Dragonmancers

Template:SpoilerDragonslayer The dragonmancers were a powerful group of scavengers, living in and running the village of Talisman. The dragonmancers are Master Trout, Crow, and Gorge. Originally, there were four dragonmancers, but one was sacrificed to the dragons so the others could increase their share of stolen treasure.

History

Dragonslayer

The Dragonmancers were originally treasure smugglers who set up Talisman to be a hideout. There used to be four of them, but after they got enough treasure, they sacrificed the unnamed fourth Dragonmancer, resulting in more treasure for the remaining three (Gorge, Crow and Master Trout), as well as the loyalty of the residents of Talisman.

At the beginning of Dragonslayer, the dragonmancers attempted to sacrifice Wren to dragons during the Gift for the Dragons ceremony. Wren escaped by wriggling out of the ropes and became a misanthrope, distrusting humans and believing them to be worse than dragons, despite her growing up being taught that dragons were "giant flying sharks". According to Rowan, Wren's oldest sister, there have been others sacrificed before her, including several unnamed dragonmancer apprentices.

In the ending events of Dragonslayer, Wren exposed dragonmancers, using a treasure-share logbook as evidence. They no longer rule over Talisman, but it is unknown who is now in charge and what the villagers did to the dragonmancers.

Visions and sacrifices

The dragonmancers claim to have visions telling them what the dragons want, which often result in the sacrifice of a villager. These gifts are usually younger people known to misbehave and disobey the orders of the dragonmancers, who are tied up and left out in the open where any dragon flying ahead can easily see them. These visions are simply made up stories that enforce the belief in the villagers that the dragonmancers are their saviours and protect them from harm by dragons. To quote Wren, "The fourth treasure smuggler, ladies and gentlemen, was the very first person our fine dragonmancers decided to 'sacrifice' to the dragons. Why? Two great reasons. One, it was very dramatic. It established the dragonmancers as mystical visionaries who received messages from the dragons. Which are all lies, in case you were curious". Wren is currently the only named sacrifice for this so-called Gift for the Dragons. Grove may have been another sacrifice if Rowan, Leaf, and Thyme hadn't pleased the dragonmancers by bringing treasure back from the SkyWing Palace

Apprentices

All apprentices are eventually sent to steal treasure from the SkyWing Palace. If they do succeed, they are sacrificed, allowing the dragonmancers to increase their shares of treasure without having to divide it with another person. If they fail this mission in death, another young villager that they deem trustworthy will be selected by the dragonmancers to be an apprentice. Leaf is the only named dragonmancer apprentice so far.

Known dragonmancers

• Master Trout
• Crow
• Gorge
• Several unnamed dragonmancer apprentices