Drogon Albest

Early Life

Born Dresh Kal on 1683-1-3 to Murt and Trag Kal in Goldrick, a small village in the Dangborn region of Varg.

Dresh was taken in a slaver raid when nine years old. Shipped north to the coastal port of Ting where he was put on a transport south to the slave market in Karbraith. During this journey the ship was waylaid by pirates.

Once the nature of the ship's cargo became clear the pirates took all the valuables aboard, releasing the few captives to their fate by allowing them to remain on the captured ship albeit now without a crew. Dresh convinces the captain to take him on as a galley boy.

The only 'treasure' found onboard is a box, this they find out later, contains the Comstones.

A pirates life

Initially Dresh was delighted at living out his childhood fantasies of being a pirate, but quickly realised that his somewhat romanticised ideas where very mistaken. Despite this disappointment he proved a sound worker and, to the crews surprise, an able fighter even at a young age.

Robert Trill, captain of the pirate vessel Soul-catcher, took young Dresh under his wing, adopting him as the ship's cabin boy. Dresh learned well from Trill, not only seamanship and how to manage a crew, but also about mercy and justice.

Dresh was distressed that, being away from other Dragonborn he could not perform the appropriate ceremony of ascension. Captain Trill arranged to make landfall and trek inland to Dorl where Dresh takes the Mahvek, a rite similar to the Dro'ghat combat rite. Although not a full Dro'ghat Dresh is grateful to the captain for making it possible, at least in part, to feel he can now be called a man.

Having uncovered the nature of the comstones Trill uses the Dro'ghat to bind Dresh to him.

Dresh discovers that Trill is only really interested in keeping Dresh around to use the comstones. Thes betrayal sees Dresh leave Soul-caster taking the stones with him.

Maturity

Now in his late teens Dresh had achieved manhood but is pursued by bounty hunters set on him by Trill.

Railroad

Dresh is trying to confirm his suspicion that his mother is tracking south trying to find him. During this he comes across the slave railroad. They have encountered Mhurt and tell Dresh she has headed south, so he sets of after her.

The need for concealment led him into the darker corners of society. His strength and appearance making him ideal for 'debt collection' work. This continued for several years and Dresh moved from one town to another, often travelling as a guard to ill gotten gains.

War

While acting as a guard to Millow Brak, a local gang leader, in Lower Peake Dresh was caught up in the Hill Wars. Fighting with the humans against the dwarves of Khantum he is taken captive, moved through the dwarven enclave to the west side of the mountains. During this transit he befriends his captors and on arrival at the exit he is released on the condition that he does not fight with the humans.

As a reward for his actions in saving a family member during a tunnel collapse one of the dwarves gifts Dresh the Collar of Drut which allows the wearer to present a human appearance.

His treatment at the hands of the dwarves demonstrates to Dresh that he cannot trust what he is told about other races. The humans had convinced him that the dwarves were corrupt beyond reason but he found them to be civilised, sophisticated and considerably mose accepting of his appearance.

Seafarer

Dresh next made his way to Harnott where the dwarves put him in contact with Carter D'Ray (the sheriff). D'Ray presents Dresh with a chance to fit in to normal society, taking a role in the town guard. Although Dresh's appearance is intimidating the citizens of Harnott are accustomed to all manner of strange beings, so he is generally able to move about without using the Collar of Drut. Being a costal trade port they are visited by may races, but Dresh is the first Dragonborn to make it this far south.

While guarding a warehouse on the docks Dresh meets Tom Tirial who claims to be a merchant sailor bound for the north. Dresh sees an opportunity to head toward home and despite regrets at leaving Harnott and D'Ray he takes to the sea once again, this time employed on the merchant vessel Lucky Dip.

Taking hops up the Silversea coast the Lucky Dip seems to be an honest trader, but Dresh discovered a secret hold containing bails of unknown material. Confronting Tom he is told that this is 'none of your concern' and that he must forget what he has seen.

At the next landing Dresh is betrayed by Tom and is sold once again into captivity.

Captive again

Dresh is put on a ship bound for Otrikius. Unknown to him he has been bought by Simone Athelric minor noble and dilettante who has a network of buyers around the Silversea coast on the lookout for 'anything unusual or interesting' and Dresh qualified.

Athelric mistakenly believes he has bought a dragon. No one this far south has anything but vague rumour to establish what a dragon is, so this mistake is somewhat understandable.

Dresh explains he is 'Dragonborn' but not 'Dragon' but this falls on deaf ears. Athelric's accent means he pronounces dragon as 'drogon' so Dresh is referred to as his Drogon.

Once the novelty of showing his Drogon to his friend (and enemies) wears off Athelric decides that his Drogon would make an excellent gladiator. Drogon becomes a premier fighter gaining a reputation as 'all beast'. Gladiator combat is mostly exhibition, bloody certainly but rarely fatal. One day Athelric is approached to provide Drogon in a 'deathmatch'. Dresh refuses to fight (not because he fears death but because he has no desire to kill---it is one thing to kill for survival, quite another to kill for sport) and Athelric, having no further use for his Drogon, transports Dresh to Comosia intending to sell him but Dresh escapes and makes his way to the docks intending to find a ship and make his way north again. It is here he meets members of The Abandoned who take him to see Grimon Trailman. Grimon likes Dresh who has now adopted his gladiator name 'Drogon All-beast' (now commonly rendered 'Drogon Albest') and takes him on as a lieutenant. It is Grimon who arranges for Drogon to disappear, usign The Abandoned to spread a rumour that Drogon escaped on a ship, ensuring Athelric pursues a ghost and the gives up writing off the loss to experience.

Criminal Career

Drogon's reputation precedes him and it is fierce. This along with his intelligence, strength, and all he has learned in his travels means Drogon becomes a respected figure in Comosia. He manipulates The Abandoned turning it into not only the most powerful criminal enterprise in Comosia but also well respected among the ordinary folk of the city.

Ironically his success in this endeavour brings him once again to the attention of Athelric, but by this time Drogon's influence and power far outstrips that of Athelric who is forced into a humiliating climb down.

The Abandoned are seen as benefactors to the poor and champions of the downtrodden. Drogon encourages Grimon that this is the way to ensure protection of the organisation by the common city folk. People `turn a blind eye' to the criminal activities of The Abandoned partly out of fear but mostly because The Abandoned genuinely support the common folk, protecting them from the caprice of the cities aristocracy.

The Abandoned wield enough influence that they draw the attention of the patrician Carmine Grish who, pragmatically, negotiates a deal wherein the city turns a blind-eye to certain activities of The Abandoned in exchange for 'internal policing' of areas where the City Guard have difficulty operating.

Finally Grimon hands over to Drogon. Grimon retires 'to the country' (outside Comosia) and Drogon ensures that he remains unmolested and well provisioned until his natural death.