Record of Lodoss War 3: The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain 1 (novel)

Record of Lodoss War 3: The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain 1
Author	Ryo Mizuno
Illustrations	Yutaka Izubuchi
Japanese title	ロードス島戦記３ 火竜山の魔竜（上）
Romanized title	rōdosu-tō senki 3 hi tatsuyama no ma ryū (ue)
Publication information
Original release	10 January 1990
Chapters	Prologue (プロローグ) The Berserker (狂戦士) The Mercenary King (傭よう兵へい王おう) The Fire Dragon’s Hunting Grounds (火竜の狩猟場)
Pages	272 (original) 276 (re-release)
ISBN-13	978-4044604042 (1990) 978-4041011157 (2013)
Novels
← Previous	The Fire Demon
Next →	The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain II

Record of Lodoss War 3: The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain 1 is the third novel in the Record of Lodoss War novel series and based on the second RPG replay. It details the adventures of Parn, Deedlit, Slayn, Orson, Shiris, Cecil, and others as they endeavor to stop a party from Marmo led by Ashram from getting ahold of the Scepter of Domination. The light novel is written by Ryo Mizuno and illustrated by Yutaka Izubuchi.

The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain I was adapted into anime twice, loosely in the 1990 OVA, and more closely in the 1998 anime.

Synopsis

　The Black Knight Ashram is in search of the Scepter of Domination. He knows the treasure is guarded by one of the five chromatic dragons, but does not know which one. With his five companions, he has already slain the ice dragon Bramd, but found no treasure in the dragon's possession. He has decided to visit Neese in Tarba, Alania for information regarding Bramd's treasure. From his meeting with Neese he deduces Bramd did not possess the scepter, but Neese does nt know which of the other dragons does. Ashram continues his search, while Neese calls for Slayn and Leylia from Zaxon village.

　While Slayn and Leylia (with little Neese) meet with Neese, two mercenaries, Shiris and Orson, with some companions, arrive at Zaxon to collect taxes for Duke Raster. They meet with Cecil and mistake him for Slayn. They lure the hot-headed sorcerer away from Zaxon and corner him, but when they're about to finish him off, Cecil is saved by Parn and Deedlit. Shiris duels Parn, but loses. Orson witnesses Shiris' defeat and suddenly turns into a rage so overwhelming and consuming, Deedlit's spirit magic no longer affects him. He attacks Parn and almost topples him, when Shiris manages to return Orson to his normal self. Parn initially wants to kill Orson, but Shiris talks him out of it.

　Meanwhile, Slayn and Leylia have returned from Neese (and have left Little Neese in her care). They tell Parn and others about Ashram and his search for the Governor’s Treasures. The group decides to attempt to thwart Ashram's plans.

　By now, Ashram has arrived at the Temple of Myrii in Blade, Flaim, for a meeting with Hobb, the high priest. Ashram wants to enlist Hobb's services, particularly his ability to instill strength and courage in the hearts of warriors, for his quest to find the Scepter of Domination and upcoming battles with any of the five chromatic dragons. Hobb, however, appears loyal to Kashue, but Ashram informs him of the truth behind Kashue's heroism in the War of Heroes, as well as sharing his own backstory (and Beld's), and Hobb decides to follow Ashram to find out if he is as worthy as he seems. Hobb leaves the temple in the care of Shari, a priestess who was Hobb's second-in-command.

　Parn, Deedlit, Slayn, Leylia, Cecil, Orson and Shiris have also arrived at Blade. After dealing with some commotion on the streets, they meet with King Kashue. They tell the King of the plans of their new adversary. Kashue calls the story an incredible coincidence, because they were about to fight the demon dragon Shooting Star, who rests in Fire Dragon Mountain to the west of Flaim. The dragon has awoken from his slumber and has been feeding on refugees from Flaim's civil war three years ago who had settled nearby the mountain in a grassland area called the “fire dragon's hunting grounds”. Parn offers their help, but Slayn points out there is another dragon who may have the treasure: the water dragon Abram. Slayn proposes to Kashue to let Parn and Deedlit—sword and magic—join Kashue's force, while the others go to Blue Dragon Island to find Abram. Slayn picks Orson as leader of the party, which everyone except Leylia, but even Orson himself, find ridiculous. But Slayn believes such a task may trigger Orson to reconnect with his emotions. In the days before the parties' departure, Parn had a sparring session with Kashue, but loses due to hesitency. He is also told about his friend Etoh having become king of Valis, a group of influential people from Marmo who have come together to reestablish control of the island (including Ashram, Wagnard and Luzeev) and asked Parn whether he was interested in becoming a king himself, of Alania. A banquet was also held and Parn danced with a beautifully dressed Shiris, which irritated a casually dressed Deedlit.

　When Kashue, Shadam, Parn and Deedlit set out to Fire Dragon Mountain, they make a stop at Hobb's temple, wanting to ask him to come along, only to find out he left the temple and joined Ashram's. Kashue feels deserted at first, but asks Shari, Hobb's second-in-command, to take Hobb's place and Shari accepts.

　In Raiden, Ashram has hired a ship to take him and his party to Blue Dragon Island, where the water dragon Abram resides. Parn, Kashue and the others have, in the meantime, arrived at the fire dragon's hunting grounds. Shooting Star had picked up the scent of a great number of humans and has decided to fly east, to the hunting grounds. When Shooting Star arrives, the Flaim army gets into formation, but a simple roar by the dragon already causes some disorganizing in the army. The army tries to get the dragon closer to the ground, but the dragon stays out of reach of the ranged units. Suddenly, the dragon dives down and starts breathing fire, burning many soldiers to death. Deedlit summons Jinn, the king spirit of the wind, who succesfully causes Shooting Star to crash down. Soldiers begin to attack the dragon with lances, and one of them manages to actually wound it, before being burned by the dragon's fiery breath. Parn and Kashue also rush to the dragon and Kashue manages to pierce one of the dragon's eyes, while Parn pierces one of the dragon's feet with his magic sword. Shooting Star takes off, but will return for his revenge. The party decided to continue to Raiden.

Characters appearing

In order of appearance.

• Ashram
• Smeddy
• Gilram
• Astar
• Groder
• Gaberra
• Neese
• Orson
• Shiris
• Cecil
• Artin
• Parn
• Deedlit
• Slayn
• Leylia
• Karla (memory)
• Saluvan (memory)
• Orson’s sister (memory)
• Hobb
• Shari
• Kashue
• Shadam
• Wagnard

Gallery

Artwork from the novel.

Cover artwork without text (by Izubuchi) Cover artwork for 2013 release without text (by Dong-hyuk) Intertitle (by Izubuchi) Shooting Star (by Izubuchi) Map of Lodoss Map of the five ancient dragons Cecil (by Izubuchi) Parn blocking a strike by Orson (by Izubuchi) Ashram and priest Hobb (by Izubuchi) Deedlit with Orson (by Izubuchi) Groder (by Izubuchi) Demon Dragon Shooting Star (by Izubuchi) Parn strikes Shooting Star (by Izubuchi)