Dragon: The Embers Core Book - MrGone's Character Sheets

Appendix Two: San Francisco
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“Settle down for bed and I’ll tell you a story, okay? Hmm… which’s one should I tell?
Ah, how about this. Why do you think the earth shakes, son?”
“Tectonic plates shift back and forth causing vibrations!”
“Well, aren’t you a little smarty! I’m glad you’re learning something at school. But why
does the earth really shake?”
“I dunno. Why?”
“Long ago, when the world was young and man was not yet ruler of the lands, there was
a mighty serpent that from end to end stretched the world over. His name was Jörmungandr.”
“Jörmungandr?”
“It’s a Norse word. It means great world serpent. Jörmungandr traveled the world as he
pleased, eating what he liked and stealing what he wanted. He had a particular fancy for gold,
you see, and he stashed a great haul of it right here under San Francisco.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Its said that even today his hoard of treasure is buried, waiting to be found.”
“Cool!”
“Not exactly. You see Jörmungandr was quite sinful, and a hammer of justice slew him
for his wickedness. But not quite. Instead of death Jörmungandr was knocked into eternal
slumber and buried beneath the earth, so that other creatures might flourish on the land. But it is
a restless sleep the world serpent sleeps. As he tosses and turns the earth atop him is shaken and
shattered, the tremors causing quakes like the one we had today.”
“But if he’s asleep, wouldn’t he starve?”
“No, son. There’s a reason he was drawn to gather gold. The wealth sustains him like
food sustains us, and so long as it is with him he will continue his sleep. But should someone
steal the treasure from beneath his scaly form, Jörmungandr would rise once more and eradicate
the world that trapped him.”
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