[Dragaar] Aruzond, Warden of the North

[squakhawk 7303]

 

BOUND TO SERVITUDE

Origins

 

One of the eldest Dragaar to survive The First War, Aruzond was a prize amongst the many sons and daughters who survived Dragur’s shattering. Old, wizened, and powerful, Aruzond would be a mortal agent of Aengulic desire- much to his dismay. 

 

The Dragaar feared death as much as any. He saw in a war which brought ruin to his kind and his creation. Yet, as one of the eldest Dragaar, he caught the eyes of Gazardiel - a benevolent god who presented himself towards the Warden, and spoke in words of cryptic tales and prophecies. Gazardiel saw wisdom in the eyes of Aruzond, and the Dragaar noticed that unlike the other Aengudaemons and their infinite game and toil, that the god sought a solution that would ensure a better beginning for all life. 

 

That was an abnormal idea to the dragaar- A better beginning to all life. He had recalled upon the unimaginable suffering brought to all walks of life by Iblees and his war, and considered then what it would mean to rebuild the world before. Even then, a world better than the one he had been brought into. A purpose for himself and purpose given his life from Dragur, who was enigmatic for his reason of creation to his brood. The Warden, with some hesitance, accepted the bargain from Gazardiel, Aengul of New Beginnings. He may be a tool for an Aengul who imprisoned and shattered his father, but he now had purpose in a cause that he believed in. 

 

At least, or so he thought.

 

 

 

WARDEN OF THE NORTH

The Black Scourge

 

A darkness roamed the north of Anthos; glinting red eyes and ashen scales peeled backwards over the peaks of snow-capped mountains, rustling avalanches and cuffing death. Setherien devastated the vast cold swept lands of northern Anthos mercilessly and painfully, inflicting corruption amongst the tribes of Bohra - boar-like humanoids - who now served under the Black Scourge. His destruction razed walls, besieged great fortresses, and tore away monuments of ice and frost. 

 

During this time, the benevolent Dragaar took notice of the tensions and took it upon himself to support them with his wisdom and guidance. To him, mortals were ignorant to the world, who foolishly fell to the abominations raised by another one of his corrupted kin – something Aruzond strongly abhorred. 

 

Silent and brave, the Dragaar walked on two feet, veiled as a wise-man who sought to help others. He did not hide his intentions, and began to organise descendants in order to face back against the wrath of the Black Drake and his evil cohort that blighted the land wherever they stood. Tongue-tied litanies written on scrolls, used to send mortals to strongholds to push back Setherien and his vast evil.

 

At first, the great trees of Malinor - primaeval and worn by moss - came tumbling down in wreaths of black dragonsflame spurned by the Drakaar. Aruzond was present to guide the elves to safety, and subsequently supported in pushing their forces back to the northern wasteland at the coming of the siege of Greywyn. Parading as a great sorcerer and ally, the wizened Dragaar cast powerful spells in order to help descendants, eventually leading to the Black Scourge falling back into the ice spires of ancient Malinor; encrusted in a tower of glistening ice and charred stone. 

 

Those who came to know him decreed him warden of the north, yet Aruzond feared that mortals would come to rely on his aptitude. He disseminated tasks to descendants instead, and remained a lesser presence throughout the war. Once more, descendants began to flee Anthos and headed towards the Fringe.

 

Aruzond remained elusive and the mystery of his being grovelled at the hopelessness of mortalkind, who reaped the benefits of his guidance. Culled bodies littered the death-trodden Anthos, and the loving Dragaar could do nothing but twist his gaze elsewhere, to continue his furtive goals. In time, the warden of the north became an overlooked past of history, lost in the canals of books and old transcripts. 

 

Gazardiel was no longer around to create the perfect world without corruption, and so he enforced his intentions to support descendants in ridding it. 

 

Once again, the Dragaar departed from his home and made haste to Almaris. He decided to remain veiled, appearing in a humanoid form, and started to dispose of tasks and organise mortals in the background; he wanted them to regain their footing after the terrors of the inferi war. Serving to rehabilitate descendants that had lost their homelands, and racked by pity for those who lost their loved-ones, the benevolent Dragaar remained on the continent to help mortals. 

 

 

PRESENT DAY

Explanation

 

In deep rumination past Gazardiel’s death, The Warden of The North continues to seek atonement for his near fatal misunderstanding of what was intended for him. Still seeking the betterment of life for descendants, he appears as a wandering wise-man offering sagely advice to those in need. He observes descendants closely, and unlike his counterparts, is unafraid to aid them in times of strife. Untrusting of Aengudaemons after their second betrayal to him, especially after slaughtering his master, Aruzond seeks to work alongside, and for, descendants after seeing their courage and fortitude at the end of The Inferi War. 

 

In his eyes, descendants and he are not too different- hearts naturally pure, naive, and curious, easily fallible to corruption from the hands of The Ruiner. Never acting as their weapon or a representative, The Warden would seek to help descendants in all tasks small to large- to ensure better life, and better beginnings, for generations to come. 

 

Credit to:

Werew0lf - Writer

Squakhawk - Writer