Twenty years had passed since the Age of Dragons had begun and the Lotan Empire was formed in the ashes of what was once the kingdom of Anadan.  Humanity was now subservient to those who once served them.  The power shift was not without struggle, however.  A resistance had begun almost immediately, made up of loyal soldiers, guardsmen, and knights to the Adaranian crown, rallying behind the Captain of the Royal Guard, Lord Diego Felhorn.  It had been a long, difficult process, but they'd gained a significant foothold in the capitol city of Valdaran and it was finally decided that the Princess needed to take her kingdom back.<br/><br/>That was where Gabriel came in.  Raised as a hatchling by Lord Felhorn and the resistance, Gabriel was the only dragon among them and Lord Felhorn's secret weapon against their tyrannical would-be masters.  As well as the one chosen to escort Princess Vail safely into Valdaran to join with her loyalists.  He appeared a simple young traveler, wearing plain clothes under a hooded black traveling cloak, the deep hood concealing his features from prying eyes who might recognize the tell-tale signs of his true race.  He took no pains in hiding his approach, keeping his horse at a canter as the cottage appeared at the end of the forest trail before finally slowing to a stop at a respectable distance from the older woman standing between him and the cottage.<br/><br/>After dismounting, Gabriel stepped forward and said, "The sun sets in the Eastern sky."  To anyone else, a nonsense phrase.  To those in contact with Lord Felhorn, however, a secret password that had been long awaited.<br/><br/>Rapid footfalls could be heard running up the hill from the right side, an older looking man with a full head and beard of grayed hair by the Sebis charged forward and drew a short sword from a hidden sheath in one of the cottage's four support frames.  He struck a stance on the stranger's flank, sword held aloft over his head with the tip aimed at what he assumed was an enemy, his other arm held out in a ready position to defend.  "We do not welcome strangers here.  Turn back to the road and no harm will come to you.  Refuse and be struck down by the very fist of Theron herself." he growled, staring daggers at the intruder and simply awaiting a reason to strike the lad's head from his shoulders.