Ironsides Family/Bowie/Mandate by Dragon

The Mandate of Sallowtown

Black Bowie sat in his room in Port Nebel with his baby daughter reading through a few books sprawled along his desk. Little Selena was sleeping soundly after being fed and Bowie gently rocked her. He sighed as he read, exhausted from being a single parent. He missed the days when he could freely engage in wanton argument and debauchery. He had not been to a brothel all fall and as the winter set in his chances became even more hopeless.

He was reading a book about Sallowsian customs and ritual practices. He had taken up the subject of familiarizing himself with the land and the people since he first arrived in D’Hara so many years ago. He read about the great histories of the region known as the Sallowsitte Cape and the armies that marched about. He read about the tribes and the clans and the vicious wars that spread to and fro from the city to the mountains.

The day turned into night and Little Selena was put into her cradle. Bowie returned to his study, ever the obsessing scholar. It became late and Bowie’s eyes ached and strained, but he had found an interesting section of the history of Sallowtown and could not put his book down. Presently he read about the construction of the ancient city by the Great Prince Sallow. The story of this man captivated him, enthralled him and inspired him.

As he read the world suddenly became quiet. The candles blew out from a rush of wind from the window but light still shone brightly from outside. Black Bowie was startled and went to relight a candle. Instead a torch blew into the room and did it for him, nearly melting the wax to mush in the process. He looked towards the window to see a large gray shadow swaying outside. He moved closer then froze when he saw a claw clasp the window sill. Then a nostril appeared and huffed into the room once again. A Dragon! Bowie fell back into the cradle nearly knocking it over.

The Dragon spoke,

“Mortal, are you the one who calls himself Black Bowie?”

“I am.” Black Bowie replied,

“You claim to be Prince of my city do you not? What has given you the authority to claim this?”

“…uh, I am Black Bowie, Prince and Overlord, Demon of Dwilight, Fugitive of Fissoa, Outcast of Madina, Pariah of D'Hara and Badmouther of the Raivanlands. I have claim to the city of Sallowtown through a royal contract made with the Dragon Queen Katayanna Ogren. She approved!”

“Yes. She has approved of your reign over my city.”

“Who or what are you?”

The Dragon moved a bit to reveal his massive eyes. Gazing through the window at Bowie were two feline greenish yellow irises, straight black pupils and fierce stares. Bowie froze a second time, it was too real to not be afraid.

The Dragon roared.

"I am the Dragon Sallow!”

Black Bowie shuttered at the boom.

“Sallow? Prince Sallow who first built Sallowtown?”

“The same.”

“Have you come to destroy me?”

“…No. Not yet mortal. I have come to ensure the prosperity of my city. They have paid worship to me since my death and I wish to repay them in life by giving them a new future. You are to be my successor. I, the transcended Prince Sallow, appoint you as the new ruler of the Sallowsitte Cape, the vast empire I had created during my lifespan. Bring glory and honour back to Sallowtown. Give them once again the spirit of victory and security. Worship me and the ancestors correctly as ritual dictates and you will have our protection.”

“Why are you a Dragon O Great Prince?”

“I was awarded immortality in this form by the Dragons on my death as a human. My great achievements in life impressed them.”

“Am I able to acquire this too?”

“Yes. But you may earn a lesser immortality through me by certain ritual practices. These you will discover in your studies. For now, Prince Bowie of Sallowtown, accept what I have given you and fulfill it!”

“I accept.”

The Dragon reached its claw into the room and grabbed Black Bowie, then with the nail from his thumb touching Black Bowie’s chest he burned into him a small marking in the shape of a claw.

“The Sallowsians recognize this as a great symbol. It was the symbol of my House. When you enter their city, face it to them and they will recognize you as their Prince. You will be the living version of me and the only man who may communicate with me from the plane of the living. The Sallowsians have sunk into a Dark Age and they need you to survive. Succeed and you will take your place beside me after death, fail and I will remove your mandate.”

“Yes! Yes Great Dragon Sallow! Thank you for selecting me! I –“

“That is enough grovelling! I expect you to be a man of dignity. Follow the Arexi Virtues and you shall have no interruption.”

“What must I do Master Dragon?”

“Sallowtown is wild with monsters and undead. The people cannot make a living anymore. For centuries they have been making offerings to me to save them. This is the fruition of their efforts. I am sending you to bring order and peace to the cape. When you arrive you must make a sacrifice to me in the large stone pit in the middle of the city. The locals call this ritual the “Feeding of the Pit” and it can only be done by the Prince, You. When they see you do this, and when you show them the mark of my House, they will know you to be the answer to their prayers.”

“Great Dragon, you know that I am a man beset with a demon and am able to control it only when it allows me to.”

“I am aware of that. So long as you are ruling my city, and not your demon, then I will not take offence. I understand that every man is plagued by something or another. I will not demand perfection, only obedience.”

“That is a wisdom I will impart in my own rule.”

“So you should.”

The Dragon Sallow then released Black Bowie and departed, the light dazing out as he flew into the distance. Black Bowie sat down and thought for a moment, then relit the candle and checked on the condition of his daughter. She was awake the whole time but was not disturbed to tears. After calming himself he returned to the books to learn more about the rituals and the Arexi Virtues.

His journey to save Sallowtown had just begun!