Likes: Good Heroes, Display of strength
Dislikes: Unruly meals, Spineless “Heroes”
Talent: Wanton consumption
Natural Enemy: Vritra,
“That Little Scrapper”
Image Color: Sanguine Red
Armament: Claws, flame, lightning, contaminated blood
Lore:
Kulshedra, the demonic dragon of plunder and contamination, is a recurring antagonist figure in various Albanian tales. A “Dragon-Kind” whose very body is of flame, storm and poisons, she acts as the foe of both the humans and the bounties of their inhabited land.
And yet, a so-called dragon shouldn’t normally return from death so many times.
-- -Since time immemorial, Kulshedra was the great evil responsible for tormenting Albania. A negative force conjuring storms and floods, it was met against the Drangue, the heroic figure of good using the same lightning and winds against the spirit. Their battle reflects the very storms raging in the heavens, both sides winning and dying in equal measure.
Over time, influences from the lands beyond molded the imagination of the humans in the Kulshedra’s territory. From tales of the thunder god fighting against the demon king, or of the great wyrm that can wrap itself across the world. Gradually, guided by the consciousness of the people, the once amorphic evil began to take form -- one that of scales, flame and claw.
Rather than “A Dragon that is Close to an Evil Spirit,” it’s more apt to say that Kulshedra is “
An Evil Spirit Risen and Molded to the Level of Dragon-Kind.” Not dissimilar to “All the World’s Evils” placed onto one entity, Kulshedra stands as the purest manifestation of the nation’s spiritual dregs and malaise.
Since then, the fell-dragon’s foe diverged from the skies to that of men and beast alike. Many times did Kulshedra rise from the shadows, and many times did a hero smite her down. Be it dashing knights, clever maidens, or Heaven’s proxies, both mankind and the planet alike fought hand-in-hand to bring down the living curse low.
But the demonic dragon will rise again, and will return to reign terror upon all.
Once another serpent matures after a century, the “essence of Kulshedra” will overtake them in order to become the next herald of storm and drought.
As long as the land requires a
great evil, she will be there to oppose good.
As long as her existence is validated, she will remain as
Kulshedra.
= = = =
Character:
“‘Beast of Humanity?’ Kehahahahahaa, why would I be something so nonsensical? You humans are nothing but a means of sustaining me, what use is there in loving meals!?”
A proud Anti-Hero, true and true. Someone who wears the badge of villain with beaming pride.
Rather than a dragon that “constricts,” Kulshedra is an existence that “plunders.” Nowhere else is allowed to prosper other than hers, no one is deserving of luxuries other than her, everything around her belongs to her and her alone -- befitting the nature of a dragon. To resist her taking is foolish, and to attempt to take such offerings from her is a death sentence.
While such a disposition gives off an image of a noble, it’s more accurate to compare her to a brigand or tyrant: someone who takes because she wishes to. A sentiment that goes beyond a dragon’s instinct to subjugate, Kulshedra seeks to torment and prop herself further as the “Greatest Terror.” The dragoness cares not for who she takes from; be it from mankind or the land itself, their prosperity shall be under her purview. No wonder the Counter Force seems so intent on suppressing her.
That said, the “prosperity” she seeks is not dazzling gold or jewels, but the life force of all. The mana in the air and water, the od in animals and man alike; she wishes to hoard and devour them all, spiritual pollution be damned. An endless vortex that swallows the vitality of the land, sapping everything of life.
Even then, a brigand has her pride. For all of Kulshedra’s defeats in both arms and minds, she always enjoyed her bouts against the heroes. Be it the twins Zmerja and Handa, the shrewd Ileana Simziana or the blessed Georgios and Elias, the prospect of facing these shining stars thrilled her to no end. Perhaps a fragment to her original station, Kulshedra will never refuse a confrontation against such vaulted heroes.
For in her own way, the demonic dragon respects these agents of virtue.
“Though I have little interest in the Grail itself, the wish it offers is much too enticing to ignore. My desire? Hehh, that would be simple; to revitalize my new domain to its glory: with the land renewed, the sweet bounties it would produce will be enough to sustain me and leave enough to craft the same wish later on! Kahahahaaa, brilliant foresight, no? Of course, servitor, it is only natural.
...
...Kidding aside, I suppose the birth of a hmm… a ‘True Hero’ would suffice, yes. Someone who embodies the ‘Purest Good’ standing up and challenging me, without a chance of rebirth -- a final, definitive battle between Good and Evil, you can say!
Kehahaa. Who lives, who dies, it matters not; it will simply be fun to see who can land the fatal blow first.”