How the dragon Czazarian got really rich using glass and paper.

Of the three dragons residing in Ithrill, the ancient red dragon Czazarian is the most renowned. His likeness is immortalized in numerous portraits and sigils throughout the city. As the largest investor in Ithrill, it’s rumored that his wealth and influence account for nearly a fifth of the city's holdings.

Czazarian first encountered Ithrill centuries ago, awakening to find the world irrevocably changed.

His time-worshiping acolytes had perished, and his once-powerful cult had long been forgotten. By this time, Ithrill had expanded, constructing its second city wall, enveloping new districts like Orc Town and Leatherdale.

Flying directly toward the city, Czazarian was intercepted by a delegation of representatives. They calmly informed him of the fate of his followers and explained the vast changes that had occurred during his long slumber. As the conversation unfolded, the Ithrillian city guard was discreetly mobilized. Czazarian, amused by the thought of these short-lived beings posing any threat, paid little attention until the midday cannons roared in the distance.

The non-magical bombard was enough to catch Czazarian’s attention. The representatives, aware of the city's advanced weaponry, made it clear there were many more such cannons in the city’s arsenal. They then shifted the conversation to gold—specifically, Czazarian’s, offering a proposition. Ithrill, they explained, required capital for growth, and investments could yield great returns. The representatives revealed themselves to be fellow dragons: Vatiz, the copper dragon and Keeper of Secrets, and Eilizavan, the silver dragon and Mistress of the Arts.

In subsequent negotiations, an agreement was reached: Czazarian would defend the city, while Vatiz and Eilizavan would assist him in establishing a bank. They explained the workings of a bank, where lending money would be repaid with interest, allowing Czazarian’s wealth to grow without diminishing his hoard.

The Crimson Bank flourished under his rule, its reputation bolstered by the looming presence of the red dragon. One day, a young entrepreneur, Johann Ravenwood, approached Czazarian with a novel idea: glass coins. These coins would be backed by the dragon's hoard, each piece crafted uniquely, worth 500, 1000, or even 10 units. The heat of Czazarian’s breath could melt and reshape them. Skeptical at first, Czazarian questioned why anyone would return the glass coins instead of hoarding them.

Johann assured him that the coins would circulate as symbols of value, with people offering gold in exchange for the privilege of owning them, ensuring Czazarian's hoard remained intact and grew further.

The glass coins, backed by Czazarian’s vast treasure hoard, rapidly gained popularity. Initially seen as a novelty, their unique craftsmanship and the guarantee of a dragon’s wealth quickly made them a preferred medium of exchange. As word spread, merchants and traders began accepting glass coins as secure, convenient alternatives to heavy gold. Their lightweight nature and promise of redemption from Czazarian's hoard spurred widespread trust.

As the glass coins circulated, capital flow into Ithrill surged. Investors from neighboring regions sought to acquire these coins, seeing them as stable, prestigious assets. The influx of wealth into the city helped finance new industries and expanded infrastructure, fueling further economic growth.

Seeing the success of the Crimson Bank’s innovation, other banks in Ithrill introduced their own tokens. These institutions, often backed by lesser-known patrons or magical safeguards, produced coins of varying materials, from enchanted silver to rare gemstones. However, none could rival the mystique and trust associated with Czazarian’s glass coins, which remained the gold standard of trade.

Johann continued to devise new financial instruments for the Crimson Bank, though he could scarcely understand the source of his inspiration. From the glass coins came Czazarian Notes—larger denominations of wealth, backed by reserves of gold and precious metals, each personally signed and sealed by Czazarian himself. These notes not only bolstered the bank’s reputation but also extended its line of credit far beyond Ithrill, reaching distant trading outposts where new branches of the bank began to flourish.

One of Johann’s most ambitious creations was the Crimson Market, an open marketplace where merchants could issue contracts for rare and exotic ingredients, and speculators wagered on the rise and fall of nations. Here, kingdoms in need of capital could seek financing from Ithrillian investors. Anything could be traded, provided it adhered to the Market’s strict rules. As the bank’s influence grew, even a chain of coffee houses sprang up throughout the city, each one bearing the Crimson Bank’s seal.

Yet, as Johann’s success mounted, so too did his sorrow. His beloved daughter, Lyra, had set out to make her mark as an adventurer but had disappeared while investigating the Severed Maidens, a shadowy criminal syndicate from Aradia. When she returned, something about her was… off. Czazarian sensed it immediately and, in a grim experiment, increased the heat in his treasure chamber. To Johann’s horror, the girl melted into a puddle of wax—a clever simulacrum sent in Lyra’s place.

Czazarian recognized the tactic, recalling a similar scheme used by an old enemy long ago. Furious, he vowed revenge on those responsible. Johann, shattered, spoke of another innovation he had been working on—prudential assurance, a new form of wealth management for goods in transit. Czazarian, meanwhile, received whispers that Lyra was still alive somewhere in the distant realms of Corridale, but her exact whereabouts remained a mystery.