The Dragon Wars

[chewbacca71]

Brazous

Brazous arrived at Draklor Chain and was standing on the highest point looking for the enemy. It did not take him long to spot the chain of wagons and men that comprised the enemy. There were war engines evident, something that concerned the young dragon. Most of them had never run across such things before, the unknown always proved to be dangerous. Brazous waited an hour or so till all the Dragons were rested and then bugled a call to arms. It was time to attack these lesser folks, time to teach them a lesson for trying to hurt their betters.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Lheyklanth

Lheyklanth looked down at the dragon who had spoken to him, one he did not recognise.
"A plan? Yes and no. I need more time... please, go to one of the Colony's gathering places, I shall contact you all when we are ready." Oldwing replied, firmly yet politely asking the dragon to go away, his giant head already turning before he saw what the young dragon did. His eyes were on something greater: the arrival of Rune and Pyrymis.
Lheyklanth listened to them in silence, looking over them with his one good eye. Gathered in this room were arguably the three most powerful dragons alive, in terms of both position and sheer strength.
Finally, Lheyklanth nodded his head. "It is good that you are ready to put aside old rivalries," Oldwing shot a pained glance at Pyrymis, "when we all fall under the shadow of great danger. For what we fight in the days to come is not only humans; nor is it only dwarves or elves. We will also fight beings seemingly born straight from our Legends - the Slayers. I am sure you know of the Black Knight that attacked us: he was the first of them. There are, unfortunately, many more."
Oldwing paused a moment to let this sink in. "And so it is that the situation we are faced with is more dire than first thought. It is good that you have already sent Brazous into action, Pyrymis: he has inherited much of your strength, and will make a fine warrior with a little more experience. However, there is much more we must discuss, and there is little time. So it is, that I put this before you now: if you have any questions, ask them now. Otherwise we shall move on, without delay."

 

[cats]

Char

I walk back away from Old Wing who had pretty muched told me to leave. I didn't mind going. Pyrymis had arrived and if he did know who I was he might haver a grudge. After all I didn't help him in his revolution. Then again he's back her now. I don't think he is haboring a grudge any more. Hell I'm probably the only idiot liveing in the past still.

I look around I was in the middle of the colony now. I looked down seeing I was standing on the tell of a red dragon. One of the few who didn't rebel, or was this one of the ones that had? "Um, sorry. I wasn't..." 'You had better be sorry If we didn't need help to fight the lesser beings I'd really hurt you.' I calmly turn around. I walk away. 'Wait were fighting lesser beings. We don't need you.' Oh shit this is going to hurt.

Okay think back to all the bar fights you were in when you were human. They got to help. I get up on my hind legs. "What the hell are you doing?" I place my claws in a fighting stance. "Come and see." A look of suprise on his face told me he hadn't expected this. 'I think I'll let the lesser folks kill you small one.' That was close.

 

[chewbacca71]

Brazous

Brazous unfurls his wings as he vaulted into the air. His wings took a large strain as they flew his large bulk into the realm of the clouds. His keen eyesight spots the first siege engine loaded and ready to rain death on the dragons. He decides to make an example. As he flies closer, he unleashes the dragon fear on the creatures below. He watches in humor as the creatures run in confused circles below.

Brazous pulled back his lips in a snarl as he unleashed his deadly breath weapon. The stream of concentrated acid made a mockery of the strength of the metal the engine was made of. It was even more effective against the frail human skin of the siege engines operators. Brazous glides by the small running figures as he turns to make another pass.

 

[chewbacca71]

Pyrymis

Pyrymis tries to control the sudden tremble that makes his skin crawl. "Slayers you say? And there is more? Egads, they are more important to make sure we are ready for than the lesser folks. I must send Haldram to Brazous and tell him to send back half of the strength that I sent with him. He can still take care of things with what he has. But we will need the extra warriors here to protect the colony. I remember what one slayer did to you all on its own, what could a strike force of them do to us all. I have a suggestion to make. Let us set aside a mobile group of 20 dragons ready to move at a moments notice to be prepared to combat the slayers appearance. "

Pyrymis looked away from the others, trying to stop his eyes from swirling out of control. Slayers here, after all these years, he had only heard legends about these fearsome creatures. There only purpose in life was to kill dragons and end the lifeline of the longest living creaures on this miserable ball of earth. Pyrymis looked back at the others and was not suprised to see a shudder running down the carefully groomed scales of Rune. It looked like they were in for a bigger battle than they had ever dreamed.

 

[Zircon]

Yang

From the smoky mist came Brazous, his wings stretched to maximum length, gliding in for the kill. Yang barely had time to duck, when the first gobs of acid his the wooden and metal ballista. The hissing sound of acid eating inextricably into the wood and metal was very loud. The rest of the unit scattered like the wind. They were all unprepared against the misty form that descended from the heavens.

Then Yang saw Brazous preparing for a second blast, and aiming at the prone Jess. She was too scared to run. Her mouth was opened for a scream, but no words came forth. The battle shock was to great for her to overcome. Sergeant Leslie had melted into a barely recognizable form. Sergeant Wilcor was no where to be seen. He must have tucked tail and ran like the rest when the first dragons appeared. So much for his professionalism. Yang did not think at that point.

He just mouthed the words, ‘I’M SORRY, JESS.’ And he morphed into his real form and with a few flaps of his wings, he was airborne. The naphthalene mixture was already in his mouth the moment he morphed. His anger resulted in an automatic response from his body. Yang flew in the path of the acid blast, and spewed out the fire flame, building a firewall against the acid blast.

The two substance hit each other. For a brief moment, everything stood still. And then, the volatility of the mixture exploded in mid air. The blast threw Yang back to the ground. But he was young and strong. He was up in the air again in no time, his eyes scanning for Brazous. It would be a fight of claws against claws, teeth against teeth, kin against kin.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Lheyklanth

Oldwing nodded solemnly. "A good suggestion, Pyrymis. There is darker news to hear about these Slayers... our own tales tell of warriors who came from darkness into our land... I have found that they come not from darkness but from other dimensions. And, if what I have been told is anything to be relied upon, we are not the first dragons they have fought against. And there are others, entire species of dragons in alternate dimensions that have fallen before their might alone."
Lheyklanth paused, letting this news sink in. "I should like to lead this force, but there is something else that I must do. But I would like their leader to be a strong, experienced fighter... one such as you..." Oldwing said, his gaze shifting from Rune to Pyrymis, his eyebrows raising in a silent appeal to them.

 

[hybirdx]

Fin floated silently as the dragon aproached. It was leka, Fin's only living relative 'Oh great... I have to deal with my brother!'

"Anfinos!" Leka puffed slowly, "Thank goodness I found you!"

'Leka? Worried?' "Why are you out here? You should be at the colony!" Fin said harshly, he didn't forget what Leka did to him when they were young.

"Is that how you greet your brother?"

"Yeah? You would to with all those pranks! Becaus of you, I can't transform all the way!" Fin wasn't in the mood to talk any more. Instanly he droped to the groundand walked.

"He's going to be stuburn about this... I just know it!"

 

[chewbacca71]

Brazous

Brazous watched incredulously as a dragon emerged from admidst the humans on the ground. Its breath weapon met his in midair and exploded, causing a wash of air to push Brazous back. He quickly reagained his balance and flew towards the new dragon. He raised his head in challenge. "Why are you trying to stop me? This is a war of Dragons against lesser folk, not Dragon versus Dragon. I have no quarrel with you , let us put our differences aside and crush these puny creatures together. Let go of your anger towards me, these humans life is like a mayfly to use. Gone in a day, never to make a difference again. " Brazous glided away from the other dragon, giving him time to make a decision.

 

[chewbacca71]

Pyrymis

Pyrymis looked over at Oldwing. " I will lead these dragons. I have seen the depredation of the slayers, having seen what it did to you. I have some ideas in mind that may make a difference. I trust you two will not make any decisions detrimental to dragonkind in my absence. I will go to my the Draklor chain now and gather my troops. " Bidding the two other dragons farewell, Pyrymis moved out into the open and vaulted into the sky.

 

[Zircon]

Yang

‘Why are you trying to stop me? This is a war of Dragons against lesser folk, not Dragon versus Dragon. I have no quarrel with you , let us put our differences aside and crush these puny creatures together. Let go of your anger towards me, these humans life is like a mayfly to use. Gone in a day, never to make a difference again.’

Again, circumstances had made the decisions for Yang. Brazous was only protecting the colony. Yang was only protecting Jess. They were both doing their duty.

‘Brazous, it’s me Yang. I’ve no quarrel with you. I only have a quarrel with those who attack without justification or warning. Like your father did to the town of Caemlyn. It was wrong and it precipitated this war. Return from whence you came and stop your actions, for it makes no sense to kill those weaker than you. I’ll protect these lesser folks, even till death… PREPARE THYSELF!…’

Yang saw Brazous ready to confront him. He had not known Brazous much, being that Brazous had been exiled for so long. But Yang’s mind cleared for the battle ahead. They were both young and strong, and big. There was nothing else beyond the battle. The freedom of the confrontation had excused both of them.

Yang made the first move, in hopes of surprising Brazous with his boldness. Again, he used the tactic of a fireball as diversionary, while he rammed his horns to the mid-section of Brazous. He had hoped that the ramming would be sufficient to knock the wind out of Brazous, and leave an opening for him to finish with a wing strike of the sharp sapphires…

 

[chewbacca71]

Brazous

Brazous was taken off guard by the sudden attack. Just when it seemed that Yang was going to listen to reason , he abruptly changed his course. Brazous was able to dodge the fireball, but Yangs horns butted him around the midsection. He was thrown back a few feet, the wind knocked out of him. He tried to recover quickly by pulling in his wings and plummeting towards the ground. Once he had cleared the other dragon, he stretched out his wings and barely caught a thermal updraft that kept him from being dashed to the ground. As he started to regain height, he decided to agitate Yang more by releasing some acid breath towards a group of soldiers. Their screams of pain echoed in the breathless silence as Brazous sprang on the attack.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Two hundred summers ago...

Fiandorel the White

Fiandorel soared through the night sky, making her way across the vast range of mountains that were the Draklor Chain. She had ventured out after moonset nightly for three moons in search of a place to make a new lair. Each time she flew farther and farther away, until three nights ago when she finally found it.

It was an island. Small by normal standards, but there was an small mountainous area which included an inactive volcano on its northern end. Inside were mazes of caverns and even a hot spring which bubbled up merrily from deep below the surface.

On the southern tip of the island was a small fishing village. There were only a few lesser folk living there and a handful of ratlings. She wondered why there were not more, they seemed peaceful enough. No matter.

Fiandorel had no quarrel with humans and thought that it was entirely possible for them to co-exist, one of the bones of contention among the others of her kind. She had thought long and hard before making her decision to leave The Colony, but once her decision was made the white knew there would be no turning back.

 

[Zircon]

Haldram

Haldram left the main cave entrance upon hearing Pyrymis’ orders. Something ominous was in the air. Even more so than the armies gathered at the foothills of Draklor Chain. Pyrymis was worried. Haldram had seldom seen him this worried before. This meant that there was something to worry about.

His wings were strong still, and it took him little time to reach the Northern End. He had wondered if a small roving band of twenty dragons would be sufficient. Maybe Rhea can help in recruiting some more, and two or three roving bands, held in reserve would give them a better edge. But for now, the strong Dragons who were with Brazous would have to suffice.

He reached the battlefield in the midst. He saw the two Dragons tussling in mid air. The recognizable forms of Brazous and Yang infuriated him. Now was not the time for Dragons to be fighting each other. He brewed the concoction in his mouth and spitted it out to the direction of Yang, who was ready to strike again at Brazous.

He did not see the fireball hit Yang, as he knew his aim was good. His immediate attention was to fulfilling Pyrymis’ orders.

‘BRAZOUS! STOP THIS NONSENSE AT ONCE. YOUR FATHER CALLS. GATHER HALF OF YOUR TROOP AND HAVE THEM PUT UNDER MY COMMAND. THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON AND IT HAS YOUR FATHER WORRIED. BEST LET THIS LITTLE WHELP DIE. COME AND FULFILL YOUR FATHER’S WISHES, NOW!’

 

[poohlive]

All of a sudden Rune had become quite curious with his fallen leader. Already spouting off orders, but with things as they were, for the moment there was no choice. Rune simply listened carefully, watching both of their movements.
"Other things to do?" He shifted his eyes back to the gray dragon, "What else would be more important than saving the colony from total destruction?"

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Two hundred summers ago...

Fiandorel the White

Fiandorel circled the island one last time before beginning her descent into the cone of the volcano. She had fed earlier, so all that was needed was to make herself comfortable and sleep. Having chosen a spot, she settled her bulky body, curling up into a ball, albeit a rather large ball, and resting her head on her tail, the magnificent White was soon fast asleep.

The day star rose early in the sky though it didn't shine into Fiandorel's lair until it reached its highest peak at almost noon. She yawned and stretched languidly, arching her back. Mmm... she murmured to herself as the scent of a boar somewhere close reached her nostrils. Breakfast.

Fiandorel stood, flexing her wings in preparation for flight. In one fluid motion she was airborne and spiralling upward into the welcome sunlight of a beautiful summer day. She resisted the temptation to go flying, however, instead extending her talons and swooping down on her unsuspecting prey.

She made short shrift of the meager repast before easing herself into a nearby mountain pool to wash before basking a while in the sun. Flapping her wings, Fiandorel lifted her scales, letting the cool water run under them.

The sound of the quiet gasp almost didn't reach her over the noisy splashing she was making. Turning her enormous head, the White dragon spotted a graybeard who must have wandered across the island for some reason.

Eyes wide, the man stood quite still for a moment before laying his spear gently on the ground and dropping to his knees. Surprised, Fiandorel grinned widely, her teeth glinting in the midday sun as she moved toward the pool's edge. Nudging him, she bade him get up.

 

[hybirdx]

Leka

Leka did his best to apolgise to Fin, but it was no use.

"Look!!! I told you, I;m not going to ace[t your damn apologie!"

It had been like that until they returned to the colony.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Lheyklanth

"Oh, that is the very reason I have something else to do, Rune." the old grey smiled, the kind of devillish smile he hadn't made since he was a young dragon, brash and wild. "But I have my own reasons for keeping them a secret. You will simply have to take my word that I have only the safety of our Dragonkind in mind. I, myself, am old, too old for this world, and too old to be acting selfishly."
Lheyklanth sighed heavily. "In any case... I guess this leaves the dragons of the Colony in your hands. Take care of them... Supreme Father."
The last two words escaped his lips with some reluctance. The very title had held for hundreds of years, now to be passed onto this... the first dragon that was not a grey to receive such a title.
What is the world coming to, he thought to himself with a barely noticeable shake of his head.
Lheyklanth nodded to Rune, before turning around and leaving the chamber, intent now on finding his two human companions.

 

[Zircon]

Yang

Yang saw Brazous attacking the troops below again, in an attempt to distract him. Yang was torn between the helpless beings on the ground and the dangerous foe in front of him. The suddenly, when he already had a strike planned, a huge fireball hit him squarely in the chest. The fire ripped through his thick hide. It exposed the red flesh beneath. The smoke of charred flesh filled the air around him. The pain immediately shot like a lightning bolt through his head. His eyes became so unfocused that he was nearly blinded.

And then he fell like a rock. His body was no longer his own to control. In his delirious mind, all he could think about was Jess. How her hair shined in the morning. Her voice like the birds singing. His magic took over at this point. Unable to think coherently, he morphed into a human while falling from the heavens.
Jess had gotten over the initial shock, and had enough courage left to run. Her mind was so confused. She had felt that she had been utterly betrayed. Sleeping with the man was one thing. But she had slept with the enemy. No amount of soap or penance could wash away her shame and guilt. If she could just kill one Dragon for her father, brother, Sergeant Leslie and countless others, she would…

Yang did not know at this point if he had gone to Dragon’s Heaven or not. There were tents erected to serve the army, and Yang fell in the middle of a tent. The tent was not strong enough to break his fall, and an ordinary human would have been dead from the impact alone. But Yang was still a Dragon, and his body survived the impact.

Jess saw the impact and she quickly grabbed a sword lying on the ground. She was angry enough to slice Yang into a thousand pieces. Rummaging through the destroyed tent, she found him at last. His whole chest was still smoldering, ripped opened by the vicious fireball. A few of his rib bones were showing quite clearly. His chest muscles were relaxing and contracting, allowing the automatic response of breathing to continue. Although, the breaths were getting more labored on each subsequent breaths. Blood was flowing freely from his mouth, eyes and ears. His hands and legs were twitching, as if his brain could not stem the pain…

Jess raised her sword high in the air, the tip pointing down. She was ready to drive it like an ice pick through his heart. She was a woman, a dainty and pretty one. But her anger and lust for revenge gave her superhuman strength. She knew that she could drive the sword through any form of magical protection. Yang, through the last remnants of consciousness, saw her and the sword. She had tears in her eyes. And he nodded and smiled to her, giving her the dignity and permission to end his life.

And she brought the sword down…

 

[chewbacca71]

Brazous

Brazous turns in heed of what Haldram had to say. As he was about to turn back towards the colony, he heard the sound of sizzling flesh. He turned in time to see the young dragon be engulfed in a ball of flame. The flesh ran off his body, forming a puddle on sludge on the overheated battleground. Brazous watched as the dragon turned human, he wondered what would happen to him. He was not going to leave any dragon at the hands of humans to kill them. He followed the dragons descent with his sharpened eyes.

As he lands on the ground, he lays down a cover fire of acid breath to keep the other humans at bay. He watched as a young women grabbed a sword with determination and strode to a destroyed tent. Brazous quickly sent up a cloud of smoke to cover his change to a human. Grabbing the cloak of a blackened corpse, Brazous disguised himself as he walked to the tent.

 

[cats]

Char

"Damn concidering there is a war going on. This place is extreamly boreing." A blue dragon stared at me for some time. 'Hey aren't you Zyzzx's btother?' Well I do have a brother. Now what was his name? Oh it's been what 100 years sense I saw him. "Yea I think so." 'I here he was killed by a slayer.' A slayer? Those guys only exist in myth. This guy has done way to much brimstone. "If you say so." Hmm prehaps I should look for him. Oh wait yang did say he was dead. Well it'snot like I knew him or anything. But Yang didn't mention that a slayer killed him. No it was probably some really lucky night.

 

[Zircon]

Haldram

Haldram flew back with 10 of the Dragons from Brazous’ troop. Upon landing, he sent for some healers. Bah! A little scratch and these Dragons were yelling in pain. Where are the strong ones, like Brazous and his father, Pyrymis? Has Dragon kind come to this? Weak and unable to think for themselves? Haldram shook his head as he walked to find Rhea.

He hoped that Rhea had some ideas on where to find some more warriors who would not run or whine. A few hybrids of Red, of Gold and of Blue would suffice for his plan of a reserve force. A mobile and deadly force. Draklor Chain was a huge area. But with enough Dragons, he could cover the expanse. A few Whites, acting as scouts would be even better. The colony was in a worse shape than even Lhey would publicly admit. Haldram could see very few True Colors amongst the general population. The hybrids now outnumber True Colors.

‘Rhea, do you know a few young dragons? A few young Reds, Gold and Blues who would take the commands of a Red, namely myself?’

“Haldram, I miss you…’ Rhea caressed Haldram’s face, hoping that he will forget about the war for a while. She held hope in the depths of her heart that they will have time to soar the warm drafts of the morning together.

‘Rhea… Rhea… my heart and soul… You know I long to be enfolded by your wings when we soar together. There will be time for us. I promise. But now, as much as my heart longs, I cannot deny the call of duty. Please understand, my heart. I promise there will be time enough for us when all of this over.’

She nodded her head. Tears were starting to roll down her eyes. She had lost her husband. Now, the reality of war had taken her son away. And soon, her lover. And she cried.

Haldram held her tight, the stub of his hand softly stroking her head to reassure her.

Finally, after the storm of crying had abated, she said, ‘Elvar is a red. Her friends, Lucuhad and Percullin are both Blues. Jelas is a Gold. Elril-Gan is a hybrid of a White and Blue. He has his father’s Blue abilities. Kaudoc is a fiery hybrid son of a Red. He’s a hothead like his father, Anshirru. You know him, don’t you?’

Haldram nodded his head. Anshirru was one of those cowardly Reds that opposed Pyrymis. He hoped his son would not turn out to be like his cowardly father. ‘Who else, my heart?’

‘Well, there are Ceereyl and Neereyl. Both hybrid daughters of a Gold. Twins. And then… OH. Lamoy, Palliris and Sorus. The three are inseparable, and absolute bane of young female Dragons. Lamoy is a hybrid son of a Gold. Palliris and Sorus are hybrid sons of Reds. The Three Terrors I call them. No female is safe when they are around. Hahahaha…’

It gladden Haldram’s heart to hear Rhea laugh. ‘Thank you Rhea. I will seek them out.’

He saw the pained look on Rhea’s face as he got up. Then pursing his brow in thought, Haldram added, ‘Rhea would you accompany me to the hot springs. There still a little time left. Perhaps the warms waters and steam will loosen my muscles up…’

Rhea smiled and led the way into the deep caves…

 

[cats]

Char

'Hey you!' I was shocked to here a gold dragon yell at me. Who did I piss off and how. I swear I hadn't done any thing this time I was just siting there minding my own buiness. "Yes what do you want?" He looked at me for a few more minutes.

"Look tell me what you want, or leave me alone." 'Hum, your the brother of Zyzzx the silver dragon right?' "Yea, why?" He stood there contimplateing for a few more minutes. 'Well I hope curage is in your blood too.' "Why?" 'Go stand with that group.' "Why?" 'I've just drafted you.' "Come again?" 'You ask to many questions. Your in with that defense group understood.' Damn, and to think I didn't even register for the draft. Well looks like I'm going to see more action then I thought.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Lheyklanth

Lheyklanth looked solemn now, as he stared into the depths of the crystal that had long been the property of the Supreme Father. It seemed to swirl with an energy he had not seen in it for some time. Could it sense what was happening to Dragonkind?
Lhey glanced across at his companions, the two lesser folk. The mage was staring out at the battlefields far away, his eyes glazed over as if he could see the fighting going on there. The half-elf was busying himself with sharpening his sword. Neither of them paid any attention to Oldwing.
Perhaps it was their presence that stirred the magical crystal, he pondered. Never before had dragons even met with Lesser folk who knew them to be dragons, let alone co-operated with them... was Lheyklanth doing what was right for his kind?
Finally, the grey dragon took a great breath, before reaching up and placing a claw on the crystal, preparing himself to speak with not only the members of the Colony, but every dragon on the face of the planet. Never before had he harnessed so much power from the crystal; he hoped it would hold. As he was no longer the Supreme Father, such an act was illegal, but it was not the time for following rules. And besides, he doubted anyone would try to punish him for it.
For a moment he was silent, allowing his control over the crystal to enhance, for him to gather the energy required to speak to every dragon's mind. He was also unsure exactly what to say.
Then, images flashed through his head: images of dying dragons... of dead dragons. Images of dragons fighting for their freedom.
And he knew what to say.
"Hear me now, great dragons!"
He paused for a moment.
"Hear me now, for you very well may never hear this voice again. I speak to each and every dragon in the world, and the energy pains me, so I shall have to be brief. Dragonkind has never seen darker days: but even the greatest of darkness gives way to dawn at some point. So it is with our race: we shall not pass from the land, we shall prosper and live forever more."
He fell silent again, trying to keep his hold on the energies that bound him to the minds of every single dragon.
"Those who live through the battles to come will be in charge of rebuilding Dragonkind: a better Dragonkind. I have failed in my duties, and from this moment forth I lay the title of Supreme Father onto Rune, and, should he not accept the title... or be unable to accept... then I lay the title upon..."
Lheyklanth hardly believed what he was about to say.
"... Pyrymis. Long have we quarreled for nothing, and a better Dragon I never knew."
Oldwing struggled to hold onto the mental link.
"It is the first time that a Grey dragon has not been Supreme Father: but, perhaps, it is for the best. Perhaps the cause of the rifts between our kind has been because of the overwhelming leadership of the Greys."
Oldwing shook his great head, as if all the dragons could see the gesture. He tried to shut out the pain in his mind.
"In any case, I must say that I am proud of each and every one of you, who used to be my children. I am proud of those who haved died, I am proud of those of you who lie dying even now, and I am proud of those who would live to lift Dragonkind into better days. Whilst the humans may have us far outnumbered, the Dragons shall not be defeated. Teamwork is the key to victory, my friends, unity is the only path to success. Trust in one another. Throw aside petty differences and arguments. Stand side by side, back to back, and show the Lesser Beings that we, Dragonkind, surrender to no enemy!"
Lheyklanth released the crystal, his great form swaggering and nearly falling from the pain in his head. The pain soon began to subside, however, and the great dragon slowly regained his composure.
"Lord Dragon? Are you alright?" Asked the old mage, sauntering into the eyesight of Lheyklanth.
"I am alright. Now, it is time for us to undertake our part in this war. For good or for evil, the end draws ever nearer."
As the two Lesser Beings clambered onto the great Grey's back, and he prepared himself for flight, those last words remained in his head.

For good or for evil, the end draws ever nearer.

For good or for evil...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Two hundred summers ago...

Fiandorel

The graybeard was called Fulk, Fiandorel learned. The headman of his village, he had been on a quest when he had stumbled upon her bathing. The Lesser Being was in awe of the magnificent dragon though strangely not afraid, even though it was more than obvious that she could have ended his life in the blink of an eye. That in itself was enough to pique Fiandorel's curiosity.

Eventually, she chose to appear before Fulk in a form more akin to his own and Fulk returned to her often. The two became more comfortable with each other as time passed, an unusual bond growing between the two.

The fisherfolk were suspicious of her presence among them when Fulk first took her to his village. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why hadn't any of them been aware of her before? The ratlings were far more accepting of her presence and that is what she used to learn more of them and gain the Lesser Beings' trust... or at least plant the seeds for a peaceful coexistence.

Her white hair and the age-old wisdom in her eyes belied her youthful features. She would run and gambol through the trees laughing brightly with the young ones and they looked forward to her visits, though she was still much of an enigma to them all.
Most of all, they looked forward to Fiandorel's stories. Legends of great flying creatures and their fantastic adventures. Tales of gallantry and romance. At first the older ones listened from a distance, but eventually found places in the circle around her as she wove the strands and made them see her words.

Today was such a day. The children ran to Fiandorel when she walked into the village, jumping and laughing and greeting her as they formed a circle around her.

"Good morn, silly creatures" she chuckled. "First I must have a word with Fulk and then we will have time for play."