Fivik folded her arms and swept her gaze over the group.
"You don't actually think a dragon's lair is as simple as the dirt pits Goblins dig, or the rock caves beasts use to shelter from the rain, do you?"
"A lair is a special domain formed after a powerful lifeform occupies a region and uses its own magic to taint, warp, or even reshape the surrounding environment."
"In other words—"
"A lair is an extension of their will."
"In a red dragon's lair, magma will surge from the ground. In a white dragon's cave, ice will form even at the height of summer. In a green dragon's territory, plants will mutate poisonous traits, while the air fills with a miasma that leaves people drowsy."
"And creatures like dragons generally only begin to radiate enough magic after reaching adulthood to exert a stable, continuous influence on their surroundings."
"That means you won't just be dealing with a creature whose adventure level is at least seventy."
"You'll also have to face the entire environment altered by the dragon's magic—quicksand, storms, lightning, poisonous mist, or... gravity silently changing direction beneath your feet."
"On top of that, all sorts of creatures gather around a lair."
"Some are drawn there, some are tamed, and some are created by the dragon's own hand."
"Dragons are born with long lifespans and boundless energy, and their interests in reproduction have always been broad."
"Mating with their own kind is merely an instinct for preserving their bloodline. Their true pleasure lies in coupling with all manner of creatures."
"Dragonkin, half-dragons, dragon beasts... these are all products of dragons mingling with other races."
"Countless such descendants and retainers live around an adult dragon's lair. Generation after generation, they thrive around the lair and serve that dragon."
"To break into