Ozymandias

The dragon awoke on the harsh stone ground of a cave he didn't recognize, a deep chill freezing him to his core. What had happened? Hours ago he was with his clan, he could remember the gentle snowfall around him while hatchlings tumbled together in the growing snowdrifts. He could remember the scent of the warm center campfire and hearing the many joyous voices celebrating around him. Or was it... not the campfire? The dragon felt like something was off. Something was wrong. His head swiveled as his eyes desperately searched for an answer, a clue, anything to help him remember. Just then a gust of wind blew in from the cavern entrance, a blizzard had begun outside; and brought with it the scent of something the dragon couldn't quite place. Then, suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind, it was chaotic and painful. He was only able to see it for a moment before it disappeared, but the forceful agony ripped through his mind, causing the dragon to cry out as his body shook. Running, screaming, a warm - sticky - wetness between his claws, and the taste of copper in his mouth. What happened to him? What happened to his clan? What had he done?

Ozymandias once belonged to a thriving clan that lived deep in the Southern Icefield. He used to be quite happy living together with his wife and five children. However, his clan stumbled on something that had been locked away for more than a millennia. Taking this as a sign of good favor from the Icewarden, his clan celebrated their good fortune and they all looked forward to a bountiful harvest later in the year. However, the object was not as it seemed. During the celebration, Ozymandias went to inspect the object; the jet black stone was carefully carved around a delicate milk-white centerpiece. There were several smaller stones as well, all linked together intricately by ornate chains made of the same material. Not knowing the object to be deeply cursed, the dragon tried on the jewels and his mind and body were instantly overcome by the curse's power. The dragon blacked out, and so far has never learned of the atrocities he committed that night. When he returned to the village, a blizzard had just past, and the remains of the devastation were covered by feet of snow and ice. Thinking his clan had decided to move on, the dragon went out in search for them.