Recently this reporter had the opportunity to sit down with one Voodo Thunderwings. Many of you probably know Voodo from his violent nature, tendency to make loud pronouncements of his might, his feelings of complete superiority over everything not Dragon, and more recently his threats against the staff of the Dragon Fire Chronicles.

Join me now, gentle reader, as we attempt to delve beyond the facade and meet the real Mr. Thunderwings.

The black drake began the interview sitting primly, wings furled.

Spurian Spectator: Okay, let's start from the beginning. How was your life before you came to Spur?

Voodo Thunderwings: I am the oldest child in my family. I lived as any draco does: for the most part playing in the forests near my home accompanying my father on his hunts. My parents Osiris'a and Gladon'a were both very protective and ruled the lands surrounding their lair with an iron claw. It was a great life.

S.S: At the risk of sounding racist, what color or colors were your parents?

V.T: My father was black and my mother was emerald.

S.S: You've often been critical of us "mortals" or "cattle" to use your term. What motivated you to come to the biggest and most diverse "cattle pen" in the world, and spend so much time among us?

V.T: Being the eldest of my family I was the first to strike out on my own to make my name in the world, and find my own lair. In my family all the males are left to find there own lives at an early age in a trial by fire you might say. Spurs surrounding lands are rich in not only gold but food, and much of it is uncolonized: the perfect place to make ones home. There's also a greater chance to find ones bondmate in a city that is so large.

(The black then began to fan his large wings slowly, either at the thought of bondmates or hunting)

S.S: What brought about this great distaste for non-Dragons/Secians? Does it apply to everyone? I've noticed you spending time and hunting with folk who aren't Dragons or Secians in the past, and you also spend a great deal of time in Town Square Center...

(The drake then smirked slightly, likely flattered he had been noticed)

V.T: 'Tis a long story but I'll try my best to handle it in three separate pieces. First my distaste for mortals: my father used to say : "Mortals are food, nothing more. They are the least trustworthy beasts to ever walk the realm, and their pitiful life spans do not even make them good pets."

V.T:However when I was young and idealistic mortals looked similar to myself at that age; when I got to Spur I had planned on embracing diversity. However after the repeated attacks on my kyn by not only the city's population but also from the constant persecution of the Justices and the Governor, I came to dislike the whole mortal system. It was only after my kyn Dracion was murdered by the god Odarous for breaking the exile we both received did I come to loathe the common mortals.

V.T:Your second question about the few mortals that I call friends: as I stated before I loathe most mortals. However just as with Dragon kyn there are good kyn and rogues. There are also shinning pillars of spirits that I call "friends." Mind you it is no easy task to become the friend of a Dragon; these individuals are truly examples to their races of what they should be.

V.T:Finally your last question about TSC: TSC has a steady stream of water, many Secians, and the occasional brawl to watch. It provides a good place to launch a Dragon/Secian hunt from and a good place to lay in the sun, although I do prefer the forests for napping.

(Again a fanning of the wings, probably at the thought of TSC's steady stream of water)

V.T: You've felt a good amount of that "persecution" by the Justices yourself, haven't you?

V.T: I've been to prison a total of 4 times, all for murder. I was put there 3 times by justices and went once willingly as a favor to my good friend Stanrar. The only good thing that came out of those experiences was when I witnessed the death of Semper the Justice. It was truly a beautiful sight as Windfury's runes burned the Justice to death. He got exiled later for around 6 months but I always thought it was worth it.

S.S: Did I also hear something of you fighting a war against mortals at some point?

V.T: The great war was near my home lair when my father was off fighting the dark army with the other imperials. My mother had stayed behind with my aunt to give birth to my youngest sister. For no reason at all the nearby city of Plebia attacked my parents' lair, slaughtering my sister and injuring my mother. All total the war lasted for 5 days. Myself, my two younger brothers, my aunt, and my 4 cousins erased the entire city's existence. Not an inch of dirt was left unscorched. If you go up towards the Shadow Mountains, about 2 days flight past Rathan you will come across the burnt land where the city once stood.

S.S: What about Spur's Dragons, your thoughts on them? It seems that you had almost a mentor/student type relationship with Titanium.

V.T: The Dragons of spur vary as much as the winds. Most are too civilized for me, sitting around eating cooked food that was killed by another, never rushing to a battle to meet death eye to eye, and preferring more to sit and debate all day in their council.

(A slight roll of the eyes here)

V.T: You were correct, Titanium was my mentor. After Dracion died I was a wreck: I had never seen the death of kyn before except for Ferro. I felt like life had no meaning: my first chosen Alaena had disappeared without a trace; I was nothing more then a mortal drinking myself into a stupor with no purpose in life. Titanium found me and honed me into what I am today. He showed me the true path to balance through embracing the chaos within, as well as teaching me some of the finer points of battle.

(A momentary glance at the claws)

S.S: How about Michael'a? You two hardly seem to be great pals, is there any specific problem that started everything, or just a general dislike for each other?

V.T: Michael'a should have died in the wars, 'tis an unfortunate happenstance that he survived. He spends too much time drunk and sitting on his big flabby behind and not enough time hunting, finding his lair and expanding his hoard.

V.T:I feel quite sorry for his bond: Pepperi is such a nice Secian and I try to give as many gems as I can for I fear that her bond is too drunk to find her any. Michael'a should set an example for future generations, but instead he prefers to drink himself stupid.

(A snort in disgust)

S.S: How about Spur's current crop of Secians, your thoughts on them?

(The drake's eyes danced with either joy or bloodlust, it was slightly hard to tell)

V.T: Ah the little ones. They are truly the highlight of this town. Never have I seen so many kind little faces, they are all truly magnificent creatures, assets to their temples as well as the greatest gift this world has to offer to Dragons in the love that they give to us.

(A smile)

S.S: How do you reconcile your often violent nature with that love for Secians? Doesn't the violence cause them pain, both emotionally and physically?

V.T: My love for the little ones will never diminish or die. I respect them for what they are and do my best to keep my darker nature from them. It's with a heavy heart that I have shed blood in front of any of them, but when the events call for it I can only be what I am, nothing more. Violence is as natural to me as healing is to them. The instinct to kill those that are a threat or impairment to me or those I care for flows through me just like life's own blood.

S.S: How about Oake? How'd you meet her, how do you guys get along, all that stuff.

(More of that strange sparkling in the eyes)

V.T: Oake is my reason for being, I couldn't imagine my life without her. Everything she does makes me love her only more. We met in Spur a few years ago and I knew when I met her that something was special about this Secian. I introduced myself and we hunted a few times. Never have I seen such an artful example of healing: it was if her runes were not controlled by her but flowed from her. Her sense of humor was a perfect match to my own and her loyalty unmatched in all the realm. We became chosens a few weeks before I staged and have been inseparable ever since. I try every day to make her life pure bliss, as she does with me. It is truly a match made in the stars.

(An obviously happy smile, maybe it's not bloodlust after all)

S.S: Looking back at your time in Spur, what would you consider to be the highlights and lowpoints?

V.T: I suppose there are several of each. The battle with Z'kai in which I traveled with Meqetlh to the Lupine village to unbind the mantle of shadows from him. The battle with the Muat Necromancer Vladymir, and the first time I visited Saldaea. Finally, the first time I met Oake. 

V.T:Down times...these are easier as I remember them more vividly. The deaths of Ferronogon and Dracion, and the destruction of Thiaran'a's lair by the archdemon.

S.S: You stated recently that the cause for your absence the past few months was that you were trapped in some sort of time prison. What was that all about? How'd you get stuck there, what was it like, how'd you get out?

V.T: Oh, an excellent question! 'Twas about two months ago to you, I was hunting in the Rijom mounds. 'Twas a truly great hunt when suddenly I caught the foul stench of Muat. I scoured the area thinking it was one of the Necromancers returned, when I came upon a hooded figure. Before I knew what was going on, it stared at me, binding me. As it pulled back its cowl it spoke to me and told me its name was Wendigo. I was apparently important enough to have Moloch himself send an assassin after me. The binding wore off and I launched myself at the Muat, knocking him into a wall. I tore at his body with my talons, delighted as his black blood fell to the floor. Obviously he was unprepared for me because he fled only for me to find him opening a blinding slit of light. Not wanting to leave this threat alive, I followed. As I entered, it was unlike anywhere I had ever been. It was only then that I realized the nature of the trap, but by then it was too late. He was out and had resealed the slit.

V.T:For 10,000 years I was imprisoned in that void. I had no form, only my consciousness was awake. I watched the many strands of time pass, each one headed to a different time line until I was able to gain enough archaic magick to break free. Conveniently Aiena had displaced so much magick with Sa that I was able to finally leave my prison, returning three months after I had disappeared.

S.S: Finally, since we're the paper you're talking to, what do you have against the DFC? Don't like the paper, or did the windbag thing just bug you? Do you oppose a free press?

V.T: Well, this paper holds my favor. The staff are much more creative then that of the DFC: their egos are less inflated and the level of reporting is of a much higher quality. Your editor is one of my favorite little khatresses and I have an understanding with most of the reporters. The DFC's editor when I spoke to her did not deal with me in a respectful manner as befitting my stature as a dragon. Her paper slandered my person and I will never stand for that. I have nothing against the free press so long as when they print stuff about me or those close to me, I like what they print.

(A slight smirk)

S.S: So you like the Spec because we kiss your arse?

V.T: I didn't say that. I like the Spec because it deals with me respectfully. I feel that I could contribute something to Changeman's Vault just as easily as anyone else, if I ever felt the burning desire to do so. The key to running a healthy, happy business is to know who your audience is and to deal with them in a manner befitting their stature. The editor for the DFC is really more responsible for the threats against her paper; I am merely reacting to my name being slandered. She could have easily ended the situation by simply dealing with me in a non-derogatory way. When I spoke with her she chose to be arrogant and pompous like most mortals and achieved the usual result.

(A shrug, as if this were blatantly obvious)

S.S:Eloquent Dragon, or blustering windbag? It's up for you to decide, but I can say one thing: no matter how you describe him, he sure does talk a lot!