Themberchaud is the fattest dragon in dungeons and dragons. How did he get that way? Let's find out...

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Themberchaud’s Beginnings
By: Jollyguts

“If only words could capture the enormity of the beast before me, lounging in the cavern's heart, surrounded by a sea of glittering riches that could sustain a kingdom for decades. It embodied avarice in its purest form, an insatiable creature reveling in hedonism. Its colossal belly cascaded over its swollen haunches, spilling golden waves of lard upon the cave floor. Its hindquarters rose so high that its clawed toes barely brushed the ground, rendering walking a near-impossible task. This scaly titan concealed the cave's entire expanse with its girth alone. With each languid movement, it caressed its bloated belly, a grotesque reminder of its ceaseless appetite. Its once nimble reptilian arms had dwindled to stubby appendages, their usefulness now limited. Yet, despite its unwieldy form, it feasted, gathering enough dragon fire to fuel our humble smithy. And for that, I silently urged the dragon to keep eating, for the sake of our survival and my own curiosity.”

- A thick-bearded duergar, in awe of Themberchaud

Themberchaud reclined against a flimsy wooden inn wall in the heart of Emberstead, a thriving village bursting with the bounties of a more-than-successful harvest season. Beads of sweat trickled down his plump, crimson-scaled face in the still, sultry summer air. Layers of fat, akin to something like a pancake scarf, supported his head, once graced with the long, slender neck typical of dragons. In the cavernous folds of these fatty pockets, sweat pooled, rendering him far less imposing than a dragon of his size should be.

Themberchaud was as massive as some of the smaller houses that dotted Emberstead, yet, few regarded him with fear. Unlike the usual fiery disposition of red dragons, Themberchaud had unique tastes that compensated for his lack of aggression. Everyone knew he was about as harmless as a fly, albeit one the size of an elephant. All it took to keep him content was a full belly.

His obesity was nothing short of morbid, or as he liked to call it, “A successful dragon’s body.” His vast, off-gold belly spread wide, pushing his hind legs apart as he lounged on his ample haunches which were like a comfortable, squishy chair of their own. His bloated stomach sagged, adorned with the remnants of past meals that had missed their target, with his underbelly nearly reaching down to his buckling knees. His scaly, globular torso expanded and deflated with each labored breath, despite his utter lack of exertion. He did little else than sit and eat nowadays, and yet each day he felt his eyes drifting off to sleep more often than not. His love handles drooped as he sat, nearly tickling the grass beneath him. His bubbling moobs forced his arms upwards, making any attempt to reach for more food that much more difficult.

Every movement was a workout for a creature so corpulent, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Themberchaud had become more of a tourist attraction and a resident in Emberstead than the fearsome dragon he appears to be. In his youth, he displayed unusual formalities with the villagers, and they welcomed him with open arms, asking only that he guard the town in exchange for a surplus of food. But now, he barely had to lift a finger to enjoy an entire cow, freshly delivered to his lair on the outskirts of town.

The village had found an ingenious solution for their excess food - Themberchaud served as both their living dump for access leftovers and a formidable deterrent against predators. His presence kept scavengers and ambitious critters far from Emberstead's plump harvests and equally robust warriors. They no longer needed him to protect them, and he appreciated the peaceful, conflict-free existence they had provided him. He planned to revel in it.

"Five gold says that the fatty can devour that entire stack there!" exclaimed a greasy bugbear farmer, his shirt soaked with sweat beneath his overalls. He pointed toward Themberchaud with a stubby, furry finger, then gestured to a group of burgers cradled in the dragon's fat arm. The bugbear had always taken it upon himself to ensure that Themberchaud remained well-fed, treating the dragon almost like his prized livestock - feeding and pampering him as if he were a living trophy.

"Hmmm. Ten gold says he don’t," spat a disgruntled gnome with a sleepy eye and enough warts to look like he was stung by an entire colony of bees.

Themberchaud sat panting, sweat lathering his entire body in a layer of greasy, reflective coating that glimmered in the relentless sunlight. He curled his tail, fighting back the urge of a food coma. He knew he could eat more, but the sweltering heat sapped his appetite. He had already devoured a dozen ham and cheese sandwiches, clam chowder, shredded pork, biscuits and gravy, and a tub of cream of broccoli soup, followed by a few chocolate cakes. He'd snacked on loaded beef burritos for brunch and indulged in a beef and mushroom stir-fry gifted by a local doctor. His stomach ached for more, but it protested against the relentless feasting.

Still, he couldn't resist. His plump arm held a dozen burgers, remnants of a nearby villager's party. With a grin that stretched wider than he was wide, Themberchaud engulfed the burgers in a single gulp, his jaw snapping shut like a steel trap. "Mmmmm… Tasty and fresh," he mumbled, smacking his vast belly. A thunderous burp, echoing like an earthquake, shook the nearby weapon store. Themberchaud gave a contented sigh, feeling the food coma creeping over him once more. His lazy eyes shifted toward the bumpy gnome, who grumbled and handed over ten gold to the bugbear. Themberchaud winked at the farmer.

"Good job, Themberchaud. I can get rich off of you, you know?" The bugbear reached out to shake the dragon's hand. Themberchaud extended a finger, and the bugbear accepted it with a firm shake. He slipped five gold into Themberchaud's palm, who tucked it away amidst the folds of his moobs and belly.

As the villagers dispersed, the bugbear couldn't resist a gentle pat on Themberchaud's swollen stomach. "You are really, really full, aren't you? How can you eat so much?"

Themberchaud smacked his lips and cradled his belly in his massive hands. "When you have an appetite like mine, anything is possible! Bwahaha!"

The bugbear's dusty brown-furred face broke into a grin as he gingerly patted Themberchaud around the climax of his belly. He glanced up at the 10-15 foot tall glutton before him, trying to calculate just how heavy such a wide creature could be. "I'd wager you're about 7 tons, dragon. I couldn't imagine being your size."

The red-scaled dragon sensed a warm feeling after hearing that number. "Isn't it odd that I want to be even bigger?"

"Not at all," the bugbear replied as he hoisted a wooden wagon filled with carrots, celery, and tomatoes. He had been pushing the cart home and couldn't resist stopping to chat with the dragon. "I think you're fine just how you are. Some may despise you for who you are, but just know that some will support your, er, endeavors."

Themberchaud's fat face curled into a smile. "Sometimes I just want to lay in a pile of gold and have food funneled into me until I can't move anymore."

The farmer shrugged and met the dragon's fiery eyes without fear. "Your wish may be granted one day. Rest so that you can digest all of that food before tomorrow, Themberchaud. I believe it is going to be a big day for you."

Themberchaud tilted his head in curiosity as the farmer slowly pushed his rickety cart along the well-worn dirt road. The sun gradually dipped below the horizon, cooling the air. Themberchaud was much too full to lift himself up and walk back to his forest abode nearby. Instead, he rested his back against the inn's wooden exterior and slowly drifted to sleep. Some of the gold slipped between the cracks of his moobs and belly, landing on the inn's wooden deck, but no one dared steal from him the entire night.

~~~

"Upon closer inspection of the young and spry crimson, tenderfoot dragon, my scholarly examination is that the common red dragon has an innate ability to digest much faster than the typical creature be it a mammal, fish, bird, reptile, or amphibian. This would explain their natural aggression, gluttony, and greed. Themberchaud, however, seems to display an unmatched gluttony in comparison even to its red brethren. Its scales are much sharper than the usual red dragon’s - perhaps because of the increase of nutrients in its body. It showed no worry with me taking a few samples of its scales, mind you. Upon further investigation, I have concluded that each scale, no larger than the usual dinner plate, has the same density as adamantine. Few tools could break Themberchaud’s exoskeleton. Be at peace if you decide to kill the dragon - I would advise you to stop before you become part of his fatty hide."

- Data Collection of Themberchaud by Volo

Themberchaud woke with a jolt, his entire malleable exterior quaking as if the earth itself was shifting underneath his very feet. As he slowly opened his fiery eyes, he found himself belly-down in a shoddy, open wood cart. The cart's bed was covered in pleasant warm blankets, contrasting the rough surroundings. His stomach pooled outwards on the cart's bottom, much like that of an alligator, pressing snuggly against each wall. He barely fit inside. His arms and legs dangled carelessly outside the cart or lay hidden beneath his massive body, making it impossible for him to rise to his feet.

The carriage was being pulled by half a dozen plump and brawny horses, each struggling at its reins to haul his colossal weight. Themberchaud blinked curiously and glanced upwards, where the dim light of the morning barely penetrated the dense canopy of unfamiliar trees. This was no longer the familiar region of Emberstead; these were not the ancient oak trees with their clawing branches that he had grown accustomed to.

The air was laden with the scent of earth and damp leaves, and the only sounds were the creaking of the cart and the occasional trill of a bird hidden in the foliage. A cool breeze rustled his scales, sending a shiver down his spine.

Themberchaud's heart pulsed with curiosity and concern as he wondered how he had ended up in this strange place and what lay ahead on this unexpected journey.

"Finally woke up, have we?" A familiar voice called out. A plump figure sat nearby, draped in a thin cloak to shield themselves from the sun's relentless rays. Themberchaud could detect the unmistakable scent of a farmer, and one he knew well.

"Where are you taking me?" Themberchaud asked bluntly, his curiosity piqued more than his concern. The prospect of being captured had an odd allure, especially when the prospect of escaping seemed so exhausting.

"To the Underdark, Themberchaud," the figure replied, their voice carrying a hint of excitement. "I believe your unique, er... talents will be well-received there." The figure turned to reveal the snout of the old bugbear farmer, now adorned with a sly smile. "I've placed a bet on you that could be enough money for us both to retire early."

Themberchaud's chubby face curled into a smile. His eyes darkened as he contemplated the riches that lay ahead, all with the least amount of effort on his part. Betting was indeed a lucrative endeavor, especially when the outcome held little consequence for him. He strained to move his arms from beneath his distended torso, unraveling their stubby forms from the sweaty caverns of his own fat. With great care, he wrapped his massive claws around the bugbear's neck and pulled the farmer's ear close to his own.

The bugbear's shoulders quivered as he whispered back, "If I'm going to work with a gambling addict, the least you could do is share your name. Or did you wager that away too?"

The bugbear sighed and nodded his head, "A dragon like you can see right through me. I suppose there's no sense in lying. My name is Tor. Just don't go saying that everywhere unless you want a knife to your neck."

Themberchaud tightened his grip on Tor's shoulders, his scales pressing against the bugbear's furry flesh, and emitted a low growl. "I don't like conflict. All I want to do is eat and sleep little one." He released his grasp, and Tor's shoulders sagged in relief. "Though the sound of more money makes my tail curl. I don't suppose you have any money on you, do you?"

Tor gulped and shook his head vigorously. "N-no. Of course not! I—"

"Are you lying to me, Tor?"

The bugbear's demeanor deflated, and he reluctantly dug around in his cloak, eventually procuring a couple of gold coins. He handed them to Themberchaud, who greedily stuffed them into his moob-pouch.

Tor's voice trembled as he protested, "That's all I have! I know I should have said something before -"

"Yes, you should have," Themberchaud interrupted. "I may be fat, sleepy, and sometimes even ignorant, but I'm still a dragon, Tor. Now, keep these horses steady, and be sure not to wake me up again until we get there. I need my beauty sleep."

Themberchaud curled his massive body into the wooden crib, its wheels groaning and cracking under his tremendous weight. He feigned slumber, with one of his eyes remained half-open, filled with a childlike curiosity for the adventure that lay ahead. His time in Emberstead had grown stale, and the prospect of something new tugged at his dragon heart.

Tor continued forward, not daring to go any faster than before and dodging any holes in the gradually decaying pathways on the outskirts of the forests. They came across the foot of a high mountain - one that Themberchaud did not know well. The trees turned into a rocky outcropping in the shape of a skull. There were torches lit with a purple flame, and luminous orange and pink mushrooms leading down into the depths of an endless cavern. It was of dwarven make, more specifically duergar by the looks of the topography. A usual adventurer knew to turn away at the signs of something so macabre, but Tor ventured forward.

Themberchaud snickered, sensing Tor’s fear. He said, “Keep calm, bugbear. I’m not going to do anything so long as you have only the best intentions for me. Now for the duergar, I can’t say much.”

Tor jumped, surprised that the dragon was still awake. He shook his head and exclaimed, “You’re not the one I’m scared of, sorry to say. There are plenty of bad things in the Underdark, Themberchaud. I would watch yourself in here.”

The sunlight completely faded and only the fungle illuminated natural surroundings lit the path. The stone was smooth, and the walls were engraved with shimmering gold streaks. Themberchaud lifted his head curiously as they burrowed deeper into the cave. The ore veins of this mountain were plentiful, which meant more gold for both of them if they played their cards right. There was an eerie mist that filled the cavern. Themberchaud sniffed the air - there seemed to be a forge nearby, and the filtration of the exhaust was less than satisfactory. The air became rapidly warmer and warmer as their wagon delved deeper into the land of ore and mushrooms.

Themberchaud picked at his teeth. He rested his head on the bugbear’s lap, who seemed much less concerned with the dragon’s presence. “You seem to know where you’re going, Tor.”

The bugbear smiled and gently pat the young dragon’s head. “I have traveled far and wide for a quick sack of gold. This is no different.”

“I can’t say the same. I find that most just hand me gold as I sit and eat. I like it that way.”

Tor grumbled, more irritated at the dragon than worried. “I would do anything to have that same issue.”

Themberchaud moaned in pleasure as Tor scratched a spot beneath his horns that was bugging him. His great tail lifted up and came crashing down, splintering the back half of the cart as easily as a baseball bat against a window. Themberchaud lazily looked behind him, feeling his tail drag along the warm stone as they continued forward.

“Mmm… Sorry about that. I can’t control myself when someone scratches my head. At least the horses don’t have to drag as much weight along.”

The cavern turned more and more open until the ceiling was too high to see the end of in the darkness. There was soot and smoke everywhere, making it difficult for Tor to breathe. Themberchaud, however, seemed to rise with energy. The heat made his muscles tense, and his breath quick. He felt smoke rise from his snout, and his natural fire breath ignited in his chest. He shuffled to roll onto his side, thinking the feeling was some sort of heartburn. There was a deafening snap. His weight came crashing down, smothering the rest of the cart as a wheel finally unhinged itself from its binding. The sun-worn wood nearly disintegrated underneath his stomach as he slammed against the ground, shaking like a pool as his body settled. He let out a burp of fire, which lit the rest of the cart on fire.

“Damn!” Tor yelled, hopping off the driver’s seat and yanking off his cloak. The fabrics melted away with the dragon’s breath.

Themberchaud rose to his feet, his vast stomach nearly brushing against the ground with his legs fully extended. He could smell burnt fur. He giggled, and said, “You could have had a haircut but this is much faster.”

Tor spat curse words under his breath as the six horses galloped away into the darkness in fear. He turned to the dragon, stomping his leg and pointing at his smirking snout. “You’ve broken my cart! You’ve taken all my money! You’ve scared off all of my horses! Now we’re stuck in the middle of the Underdark!”

Themberchaud settled backward onto his rear and let his stomach pool onto his stubby hind legs. “Well, I suppose we shall sit here and let the hours go by. I’m getting a bit hungry - mind if I eat one of these mushrooms?”

Tor snapped his fingers. “Don’t! Those are poisonous. And is food the only thing you can think about? Is this really the situation to think about something like that?! Surely you’ll be able to survive without food for a bit with all that meat you’re carrying around.”

Themberchaud sliced a gigantic green mushroom with his razor-sharp claws that were illuminated with some sort of yellow nectar flowing through it in bulging veins. “I wonder if they are poisonous to a dragon?”

The bugbear fell to his knees and sighed. “You’re useless. This was a terrible decision.”

“I wouldn’t be so down. Look!”

Themberchaud pointed his claw toward a massive spider crawling along the stone floor of the cavern. Its furry legs stuck to the topography and rapidly advanced toward them. Upon further inspection, there was a person on top of it - or the person was the spider! The torso ended in the spider’s furry body. Their skin was pale and dark as if they had never seen the sun in their life. Their eyes were bloodshot and red, with long, straight, white hair. They presented themselves as female, with long arms even on their human portion.

Tor screamed in terror and hid behind a nearby rock. He was much too fat to fully cover himself, and his ass stuck out of the shadows in full view. Themberchaud continued to sit, eyeing the monstrosity as it grew bigger as it came closer. It must have been double, maybe even triple even his size. He didn’t remember the last time he met a creature bigger than him! He placed a hand on his stomach and gave a loud belly chuckle.

“Aren’t you a sight to be seen!”

The spider-person stopped and bowed. “I came to investigate the commotion. I assume the fire was from your breath, dragon?”

Themberchuad placed his hands on his fatty hips and puffed out his chest. “It sure was! We were attacked and I scared the monsters away with my fire breath!”

The spider-person nodded their head, in awe of his strength. She turned her head curiously and asked, “You are a fat, fat dragon. Are you here for the contest?”

Themberchaud smiled and bowed as he sat, his stomach pooling on the ground as his back lurched forward. “I’m glad that you’ve noticed. I am a gourmand of sorts. Speaking of - do you have any food nearby?”

Tor scurried onto all fours and tried to sink further into the shadows. He pouted, somewhat jealous that he wasn’t part of the conversation. He watched Themberchaud chat with the spider until they seemed to come to a conclusion. Themberchaud rose to his feet with his charismatic, cheeky smirk. He turned to Tor, who backed into the shadows shaking his head to avoid conversation. Themberchaud ignored the plight, and said, “Looks like we have a guide to a place called Gracklstugh. Even better they are a drider! Hassith here wants to take us there to enter this competition. Is that where we need to go?”

Tor’s eyes brightened and he clinched his fists together. “Yes! That is exactly where we need to go. I - I’m Tor! You should have gotten my letter about the competition!”

The drider looked confused at the little bugbear and returned their attention to Themberchaud. “It is not far - it is shrouded in the smoke from the forges. Just follow me closely and the creatures will stay far away. I doubt they will try to attack a dragon and myself.”

“Creatures?” Tor asked, looking around the vast, dark expanse of the Underdark. He eyed its caverns wearily.

Themberchaud snorted and licked his chops. “We need to get there quickly. I’m starving.”

Hassith the drider gave a creepy smile across their pale, ghostly face. “There will be a feast to sate the hunger of a dozen dragons. The ash from the volcanic underbelly of Gracklstugh provides flourishing gardens and the farmers above have gifted us their livestock. The community is thriving - blissfully fat with the wealth of nature. There are buffets around every corner just waiting to get rid of the food that is overflowing their stockades.” The drider looked up and down at the dragon, pausing to eye his gold-scaled belly that pressed tightly against his legs. “I do believe you’ll fit right in.”

Themberchaud started to drool, just thinking about the streets of food. He sniffed the air in response and caught a trail of sizzling meat. “Mmm…” SNIFF, SNIFF… “240 meters away… baked ham with a brown gravy.”

Themberchaud began to walk toward it, and the drider shrugged. “Seems like you don’t need me after all. Hassith looked down at the bugbear and sighed. “You seem to be friends. Do you want to climb on my back so I can take you there?”

Tor gulped and shook his head. Better to ride on this monster’s back than trek these lands on foot.

~~~

“All! You! Can! Eat! I want to see you fatties lining up in front of me with those big, slobbering maws! Be sure to eat fast, because you don’t want your belly to catch up with your brain! You aren’t done until I say so. Your heart is going to race like your fat ass just ran a marathon by the time you’re done. Better bring some loose clothes because your belly is going to pull at the buttons. Our servers will force you to eat more - don’t expect us to stop when you say so. We know when you are full. Be sure to drink your unlimited soda, milk, and beer to wash it all down with every bite. It is required to eat until you weigh at least 25% more than your starting weight. If you fit through the door when you’re finished, it's free on us.”

- The banter of a Gracklstugh Buffet Businessman

Themberchaud’s eyes glimmered with delight at the foot of Gracklstugh city. The buildings rose to great heights, some with floors stacked so high they were consumed by the darkness above. Everything was lit with the magical light of arcane magic and the luminescent fungus. There were creatures of all shapes and sizes - some that he frequently saw outside of the Underdark in quaint villages such as elves, humans, and tieflings. But scattered among them there were trolls, kuo-toa, and full-blooded orcs.

Duergar and drow were the primary denizens of Gracklstugh, but there were some creatures that he didn’t recognize at all. Some creatures floated by with tentacles. Some were in floating large fish bowls so they could breathe through gills. They passed by a massive minotaur with glimmering silver and gold armor talking with a similarly dressed platinum dragonborn. Three stone chairs screamed for help underneath the massive ass of a monstrously obese goblin playing cards outside a bar. And, much to Themberchaud’s delight, there were plenty of food stands. He couldn’t move a muscle without seeing food. Hassith seemed correct in her description of Gracklstugh.

Hassith bode them farewell and let them explore Gracklstugh. It was odd being around a population that did not continuously stare at Themberchaud as if he were wearing a massive dunce cap. He was used to being the elephant in the room in more ways than one, but here he seemed to mosey right in. He made his way from restaurant to restaurant with no particular taste on his taste buds in mind, fishing money out of the sweaty crevice lodged between his distended gut and floppy breasts to pay for the gratuitous amount of food. Some simply gave him leftovers, hoping that it wouldn’t go to waste. All the while, Tor scurried behind him, shouting at the top of his lungs and dodging his swinging tail.

“Wait! Wait!” The bugbear cried, pushing past creatures that were five times his size. “Themberchaud! This is the wrong way!”

“Yes, I would like the biscuits and gravy with sausage. Give me extra gravy on that, will ya? And… extra sausage. Actually, just give me four of them.” Themberchaud said, giving his best cheeky smile to a glistening gold dragonborn with a shining grin. She disappeared behind the counter into a backroom, supposedly going to make his meal.

Themberchaud smacked his lips together, anticipating the buttery taste of a good biscuit. He felt Tor’s hands grab hold of his thigh and he looked down at the panting bugbear. “Will you relax, Tor?”

The bugbear leaned on the dragon for support. He wasn’t used to running after a seven-ton dragon. “R-relax?! Do you know where we are?! This is the perfect place for us to get robbed! In any case, you need to stop eating! You’re going to… You’re going to lose!”

The dragon mocked his distraught demeanor by copying his perturbed, wide eyes. “Robbed? Look around! Everyone is having a good time! And what do you mean, lose?”

Tor shook his head. “Fine then! That was just a lie. I am just trying to push you in the right direction, okay? We need to get you to the contest. It's… you just need to be light on your feet is all.”

Themberchaud finally turned his whole body to face Tor. He slouched low so that they were face-to-face. He growled, smoke trailing out of his nose, “I don’t like to be light on my feet. I like to eat. What is this contest?”

Tor shivered and said, “Oh! Please don’t take this the wrong way. Your body is beautiful, Themberchaud. It should be right up your alley! It is an eating contest.”

Themberchaud’s eyes glistened with a newfound light. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?!”

The dragon rose from his seat and began running through the crowd, asking where the contest was, drool running down the sides of his smiling chubby cheeks. The dragonborn returned with his food and watched his tail zip around a corner, out of sight. She turned to Tor and asked, “What got into him?”

Tor shrugged and grumbled under his breath, paying for Themberchaud’s meal, “This is why I didn’t say anything sooner.”

The dragon’s footsteps rattled the nearby buildings so they popped and settled. His massive, scaly feet propelled his disastrous, paunchy hide forward, the momentum matching that of a falling brick wall. His meaty tail lashed frantically behind him, crashing through dozens of stands as if they were made of paper and causing an uproar. He knew of the name of where to go - a place called Belly Busting Buffet, but not where it was located. The crowd behind him had developed a reasonable hatred of his bombastic entrance and rushed after him. Like an angry bull released upon the city, Themberchaud galloped surprisingly quickly toward every buffet he could find. Then it was there - a sign that matched the name.

Some of the biggest creatures Themberchaud had ever seen cradled together like a group of plump pigs waiting for their meal inside. A grouping of trolls that were so fat that they needed to push a wheelbarrow in front of them to cup their overhanging paunch so it wouldn’t get in the way of their walking barked at each other to see who would get the first meal. There was a gargantuan giff dressed in lavish wear that twirled his mustache. His blubbery hippo skin was wrinkled with age and endless gluttony. His curious eyes gave a clue to his wisdom.

Many others were rushing inside, some much smaller than the rest. Themberchaud thought for certain that the bigger creatures would crush them, but everyone seemed to filter inside safely. He joined the crowd, his heart racing thinking about why so many people would show up to an eating contest.

“Themberchaud!”

The dragon looked down and saw Tor racing toward him, finally catching up with him. The bugbear looked furious. “Themberchaud! What have you done?! You have ruined so many businesses on your way here!”

Themberchaud shrugged and said, “I suppose I better win this eating contest or else we’ll be in real debt.”

Tor clinched his fists and cried, “I’m already in deep debt!”

Themberchaud’s attention was pulled away from Tor as he felt several hands begin to shove him from behind. “Get moving fatty!” They yelled. Surprisingly, he felt his body begin to move at the strength of the group. Themberchaud grabbed Tor and placed him snuggly on his back. He focused and began to waddle inside.

It was a mixture of a casino, bar, restaurant, and buffet. Several shows were going on all at once - one dryad was dancing among a group of thirsty patrons, a wizard was putting on a show of magic tricks to a crowd of two people, and there was an orc singer with a surprisingly wide range of tone, though they were difficult to hear. The most populated event at the time, however, was a stage next to a buffet.

The stage was well lit as if it were a theater show. On the stage, there were several tables lined with chairs with several plump asses already sitting in them. Some of the people sitting in the limelight were so fat that their tables had to be exchanged for larger ones, which the hosts happily provided until they found ones that worked. Because such morbidly obese creatures were crowded around each other, their body heat had made the establishment quite hazy and warm. Several fanners sat nearby so the contestants did not overheat while they were eating. Themberchaud snickered as some of the fattest people he had ever seen waited in anticipation for their meals in front of the massive crowd of cheering admirers.

Tor pulled at Themberchaud’s horns and shouted, “We need to get you up there now! We’re the last ones here! It looks like they only have one chair left.”

Themberchaud gulped and nodded. He shuffled his way through the crowd and onto the stage, where Tor dextrously slipped down his back and tail like a slide onto the floor. Tor fetched a bigger seat for him with the help of a well-muscled leonin, with a similar table to fit his size as well. Themberchaud looked around at the crowd with a smile stretched across his face. He pulled his fist into the air and roared, beating his fists against his jiggling chest and grabbing his underbelly to give it a good jostle. As the crowd cheered, his spirits rose, and he felt all the more excited to finally start eating.

“Well, well, well!” A short, stocky hobgoblin said with a smug look on his face and a cigar hanging loosely in his mouth. His curled mustache jostled as he boisterously shouted into his fists, which magically amplified his voice. “Welcome to the Belly Busting Buffet. I am the proud owner of this fine establishment, but that’s enough about me. I would like to welcome our esteemed contestants! It seems our last one just arrived - a fierce and mighty dragon named Themberchaud. We don’t see too many of your kind around here, so don’t gobble up the crowd while you’re at it! Ah, I’m just kidding. We welcome all here!”

Themberchaud applauded, proud to represent a new side of chromatic dragons that people didn’t normally see. The stout hobgoblin continued, “As always, you can call me Mug. I always love to see such fine creatures arrive at my door. I believe an eating contest in this day and age is quite a luxury, don’t you think? I hope one day to change that. I think everyone should be able to eat as much as they want. I want to see those bellies bloat folks! Not just here, but through all of the Underdark, and to the lands above!”

The surrounding lights of the buffet dimmed and Themberchaud could barely see the crowd. The stage magically lit like a theater stage from overhead globular illuminated fungi. He could feel dozens of eyes centering on him and a unique adrenaline lit the fires of his draconic body. Like a coal engine, his stomach craved more after being depleted of fuel for far too long. He looked to his left at the other contestants and eyeballed their impressive girth. He cradled his stomach, knowing that he would have to eat more than he had ever had before if he wanted to win this voracious battle.

Mug, the cheerful hobgoblin bowed and exclaimed, “Alright folks. Enough talking. I want to hear eating starting in 3… 2… 1… GO!”

Poofing directly in front of him, a glistening silver platter appeared. The silver could barely be seen underneath a mighty helping of cherry-glazed ham, mashed potatoes smothered in beef gravy, buttered corn with peppers, and three biscuits as large as a clenched fist pre-buttered and swimming in more gravy. Themberchaud did not look for any utensils - he lurched forward, nearly overturning the entire table with his squished belly, and lapped up the mashed potatoes and biscuits with one scoop of his long tongue. He swallowed immediately, a crazed hunger overturning his senses and locking his brain into doing one task: fill his belly as fast as possible.

The salt, butter, and pepper momentarily assuaged his natural gluttonous voracity, though that feeling quickly returned when he caught a whiff of the meats surrounding him. He seized the entire platter, devouring its contents until his reflection appeared on the mirror-like surface of the silver plate. Themberchaud swallowed without bothering to chew, feeling his draconic throat bulge as the food descended deep into his digestive system. The salty, buttery meal coated his tongue, somehow intensifying his hunger.

The crowd watched in astonishment, their eyes wide and jaws agape, as they witnessed a creature that couldn't be satisfied even after such a colossal and filling meal. Themberchaud gave a toothy snicker, amused by the murmurs that spread through his audience. They were now debating among themselves, wondering who among them could possibly outeat the dragon. Themberchaud settled back, placing the platter in front of him, and casually glanced over at the others. This was going to me easy.

He saw the massive giff levitate the platter with just a pull of his finger. The food individually popped into his mouth and he chewed the lavish food, savoring every bite. His blubbery, thick pachyderm hide showed signs of extended gluttony, and this display of love for food seemed to accommodate for that. The hippo-man placed both of his hands on his furry and luxurious cloak, digging into the fabrics with the tips of his fingers and kneading his own fat as he slowly ate, sometimes even stopping to write something down in what looked like a recipe book.

Next to the giff was one of the trolls that had to roll their stomach in on a wheelbarrel. Their tactic was not too dissimilar to the dragon’s own - eat as quickly and voraciously as possible. They were much more messy, and the gravy covered their entire chin and chest. And furthest away from Themberchaud sat a comically small tabaxi. They were about the size of one of Themberchaud’s haunches, a little chubbier than most, but still small. They were surprisingly agile with what they ate and kept up with the pace of the hippo at the very least. A small group of supporters cheered them on in any case.

Mug the hobgoblin clapped and said, “What a display! There is plenty to be had here, folks! It doesn’t stop at just one plate…”

Themberchaud’s eyes widened as a grouping of sausages appeared out of thin air and curled up like a snake before him. The grease from the cooked meat dripped and settled on the platter in a thin pool. The dragon’s nostrils flared as he smelled the spices within each morsel. It forced his mouth to create spittle and his stomach lurched, excited for such a spicy meal. Themberchaud slammed his fists down on the table, rattling the utensils he dared not use and the platter. “YES!” He growled, clinching the sausages and slurping them down like spaghetti. His sharp teeth tore at the meat, and as soon as the marinated pork hit his tongue he was hooked. He continued to swallow, surprised at just how much was there.

Before he could finish this time, there was another pop in front of him. He slurped down the last sausage and glanced down where his eyes glued onto an orange dream sickle pie. It was cut into fine pieces, but he lifted the platter above his head and swallowed all of it whole in his wide reptilian maw. His jaw closed around the meal and the pie burst into his mouth, filling out his cheeks wide. He moaned in pleasure, this time savoring the dessert. He put his hands on the top of his stomach, feeling a bit sated at the end of this meal.

“Alright folks, we should be… stopping soon…” The hobgoblin said with a shaky tone. He looked between the contestants and smiled. “Normally, this would be the deciding point but it seems like we have some hungry folks here tonight.”

Themberchaud winked at the admiring folks and they cooed. “Is this all there is? I was just getting started!” he growled, looking at the other contestants.

The tabaxi had gotten their fill halfway through the rope of sausages. Their stomach pooled onto their lap, taut with meat and the country-style feast. Sweat trailed down the troll’s face as they finished the pie, but they didn’t seem quite finished yet. The hippo, however, was still savoring every single bite. Their stomach seemed to be bottomless - he continued to eat just like before, showing no signs of stopping. The hippo’s fatty cheeks were wrapped in a smile. They looked like they were having the time of their life sitting up here, eating as if there were no tomorrow. However, Themberchaud shivered as the giff met eyes with him. The giff’s face went dark and taunted him with a couple of raises of his brow.

Themberchaud slammed his fist on the table and growled, “More meat!”

Mug clapped his hands and yelled, “Get another round for these folks! We need to decide a winner!”

With a snap of the hobgoblin’s fingers, Themberchaud was basked in the glory of a platter of brownies smothered in hot, melted chocolate and filled with even more chocolate chips. His draconic claws scooped up the lava-like chocolate while his tongue lapped up whatever was remaining afterward. Then there came a heavy bowl of stew filled to the brim with meats and vegetables. That was easy to swallow and actually made him a bit more peckish with its salty broth.

The dragon settled a bit more into his chair now, relaxing his back and pushing out his gut. He gave a slight burp when he ate a dozen eggs scrambled into a pizza-like omelet smothered in bacon and even hiccuped when he drained down a gallon of milk. A hint of sweat pooled between his fatty folds and down his forehead when he cut into a rare steak and a mighty helping of breadsticks.

Themberchaud hesitated, clutching a slice of pizza oozing with sauce between his fingers. His insatiable hunger had waned, and the tug of food toward him felt increasingly laborious. With every motion, his muscles strained under the weight of his ever-expanding body, yearning for the comfort of a deep slumber, much like a hibernating bear. The once inviting platters of food now seemed daunting as his belly continued to swell, each bite further anchoring him in place.

Eventually, he surrendered. He placed the platter on top of his burgeoning gut and settled backward, making it effortless to reach for whatever lay in front of him. His draconic belly rose and fell with each breath, occasionally punctuated by a satisfying burp, making room for more sustenance. He couldn't help but smile as he cupped his sagging underbelly, marveling at the immense weight now nestled within. Pressing a finger into his stomach, he found little give; the food was setting in, and he harbored concerns that there might be little room left for further indulgence.

The troll next to him had collapsed in his chair and onto his back. Their stomach trapped them onto the floor, and a puddle of sweat and gravy pooled around them. They groaned, itching at the climax of their belly. They didn’t seem to get very far after the brownies. However, the giff continued to eat, and he seemed to be eating much, much faster now.

The food levitated and dashed into his permanently open mouth now, only stopping when he had to remove meat from the bone. His arms and legs had completely relaxed, and it looked as if he were about to fall asleep. His stomach visibly lurched forward with every bite, filling out his luxurious coat to where the buttons pulled and threatened to break. The hippo-man lazily looked toward Themberchaud and gave a cheeky smile while rubbing the top of his belly. His purplish, leathery skin began to reveal itself from underneath his coat. He was getting full as well.

“These two seem to have it out for each other!” The hobgoblin yelled. The crowd had become quite a bit louder as bets seemed to drastically grow in size. Themberchaud caught a glimpse of Tor, who was sweating more than the troll. He looked anxiously back at the dragon. Themberchaud groaned and gave another hiccup. He placed his hand on his stomach and lifted himself straight. The sudden movement forced out an aggressive burp, and he smacked his belly to awaken his adrenaline. He licked his lips and tasted salt, beef, and whipped cream that had missed his lips. He must have looked like a disaster! The dragon chuckled to himself, and gradually returned to eating, happy to have given these people something interesting to look at.

“How are you still eating!” Themberchaud heard from the hippo nearby. The dragon glanced over while guzzling down a bowl of porridge and saw the giff now a bit disgruntled. His mustache was frizzled, and his coat had burst open at the belly. He looked positively stuffed, and he levitated food into his mouth much less enthusiastically now. Every bite seemed to make him frown.

Themberchaud patted his stomach and said, “I just really like eating. I’m just getting started, small fry.”

He felt victory crawl into the back of his brain as he saw the hippo’s eyes grow suddenly very angry. Themberchaud snickered as he taunted the giff by cleaving an entire loaf of bread in two with his fangs and gladly taking his time to swallow it. He moaned in delight and smacked his lips loudly. Just when he was about to shovel the rest of the bread down, he felt the loaf in his hands begin to shake as if there were something inside of it. He cautiously peered at it and saw it force its way out of his hands. It levitated in the air for a second before bulleting toward him and beginning to shove down his gullet. He swallowed it instinctively, eyes anxious and confused. His brow curled as he saw the hippo-man begin to chant something under his breath.

All of the food began to levitate from the platters and slowly glide towards Themberchaud's gaping maw. The irresistible force of the feast pushed his mouth wide open, rendering it impossible to close. His cavernous, tooth-lined maw proved more than accommodating as an overwhelming torrent of food flooded into his rapidly expanding gullet. He found himself compelled to swallow, yet his colossal bulk made it impossible for him to rise to his feet to combat the hippo; he felt as though he were trapped beneath the weight of a massive boulder, only this boulder was none other than his own distended belly. The once-limp layers of blubber that had adorned his torso now stretched to their limits, forming a taut, scale-covered fixture, forced to expand to accommodate the grotesque volume of sustenance.

The dragon heard a snap as the weight of food settled in his body. As his chair's leg gave way, the dragon came crashing down, his massive frame landing on his back with a deafening thud, pulverizing the chair into a cloud of splintered wood beneath him. His prodigious stomach surged forward and then settled heavily atop him, expanding as the food rushed into his eagerly waiting maw. He inhaled each morsel with gusto, his cheeks ballooning with the indulgent feast before he was compelled to gulp it down like a boulder.

His hands could no longer encircle his swollen midsection but he attempted to knead the bulging flesh in a desperate bid to distract himself from the mounting fullness. This meal had pushed the boundaries of his gluttony farther than ever before, and he found himself uncertain of how much further he could go. With a peculiar mix of morbid fascination and discomfort, he almost relished the sensation of the giff tirelessly shoveling food down his gullet. Nonetheless, he groaned uneasily, acutely aware that he was teetering on the brink of his capacity.

“Whoa! Looks like one of the contestants has decided to help the dragon!” The hobgoblin exclaimed. The crowd was equally as interested as the owner, hushing to see how much more the dragon could consume.

Themberchaud was becoming a ball of a dragon. He could visibly see his belly rising ever so slightly as he consumed everything in sight. It was becoming hard to see over its overhang; he recalled just hours ago when his stomach dragged on the ground and suddenly felt incredibly fat. Themberchaud’s heart raced. How could he have let himself go this much? What was this odd fascination that he had to gain so much weight? He thought of doing simple tasks such as lifting boxes for the farmers back in Emberstead. Would he be able to do anything like that anymore?

His stomach gave a loud, sickish gurgle. This was some of the best food he had eaten in his entire life. He would never stop eating, no matter what. Something in the back of his brain had dulled his senses, and he could no longer feel full. His arms and legs collapsed in exhaustion, and he relaxed his neck and back. He still swallowed, but much more calmly now. Each time he swallowed, he groaned in bliss. Something unnatural had overtaken his body. He could eat anything, and everything if he wanted to.

The giff seemed even angrier now and clenched his fists. “Onarato never loses!” But the hippo-man hesitated and smiled. “Until today.”

Themberchaud gave a somewhat dissatisfied groan as the food stopped shoving into his stomach. Could he have eaten more? He was almost sad that the food stopped. Curiosity had taken its toll.

The hobgoblin stepped onto the stage and grabbed Themberchaud’s arm. He struggled to lift his huge, fat draconic limb but shakingly held it in the air. “Looks like we have a winner! Themberchaud the red dragon!”

Themberchaud’s face brightened as the cheers became so loud that it blocked out any sense of what anyone was saying. He saw Tor race to his side and place a hand on his stomach. He looked almost sad, but glad that it was over. Themberchaud gave a toothy smile and felt his vision fade into a food coma. He took one last breath and fell into a deep slumber.

~~~

"Nobody is sure where that red dragon came from. One day he appeared, ravaged the city, and ate himself into a food coma. Knowing dragons, it could have been far, far worse. He could have eaten everyone and taken over the whole city that day if he wanted to. Instead, he has become something of a hero. He doesn’t mind it in the slightest. He shows up, breathes fire into our forges, and eats himself to sleep. I wish all dragons were like that."

- Tor the bugbear, Themberchaud’s carer

Themberchaud woke and yawned. There was a heavy weight weighing on his back and he suddenly felt as if he was having an out-of-body experience. His legs kicked as he could feel his muscles strangely slow and weighed down. His neck felt stiffer, yet softer at the same time as if there was a pillow lifting up his head. He opened his eyes groggily and saw the blurry overhang of a diamond-encrusted, golden chandelier.

The walls were decorated with ornate and massive paintings of what he assumed were famous people. Everything was bright and glistened with gold. Even the tables and chairs, which were fall to small for him, were luxurious. The room he was in smelled of lavender and was comfortably warm. Someone had tucked him in with a gigantic blanket with an ostentatious bright and incomprehensible arcane design on it. He was lying on several king-sized mattresses. He looked at his hands and saw someone had placed dozens of colorful, gem-engraved rings on his fingers. He pulled off the blanket and gasped.

His stomach was almost unrecognizable. He had grown tremendously fat. The loose flesh pooled together and bubbled outwards far greater than they had before. His legs felt like they were resting on clouds, but those clouds were his own thighs and ass. His stomach jutted even further outward, curving in on itself and around his blubbery love handles in thick balls of fat. His arms looked minuscule compared to the rest of his body, and he felt as if he had grown a foot or so in height. And he was so, so wide. Someone would have normally felt a bit embarrassed by overtaking a few king-sized mattresses, but Themberchaud had other plans.

The dragon groaned as he kicked his endlessly shaking, blubbery hide until he was resting on his belly. He then lifted himself up with all four of his legs, which shook at the tremendous amount of weight he had to carry. His legs were permanently pressed into his stomach, which now dragged firmly across the floor. Each step shook his bloated ass cheeks and jiggled his grotesque belly. He took a deep breath, wheezing at the simple interaction between his bed and getting up.

Themberchaud smiled, and slowly waddled out of the strange room, paying no mind to this newly formed body. In fact, he rather enjoyed the jiggle in his step. He could get used to this.

After traveling through hallways with dozens of doors he couldn’t enter because he was so big, he came across a massive entryway. This must have been a dream - it was a mansion of continuous hallways of gold, silver, and gems. Some furniture was shaped for him, as well as several doors that were large enough to accommodate his size. There were chairs big enough to contain his massive ass next to some that were incredibly small. Being surrounded by so many riches awakened something in the dragon’s heart and compelled him to keep searching for the owner. He must know who had the money to make a home so resplendent!

Then came a smell. Themberchaud paused and sniffed the air. It smelled familiar, though it was much cleaner. It was Tor. He followed the scent into what looked like a massive dining room. There lay enough food to feed an entire battalion, yet stacked like layered cakes on a stand so that it was easily accessible for him. His mouth watered, and he dragged his stomach toward it eagerly.

“Themberchaud.” A familiar voice called from around his haunches.

The dragon peered his not-so-long stubby neck around to his back and saw Tor dressed in a fine suit with a cane. He bowed and said, “I bet my entire farm and everything on you and you won. Looks like we made it big. Now I own this mansion and the entire Gracklstugh smithy.”

Themberchaud twisted his head, confused. Tor gave a massive smile. “I have big plans for you, dragon. There will be endless food and riches if you continue to serve me. I need you to fuel the Gracklstugh smithy for the duergar. We are going to make the best weapons in all the realms with your fire. And you…” Tor slapped Themberchaud’s haunch, “Are going to grow much, much fatter and richer, along with me.”

Themberchaud eyed the previous farmer with a smile. His next meal would be even bigger than the last.