“I’ll do it.” You say. You step forward, into the flickering light of the bonfire.
A shocked murmur passes through the crowd. Father Daltry looks you over. “Are you certain about this, my child?”
“Yes. If it will save the village, I’ll go.”
You are ${character.name}, the daughter of simple farmers. Every twenty years, Karnos, the fearsome black dragon, returns to your village. Each time, he demands the sacrifice of a young maiden. A terrible price, but one the villagers have come to accept, to ensure their survival. And this time, you’ve resolved to offer yourself, to buy your family and friends a few more years of peace.
Freshly bathed, wearing your best churchgoing dress, you walk out of the village gate for the last time. Your friends and neighbors watch you go. You stand in the open field outside the village, to await your fate.
With the first rays of dawn, you hear the distant sound of wingbeats. Then a mighty roar pierces the air, and Karnos comes gliding slowly down from the sky. The dragon is the largest creature you’ve ever seen, black, with a sinuous serpentine body, batlike wigs, and terrible clawed limbs. Finally he lands, a short distance from you. Fire burns in the beast’s eyes as he looks upon you, appraising his latest offering. Finally, the great maw opens, and he speaks.
“Acceptable.” Karnos says, his voice deep and resonant. He reaches for you with a clawed forelimb, and you wait for death.
Instead, the talons curl around you, almost gently. The dragon scoops you up, and suddenly takes to the air. You’re flying! You can see the rooftops of your village, far below. You soar over fields and treetops, heading for the great dark mountain where Karnos makes his lair.