While you're away from the kingdom adventuring, a huge dragon named Argon takes up residence in the steaming crater of a nearby volcano and regularly raids the kingdom, slaughtering livestock and plundering treasure. The dragon prophesies that he's fated to die in his sleep, but he seals his lair with a large boulder to prevent anyone from entering while he rests.
Learning this upon your return, you assure the king you can kill Argon and convince him to commission the construction of a golden statue of a cow: you plan to hide inside, and when Argon returns it to his lair, leap out and slay him. Despite the considerable expense and risk, the king agrees, but on the day the statue is to be offered to Argon you wake up hung-over and climb into the statue without your sword. Taken by Argon to his lair, you have no choice but to flee, and when the dragon realizes the attempted ploy he angrily disposes of the statue in a pool of lava.
Incensed at your incompetence and the loss of his gold, the king turns you over to a band of slavers who take you to work in the western mines. Escaping them, you begin your long trek home.
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