In the gray broken gloom of Bleakwood south of Twilight Forest, by the ruined castle in its upper stretches, there lies a cave we’ve identified as one of the lairs of the Brood.

This lair appears connected to an underground network, linking it to other dragon lairs across the Prefecture. Smogbreath’s Brood hosts its hatcheries here, guarding them all to the death.

Our initial impression of the Brood was that of a textbook dragon bloodline, descended from a single queen. This bloodline we’ve recorded as one of the more aggressive lineages, echoing past eras of those dragons who choose – or compulsively follow – the path of a conqueror.

All in all, pretty typical of dragons. Except it wasn’t found to be that simple. It is easy to assess a brood of dragonkin and conclude they’re textbook conquerors who see all other races as beneath them. This is what most of their kind has been seen as for a very long time. It is exactly what their masters exploit as a strategic feint, knowing full well how folk see dragons and how they fixate on them as the most visible and pressing destroyers. It’s a pattern we’ve seen before, some two decades ago, when a similar brood was used by dark powers far eviler than the scaly minions they controlled.

We have our theories as to the origins and masters of the Firebloods. If you ask Queen Smogbreath, as we have, she will tell you she obeys no master. This may be true, but they are notoriously susceptible to the bedazzling sights of precious gems and gold. To them, treasure itself is priceless.

It isn’t a straightforward task for us to discern the puller of the puppetstrings from the pantheon of evils we know to be active in Otherworld and beyond. One would find just as much luck picking a name out of a hat. Whomever the Queen and her Brood consort with, their assault on townships and outposts of the Prefecture remains ongoing.

This is a sign we know to be the first move in a magical war seen recurringly over the eons. Dragons appear mysteriously from the skies, raining death upon elites and innocents alike. Armies are summoned to battle them, warriors and wizards joining forces to slay the behemoth menaces. Eventually, it is realized they are but the frontal force – pawns – of a greater power. Who this power is, and why, varies over the ages.

We sages of Arcadia know this very well by now. It could even be the puppetmasters know we know, and have chosen to use the Brood as a deception. We can only speculate. What is not up for debate is their constant threat to world security. They’ve burned down more than one town, and felled more than one army. They do not seem to feed on any of their victims, or capture them to their lairs. They simply destroy all who oppose them.

We call on all able-bodied fighters of every race and class to enter the lair of the Brood and slay its head hatcher. You likely will not find Smogbreath there, but her spawn is nearly as strong as her. Do not think you can waltz into the Brood’s lair and easily fell them like some kind of cakewalk. You will be very sorry if you approach it with this attitude.

You will need a raid of 40. Bring plenty of supplies and potions. You will find the cave in northeast Bleakwood, some two miles from the snowy border of Willowtree Village. It has been observed, of note, they do not appear able to fly close to the Village. Whoever watches over it has evidently cast a protection spell, or else the Village emanates an aura the dragons are drastically averse to.

Be warned travel to the lair itself is not without risk. Your raid must go there by foot or other form of transport. Our Teleportation Orbs can also be used once a day for a fee, should you find other travel unsuitable. If you go by ground, you may encounter other raids who seek to control entrance to the lair. It has long been chronicled battles of all kinds transpire around such lairs. Thus why we offer a means to travel there, in the event Guilds or other groups collude to prevent entrance, and so prevent skill from being equally tested. Still, over the course of each season, those valiant raiders who defeat the most Brood Heads, and defeat them the fastest, are heavily rewarded.

When your raid arrives, enter the gloom of the cave and find your way through its twisting tunnels. You will encounter smaller sentinels before you reach one of the hatcheries. Know the Brood Head does keep treasure, but it is almost certain some of your companions will perish in your battle. Each of you must treat your life as deeply precious.

Our war against the Brood continues despite any setbacks. We must not forget there are other forces at work, as always. You may defeat this wave of the Brood. We anticipate there will emerge far stronger threats in the future.