Red Dragon: Must I Become a Warlord Too?

Upon hatching, Loren Solius discovers he is not only an orphan but also trapped deep within a dungeon, besieged by hostile factions on all sides. To survive, he is forced to bide his time in the depths, cultivating resources and recruiting the dungeon’s diverse inhabitants into his fold. From kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins, dwarves, and elves to hag-raised experimental subjects, sealed Fallen Wings, and mindless artificial elves, Loren steadily builds and strengthens his own armed retinue while slowly expanding his influence, intending to gradually push back and conquer the entire dungeon from within. Above ground, Wizard-Kings cast their spells without restraint and conduct mad experiments unchecked, while deranged warlords ruthlessly exploit and slaughter all in their path, perpetuating an endless cycle of annexation and ruin. In this barbaric dark age ruled by magical tyrants where there are no rules or taboos, only eternal war, Loren finds himself bewildered by his own trajectory: "Wait, this isn't supposed to happen. How did I become the greatest warlord of them all?" Set in an original fantasy universe distinct from D&D, this story features base-building, territorial conquest, draconic transformation, legion warfare, and the rise of a dragonborn empire.