[The Age of Dragons] - Pause Before Calamity

[squakhawk 14038]

 

 

Upon a rocky mountainside, where the air peppered snowfall, two figures stood outside a plateau of ice and grass – their eyes stared up towards a great construct: it was by no means ordinary, and the origin of its existence shrouded in mystery. A large stone gate, wide, carved by crimson rubrics from its peak, and sealed tight. 

 

The forests were lush with tall dark-wood trees, their canopies festered by heaps of piled snow. Outside of this, the landmass was barren of descendant life, but filled by nature – flora and fauna infested the mountainside, from goats, to wild-wolves. Although lacking a path, the immense doorway routed down towards a freezing ice-cold lake.

 

❈ The radiant-eyed elf shifted his gaze towards the apertures fitted alongside the great sealed door. Eryndor observed it well, filled by investigative scrutiny, and then, he turned.

 

“Eight gates. The same design, the same magic, the same seal - all over Aevos. Decades here and we still haven’t even a hint of what could lay behind them. Even further - who made them.”

 

✹ Silver fiery slits ventured up the gate, and with an incurious sway of his left-hand, stroked gently along the pluff of his graying beard. The elder swivelled on his rubicund leather boots, and spoke in his same gravelly voice.

 

“An ingenious design nevertheless, but curious. I would have hoped to find out more about it, but wherever we go, and however much I try, we are stumped. Either by our lack of insight, or by something – or someone. Grhmh, well, what of those walkers in the swampland? How do they fare on their little expedition?”

 

❈ The elf withdrew a breath, taking steps away as the howling winter gale showered him in snowfall. It burnt upon his skin, dissipating as he clambered through the deep snows as he made closer down the small valley.

 

“We know little more than when we have started. It is a different magic - a different energy than found elsewhere. Aengudaemonic - but not one I have encountered, nor felt. It is like these doors only in the sense it is unknown. I’ve come to wonder, with The Mountain, The Divide, The Marsh, how is it all connected? There lay some lines between them, some force that is interwoven between them and these doors. Yet we are just as clueless to as when we first began. My fellowship has made astute observation between these events - yet are uncertain too how they are connected. What of yours?”

 

✹ The elder ventured down the path alongside his brother; gray scraggly robes billowed fiercely in the cold northern winds, and his graystaff plopped in the ground with each step taken. Thalandir looked out towards the small valley, and each step burned the snow below, ensuring that he did not slip.

 

“Aengudaemonic – gah, those lords above, it is always a frustrating thing, even since my own patronage. It is all connected; there is a keen scholar within my fold who has come to her own conclusion. Her name is Zofiya, by the way, she is quite smart. She recalls the voice that spoke to her above the Mountain – she fears that this may be the influence of whatever voice this was, be it the Mountain itself, or something that possesses it. Now, I am not one to brag about my great profound wisdom,” Thalandir’s voice rattled with obvious sarcasm, a chiding remark, ”However, I believe that she – amongst many others within our fellowship – have worked out a concise theory. Though I am much aware of what the Marsh has to do with this Mountain, I am still oblivious to the influences – they spoke to me of two entities, Ectorius and Aureus, that came to them, with one being malicious, and the other being good. A silly thing,” 

 

❈ Eryndor continued treading through snow, looking over the plateau. Far in the distance did he see the abandoned city of Nau Valdev - overlooking the imperial banners which now sang songs of the wind in place of the former yellow-and-black. 

 

“The heavens bicker and we are left picking up their pieces. Were they truly angelic maybe they would be considerate of the descendants they vy for control over. With all considered, however, all we have come to know from north to south. I believe there is storm on the horizon. The final answer - if we have such heavenly being in our response in the marsh - may be revealed. I did … wonder, however. Do you believe there is a cost for our curiosity?”

 

 

✹ With each passing second, the winds howled more violently, and the cold bit into the wizard’s flesh, albeit, it did not seem to affect him much. Thalandir brought a small pipe into his mouth, engulfed by sorcery, as smoke wisped out from its bowl.

 

“Even the Aenguls lack their consideration for the descendants, they greed for control and power. The final answer will either be one filled by misery or one filled by death, it is always the case. And yes, there will be a cost for our curiosity, but know this, brother, that we are sons of Dragur, and it is in our nature to be curious, and to learn and beget the knowledge of the world. Will the mere consequences of this stop us from researching and learning what we can? It will not–if not for our own trepidation, but for the sake of the descendants. I will not be entranced by some … rock.”

 

❈ The snows continued to patter upon the elf, wisping to nothing as he looked down to the ground. He shifted his boot along the snow, dragging a line as he revealed the rocky terrain beneath. He stared intently to it, looking upward as the blizzard rushed gusts of cool air past his face. He could swear he heard the rattling of chains upon it - as so many had heard before. 

 

“I suppose it is within our interest to safeguard these descendants as they have avowed to safeguard us. It is in our interest to know what lay beneath the earth - behind these doors. What was so coveted to keep away from the world, yet the world itself yearns for it’s release. The Mountain yielded a voice, a mana that was so ingrained unto Aevos none had noticed it. The Divide a history of a mortal sorcerer who wielded a power that nearly rivaled our own. The Drowned Strand a civilization which disappeared without a trace, worshipping queer entities. The Marsh, a home of two spirits neither you nor I have ever seen, yet claim patronage to a slumbering god. And yet their mana, their energies, are completely foreign to that of Aevos. It seems so … prepared. Yet uncoordinated.”

 

✹ Thalandir swayed his graystaff to the left, causing the branches and roots to slowly unwind from their path, and so, he continued on, taking in the scenery – his left-hand shielded his eyes briefly, and then, the elder took a long puff from his aged pipe, a gout of smoke ripping out from his sagging nostrils. 

 

“Perhaps, it is a feeble attempt at veiling something – to seem uncoordinated, but preparing for something grand. It is known amongst the lords above to be foul letchers, manipulators, pulling the strings behind the scene. I am certain that soon, all shall be revealed, even if not by our own hands. Though, I would remain vigilant in our own preparations–we must prepare for the worst. I do not trust this will fare well for anyone.”

 

❈ Eryndor glimmered with light, a brief flashing washing over him like moonlight between the needles and pines. He held a feather within his right, observing it with hestiance. He looked to his brother then, bidding him departure.

 

“We will weather the storm. Else we break our bond - else descendants break theirs. I will find more now - be well, brother. Keep well. Perhaps your fellowship may be onto something.”

 

✹ Thalandir offered no parting words; there was a faint exhale, and as his brother turned to leave, the wizard sauntered. At first, it was an aimless trawl, contemplating his thoughts, and pondering the depth of the world’s systems. He walked, and he walked, he did not stop in his travels. Eventually, he came across it – the thing of his disgust, the mountain, overreaching into the clouds, taunting him, stretching a hand towards heaven with glorious breaks of sunlight. The elder brought his left-hand up towards the sky, with his other bearing around the staff. 

 

 

Credit: 

Squakhawk - Writer

Werew0lf - Writer

 

[Sarven 2619]

heh its time for peak

[Mayios 542]

heck yes

[StingyParrot 1595]

hopefully this doesn't drag on too long

[Frisket 4538]

This is dragon me crazy

[PrinceJose270 1211]

This joke seemed a bit of a dragon. At least it aged well.

Also Thalandir based book man.

[DizzyGrey 1229]

I FINALLY GET TO POKE THE DOORS? SOON?

[Onnensr 1908]

3 hours ago, squakhawk said:

queer

azdrazi gay marriage ?!? an-gho egg? who is the father!

[Samler 1564]

Somewhere in Aevos, an elf was ignorant to the future azdrazi event.

[wowj 9747]

✦ Nogard.

[Johann 2498]

1 hour ago, wowj said:

✦ Nogard.

 

An ancient, former paladin continues traveling the lands in search of NOGARD . . . perhaps the coming calamities will stoke it out of hiding.

[Narthok 10416]

Thrall was very excited for more niche story events that are available to 10 people