many ships have met their end thanks to her scraping claws and electric maw.
Parvathirax’s fury only seems to have grown in the last century. Before, she would spend months, maybe even years, resting at her home in the Stormblight Canyons before resurfacing again. For the past one-hundred years though, the Flood Bringer has routinely terrorized every ocean and settlement within 10000 miles of her lair. It appears as if she is desperately searching for something or someone, but no one who encounters her has lived to tell of it.
The only place safe from this ancient blue dragon’s wrath appears to be the very place she used to call home. The storm over the Stormblight Canyons has almost entirely disappeared in her prolonged absence. Some scholars are even calling for a name change considering, with Parvathirax gone, the canyons actually get less rainfall than would be expected for the area.
Ms. Orc- Last Stand by Bayard Wu
NPC: Virago
I first saw her at the pub in Svenali’s Retreat. She looked gorgeous! Hair curled, tusks shined, brows plucked, not what you normally see in the pub, so I knew I had to take my shot. But something was off. While she may appear to be a young woman, there was something about her eyes that spoke of age. Was it wisdom? Or trauma? Or was she just tired of me talking to her? Either way, I didn’t buy her another drink after the look she gave me. – Polanch Trichavik, exasperated tavern goer.
Virago was a talented wizard from a very young age. The nomadic orc tribe she grew up in scraped together as much gold as possible to send her to be trained at Vanistrom Academy when she was just 12. It didn’t take long for her to rise up through the ranks and become a prodigy at the academy. She had a knack for spellcraft, particularly transmutation, and was easily able to alter formulas and manipulate circles in order to improve effects or even create brand new ones.
After graduating from the academy at 28, Virago worked briefly as a researcher before feeling the pull of homesickness. She left the academic life behind and returned to her tribe to act as an advisor and a teacher. While she was away though, the land had turned against her tribe. What was once lush plains full of game and food had been replaced by cracked dirt and a starving people.
Knowing that something had to be done to save her tribe, Virago convinced them to travel with her to a new land she had found during her time as a researcher. It had everything her people could need, game to hunt, fruit to forage, an abundance of water, and, best of all, no other people. The only downside were the blue dragons that made their home among the mountains.
It took two years of prolonged travel through unknown wilderness, but Virago’s tribe finally made it to the Stormblight Canyons. They thrived in this new land for over a decade before they drew the attention of Parvathirax. One of their hunting bands encountered a young blue dragon while chasing down a giant elk. Instead of allowing the creature to steal their catch, one of the young hunters thrust her spear into its belly. Its cry brought the wrath of Parvathirax down upon the whole tribe.
In less than a week, every last orc had been hunted down and killed. Every orc except Virago. She wept with fury and guilt at what had befallen her family. She swore, if it was the last thing she did, she would get her revenge.
It took years of research and contact with an entity not of this plane, but Virago was able to craft a spell that would punish Parvathirax for what the dragon had done to her family. The orc woman set up the ritual site atop a mesa in the canyons. She carved sigils into the stone, sacrificed creatures, spilt her own blood, and chanted for a solid seven days before a blinding flash of lightning told her that it had been a success. All of Parvathirax’s children were blinded and their wings would all wither and slowly fall away. The same would be true for any children she may have in the future.
This was just over one-hundred years ago.
Since then, Virago has used her transmutation magic both to hide herself and to extend her lifespan. Parvathirax has been searching for her for the past century, all the while she has been hidden in canyons, changing her body every few decades. Her newest form most resembles her original. An orc woman with yellow-green skin, flowing brown hair, and cheek bones that could stab a man. Despite appearing to be about twenty-three, her eyes are still unchanged. They bear the markings of someone who has lost everything, of someone who has obtained vengeance, and of someone who has lived much longer than she should have.
