The gang of thieves and cutthroats were spaced out around the Great Hall. Their weapons were aimed at the students and monks they had gathered throughout the complex. Richard had no idea how they had found the Temple With No Name. They were supposed to be well-hidden and only those...who knew the way! That was it! They had been betrayed!

Looking at the "leader" of the attackers Richard tried to see through the mask to discern his identity. But his sight was blocked. His mask must be made special for blocking magic.

The Leader once again yelled his demands. He thought there was some ancient treasure or artifact here that he could steal and sell somewhere, or use to gain power. He was looking for The Silent Dragon totem. He is claiming it was a legendary pendant that granted the wearer the ability to become a powerful dragon. Sadly, he was correct.

There was a totem. But the legend that anyone could wear it was a lie that the monks used to determine the worthiness of those who came to claim enlightenment. That was one of his mistakes.

The Leader was growing impatient and he trained his weapon on the nearest monk. That was his last mistake. Richard stepped forward.

The Leader immediately turned his gun on him. Calmly and with sadness in his voice Richard spoke to the other monks, "I am so sorry."

The Leader scoffs, "Sorry? For what? Where is The Silent Dragon totem?!"

Richard has slowly moved until the gun is almost touching his forehead. He lifts his head to look the Leader in the eye, a single tear slowly falls down Richard's cheek. He whispers, "I am The Silent Dragon."

There is a rush of air as Richard transforms!

Three minutes later, the monks are clearing away the dead. Richard, with his head bowed in sorrow and regret, sits quietly on the steps to the Great Hall. He wishes once more he could remove this curse.

A disturbance in his surroundings interrupts his ruminations and he raises his head to see a single figure coming toward him. This time Richard could sense the intentions of the stranger. He is young and seeks training in mind and body.

Richard stands to meet the stranger. Raising a hand in greeting, he bids the stranger introduce himself.

The stranger stops, removes his head coverings and raises his hand in greeting as Richard had, "My name is Francis Wayne."

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Drurllon Physiology:

Richard Fin possesses various superhuman attributes common among the alien Drurllon race. However, the standard ability to shape-shift has been limited. See Dragon's Claw.

As The Silent Dragon, Richard has many abilities not normally seen in Drurllon society. Many of the standard abilities have been altered or augmented. Here are some of the abilities so far known:

Acid Mist: As The Silent Dragon, Richard is able to expel a combustible mist from his mouth that has a highly acidic corrosive effect, though the mist actually resembles fire rather than mist itself. Richard's mist is able to quickly burn through most known substances or he can purposely channel the mist in the form of powerful concussive blasts.

Energy Assimilation: Richard, while The Silent Dragon, has shown that he can physically metabolize on raw energy and then bend it too his wishes. Able to scarf down a cluster of gamma nukes while growing in power, before regurgitating them as lethal projectiles akin to a fire breath attack.

Flight: The Silent Dragon's large, leathery wings are able to propel him through the air at great speeds for extended periods of time. While the upper limit of his flight speed is not exactly known, it is believed to be well under the speed of sound.

Regenerative Healing Factor: In spite of his high resistance, it is possible to cause The Silent Dragon injury. If injured, his body's superior metabolism enables him to rapidly regenerate damaged or destroyed tissues much faster and more extensively than a human being. It is possible for The Silent Dragon's healing capabilities to regrow severed limbs, though he may have to enter a state of hibernation to do so.

Shape-Shifting: When Richard transforms into The Silent Dragon it can be instant or a slow progress, depending on Richard's intentions. But the dragon form is the only form Richard can take, outside of his own. As The Silent Dragon, Richard can alter his overall height.

Spiritual Possession: If Richard Fin's body were to sustain injury beyond his natural ability to heal, he will die but the spirit within the amulet, that of the dragon, will remain as viable as ever and does not cross over into some form of afterlife. Richard Fin's experiences, training and knowledge will join with the dragon spirit to possess the bodies of whoever has killed him. This explains the reappearances of The Silent Dragon despite those having witnessed his being destroyed on multiple occasions in the past.

Superhuman Durability: The Silent Dragon's scaly body is highly resistant to all forms of conventional physical injury. He has been shown to withstand high caliber bullets, anti-tank weaponry, falls from tremendous heights, temperature extremes of both hot and cold, great impact forces and powerful energy blasts without sustaining injury. The Silent Dragon can also survive in a vacuum environment, such as outer space, for an undefined period of time. As a result, he either has no need to breathe or can hold his breath for much longer than a human.

Superhuman Longevity: Richard Fin, due to the Dragon's Claw, has an extraordinarily long lifespan. The pendant has existed on Earth for thousands of years, though The Silent Dragon remains as physically able now as when it first arrived. However, this does not mean that he is fully immune to ageing. Richard, while in posession of the pendant, will age at a rate of 1 year for every 50 years that pass.

Superhuman Stamina: The Silent Dragon's advanced musculature is far more efficient than the musculature of a human being. As a result, his muscles produce considerably less fatigue toxins than the muscles of a human. At his peak, he can exert himself physically for up to 24 hours before the build up of fatigue toxins in his blood begins to impair him. Richard, in human form, does also benefit from this as his body produces less fatigue toxins as well, allowing him to operate in peak form for several hours before tiring.

Superhuman Strength: The Silent Dragon possesses vast superhuman strength, the full limits of which are not known. At his peak, however, he is able to lift well in excess of 100 tons. In human form, Richard also has increased strength and has been able to lift over 2 tons.

Telepathy: Richard Fin has demonstrated that he possesses some degree of telepathic abilities, the full limits of which are not known. Richard uses his telepathy to communicate with others while in dragon form and it is also allows him to control the minds of other reptilian life (again, while in dragon form).

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Equestrianism: Richard Fin is capable of fighting on horseback.

Meditation: Richard Fin is skilled in Chinese meditative techniques which he uses to enhance his concentration and channel his chi.

Master Martial Artist:

Although Richard Fin possesses no superhuman abilities without the pendant, his astounding martial arts feats often make him seem more than human. Richard is proficient in the use of all martial arts weapons, though he prefers hand-to-hand combat. A list of martial arts styles he has perfected include:

Aikido

Karate

Kung Fu

Dragon Style Kung Fu

Leopard Style Kung Fu

Jiu-Jitsu

Judo

Muay Thai

Pencak Silat

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Dragon's Claw: A small jade amulet given to him by O-Sensei the last bearer of the Dragon's Claw. The amulet is a mystical alien artifact that collects and channels ch'i energy. Richard Fin is cursed to wear the amulet until he is defeated, as a dragon, in ritual combat. The amulet is from the Drurllon world. Many centuries ago a member of their race was infected with the Deviant Fever. Before he was completely set in one form he shifted into the form of a giant dragon. Then, before he could die from the fever, he begged the Universe to allow him to continue on. Because he was a member of the REDACTED, Merlyn Emrys granted his wish and mystically bound the Drurllon into an amulet, which he then sent speeding through the cosmos towards Earth. There it was found by a warrior monk who would change his name to O-Sensei. The amulet cannot be removed except in death. It grants the wearer the ability to transform into a giant dragon, complete with the life experience and knowledge of the Drurllon race. Unfortunately, the dragon-form also comes with the fury of the Drurllon, a ferocious warrior race.

Wheelchair: Although he is sometimes seen using a wheelchair, he has never lost the use of his legs and uses the wheelchair as a psychological part of his teachings.

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REDACTED

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Herbal: Richard Fin, in dragon form, is extremely vulnerable to an unidentified herbal leaf found only in China. This herb is capable of quickly putting Richard Fin to sleep for extremely long periods of time, perhaps indefinitely, as long as it remains in his general vicinity.

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Draconic Description: Richard Fin's appearance as a dragon is very similar to that of a dragon in Chinese mythology. As such, The Silent Dragon possesses green scales for skin, wings, an elongated neck, horns, clawed hands and feet and a tail.

Name: He is called The Silent Dragon because his dragon form moves in silence. No matter his size he cannot be heard. His scales appear to be sound-dampening giving him the ability to move in complete silence.