:: Random NPC—Gotama, Dragon Druid ::

Gotama (“Best Ox”)

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/26/15

Race: Dragon (Lizards)

Scales: Blue

Age: Venerable

Gender: Male

Stature: Average

Physical: Small Mouth

Outwardly: Surprised

Inwardly: Overwhelmed

Profession: Sailor

Magic: Druid—Ranger

Land Type: Valley

Catchphrase: “What!? All this time and still a traveler comes to appease Gotama!?”

Descending the hills into the valley, you approach the river and drink to refresh yourself before moving on. As you settle your equipment, a geyser of water suddenly erupts from the river, throwing you backward to the ground with alarm. Slowly, steadily, the river parts and an enormous blue reptilian head lifts up out of it, showering you with sprays of water. The venerable dragon spots you, jerks back, and hauls all of its bulk out of the river at once, causing the earth to shake. It opens its small mouth and speaks: “What!? All this time and still a traveler comes to appease Gotama!?”

Gotama has always been the strong, silent type among his fellows. He gained his name because he was always hungry for adventure and offered to carry travelers wherever they wished to go, if only to see why they thought it was such an interesting place. The other dragons of his clutch taunted him saying he was doing the work of the human cattle. Their ridicule was too much for Gotama, and at last he left their company, never to return.

Gotama always felt connected to the valleys of the world, so safe and enclosed, like a womb. Between travels he would often return there to rest, lying in the river’s cool flow. It was while sleeping in one such river that Gotama met a company of sailors on their way back to the coast. Hearing that the dragon often blessed travellers, they had come to pay their respects. Flattered, he even agreed to accompany them and protect their ship.

It was on this journey that Gotama became acquainted with an ancient spirit of the sea and learned about the forces of nature and reincarnation. Enchanted by the idea that one could transcend time and live all of one’s lives as one, he vowed that he would meditate on this upon returning to his valley—for he saw his other lives as yet-unexplored horizons. And after bidding his sailor devotees goodbye, he did just that, laying down in his river to sleep and meditate on transcendence for as long as he might.