The passageways winded on underneath the mountain, a labyrinthine sequence of tunnels woven in a path that, were it to be viewed from a distance by someone supremely knowledgeable in the ways of magic, could be seen to be a sign of binding. The guardians who walked it did so in precise patterns, constantly reinforcing the bonds which held the mighty beasts imprisoned beneath the earth. The caverns – little more than cells to the enormous creatures – that held each dragon were accessible by these tunnels. All but one, that is.<br/><br/>This tunnel in particular was small at its opening, scarcely large enough for a single human to squeeze through, but grew quickly to around fifteen feet high, though it did not widen more than a few feet. From there, it appeared that a rockslide had hit, filling the tunnel completely and tapering toward the entrance, the boulders jagged and packed tightly together.<br/><br/>The prison cell that lay beyond was occupied, however. A cool underground draft whistled faintly into the narrow opening of the tunnel, and something beyond felt it. It smelled as it ever had, bearing the odor of ancient rock, the rotted stench of the living dead that wandered the passageways, and underneath it all a very faint smell that resembled ozone – the scent of the magic that suffused every inch of this place. But there was something different here as well. Something had changed. The guardians’ scent was concentrated. They were more active. Something was happening.<br/><br/>Time had little meaning, especially here, but even Ehroj recognized that such activity had not occurred since the last dragon ceased fighting their bonds.<br/><br/>The rock itself<em>thrummed</em>. It was tangible at its source, the very air vibrating and a shower of dust and smell pebbles raining from the ceiling, but by the time the vibration reached the enormous doors it was faint, likely to be felt only by those who were stationary at the time. It lasted perhaps three seconds, then faded away – but it bounced back as well, returning the knowledge of some new presence to the ancient dragon. After sleeping for centuries, the dragon Ehroj began to slowly awaken.