Known better as Twilight Shadow, or just Twilight, Saranath is a big, mean dragon who terrorises the Northern Reaches despite the populace's best efforts to dispose of her. She likes treasure and visitors, provided she can have the latter for dinner. She gets on surprisingly well with other dragons (unusual given most dragons are solitary) probably because large, dangerous dragons are few and far between so far into the Empire.

Having seen what happened to many of her unfortunate kin within the Empire during the dark days leading up to the Dragon Wars Saranath, unless challenged, will not show hostility to other dragons. If necessary, she will even go out of her way to help them. Provided she's in a good mood, she'll extend this lack of hostility to dragonkin and dragonthralls (individuals magically bound for whatever reason to the service of one dragon), but not so much those known as dragonfriend, since there are no bonds forcing such people to remain loyal to a dragon and she has seen that loyalty betrayed. With these exceptions aside, Saranath's hatred for humans, elves and those who fought against dragons alongside them has remained unabated throughout the centuries.

To survive so long, so deep within the Empire (the Northern Reaches are only a few hundred miles from the capital, Fortune City), Saranath is a canny beast. She moves around a lot, always taking care to raid settlements far from her lair, keeping the pattern of attacks random. She knows some magic and takes care to steer well clear of wizards. The reason for her name, besides her dusky colour, is that the runes engraved on her wings are activated by daylight to cast an aura of invisibility about her. A slight imperfection with the spell means the gentle glow of her runes can be seen, but it's difficult to spot unless you know what you're looking for. Only as the suns set will she become visible. The spell is permanent, so she can't chose to become visible during the day (unless she's in a cave or some such, since obviously sunlight won't reach there!).

And how does she fit in with the Daemonslayers? She reluctantly helps them when they have to hightail it out of the Empire after they get on the wrong side of the Wizards Council (like they'd ever have been on their right side!).
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(this here excerpt is a rough draft, hence the present tense and poorly formed well, everything. - the story's a work in progress since it occurs after the epic (as in stupidly long) I'm writing at the moment).

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They are confronted with a large dragon, perhaps 50ft long, filling the cave. Its scales are a deep slate, shining purple where light hits. A row of spines start at its head and run down its back, getting larger at the shoulders. Smaller spikes run in dual lines along its flanks. Along its neck they are joined by membranes, the same light grey-green as the underside of the wings. The glowing runes on the wings, fading now in the darkness, are striking. Blackjack stares at them, mind working fast and a name swims into his consciousness. The dragon, pale glowing eyes narrowed, is drawing breath, yellow energies of dracofire crackling about its jaws, Black jumps protectively in front of Shade and Soul and yells out in a language they cannot understand; Ancient Draconic, "Hold! I do not challenge you, Saranath."

The dragon cuts its breath short, letting the power leach out gently rather than in lethal, exploding fire. Clearly taken aback by this dragonkin speaking a language known only to true dragons. Not to mention it knowing its name, "Who are you to speak my name, Dragonkin?" it snarled, the tone of voice revealing this dragon to be female.

Blackjack stares her in the eyes, this is no time for deference, Saranath is now achingly familiar and he takes a gamble "Look me in the eyes, and call me dragonkin again." he hisses. Their gaze holds. Suddenly recognition and surprise bloom in Saranath's eyes and the fires of rage die, "Bloodbane?" she gasps, incredulous, "I heard you were-"

Blackjack cuts her off, "Gone? Yes, for a while." he elected not to speak of his curse, knowing the danger of showing any indication of weakness to another dragon, "The Empire does not know I'm back.. this form lets me keep it that way. For now." At last he put his finger on the dragon's usename, Twilight Shadow, and with it a flood of memories, hazy but recognisable as the fall of the Old Empire. This was one of the dragons that helped bring the Old Empire down in flames, allowing Bloodbane to rise up and proclaim himself ruler, for as long as it still amused him. The dragon seemed satisfied by this - it was not unusual for dragons to adopt different forms, sometimes for extended periods of time, to suit their purposes. However her gaze fell upon the two werewolves and became distinctly less friendly, "Why are you with these mongrels? They are not your thralls."

Shade and Soul have so far understood none of the conversation, all conducted in dragon tongue. The relief at the dragon's apparent calming as Blackjack continued to speak to it was shortlived, for the beast turned to them and its threatening tone returned.

"They are under my protection." Blackjack growled, meeting the other dragon's gaze aggressively.

Saranath was quiet a while, apparently considering this. Finally she shook her head and looked away, "Your affairs are your own. Your werewolves are not welcome but I will not harm them." The last sentence was spoken in Common Tongue for Shade and Soul's benefit.
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