Dragons Of War Dragons: Dragon Lore
When Xul raised banners and sought to seize power across the domain of the Celestials, the dragon now known as Jjin raised the first alarms on a misty dawn morning and then personally kept Xul’s followers from accessing the Armory of the Ancients, a trove of weapons and magic so terrible the Celestials forbid its use under any circumstances. Jjin was lauded for this heroism and rose quickly in the ranks of the war effort. This dragon’s true colors were therefore not known until Jjin led the command staff in charge of defending the city of Kedesh into a lethal trap, and afterwards it was found that the Armory of the Ancients had been secretly emptied well before Jjin “saved” it. Now Jjin openly flies with Xul and the other enemies of the Celestials, ready to tear down their empire with further deception and intrigue.
The dragon Azrael has long kept one of the most revered archives of the Celestials, sinuously sliding amongst bookshelves and heaped piles of scrolls for years without going outside.
Celestials and dragons alike would come to study at this archive, which primarily contained knowledge on the many magical traditions and arcane rites of Atlas.
When the violent Rift began, Azrael was uninterested in the conflict at first. As weeks passed and the fighting intensified however, this dragon learned the rebels were unleashing spells and artifacts that were previously forbidden and sealed away.
With a weary sigh and a lingering look at the archive, Azrael then shed their scholarly robes and clad themselves in armor and powerful magics. Knowledge, after all, should not be used lightly.
Deep in the Twilight Woodlands lives a particular tribe of small-framed elves that lack the physical strength to protect themselves. Their chieftain ordered the tribe’s small carpentry guild to construct a war machine. The guild built a protector, “Ornithox,” a wooden dragon, capable of flying by use of intricate cogs, pulleys, and levers.
The chieftain was not impressed by their “toy” and sentenced them to death. The guild members prayed for a miracle. The morning of the execution, a dangerous Stalking Beast lay dead at Ornithox’s feet, though nary a villager had heard neither clatter, clop, nor clank in the night.
Their chieftain formally recognized Ornithox to be the tribe’s protector and the carpentry guild members were released from their sentence, and a feast was had to celebrate their ingenuity.
Across Atlas, all know the popular nursery rhyme: “Be ye wary of Helminn’s Mirror, look into still water, your image becomes clearer. Up swims Helminn, yes it’s true, before you know it - Helminn is you.” In contemporary times, this rhyme warns against vanity… but the quatrain’s origins warn against the reptilian parasite Helminn’s most terrifying quality - parasitic invasion.
Helminn infests unsuspecting hosts at random and lives in them until she drains them of resources. Sometimes Helminn infests small dogs or rodents but when Helminn gets a hold of a dragon… that’s when she lets loose and has a little fun.
Enderon and F’alathil rushed through their neck of the Glowing Cradle, swinging their practice swords at trees and plants - slaying imaginary monsters. Lumestry flew ominously and silently behind them, absorbing the destruction of their inconsiderate romp into her living tapestry. They stopped and examined their dulled blades covered in green from leaves and vines, thick with sap from wounded trunks, clotted with color from pollen and petal.
As they bragged about their playtime heroics they heard a guttural whine and wheeze. Lumestry had finally caught up with the children and regarded them with rage. The children fell to their knees apologizing, fearing Lumestry’s bloody revenge.
Lumestry did not accept their apologies.
In any great conflict, there are those that take advantage of the chaos, pain, and suffering. Ikkumma is an agent of wanton destruction and feeds on misery.
Ikkumma stalked the misty forested mountains of the Sacred Ridge during the Celestial conflict. Armies on all sides knew what would happen if they became lost in the labyrinthine passes, or took the wrong turn through the thick mists. Ikkumma would parrot the calls of men to lead entire squads away from their camps and lead them to a kindling circle, setting the soldiers on fire once they realized what had happened.
Perhaps the most horrifying stories are accounts of Ikkumma wandering around the edges of battlefields, torturing those that lay wounded in wait for rescue, burning them from foot to head slowly while those immobilized around them were forced to breathe in the smell of burning flesh.
The Celestial War engulfed the entirety of Atlas despite several regions, peoples, and dragons that took no side and instead hewed towards neutrality.
Tzumat is the legendary guardian of the Ninth Pass, a strategically important land route that runs through the Spinal Peaks and into the resource-rich lands below. Tzumat’s citadel is home to a highly trained and capable warrior sect that are actually pacifists. Their sole use of power is protecting the souls that seek refuge behind their walls, the sect’s continued way of life, and of course - the Ninth Pass itself.
Tzumat and his sect were dragged against their collective will into the Celestial War when both sides tried to claim control of the pass. Tzumat mounted an impenetrable defense, at great cost to the Celestials and the Rebellion. Finally, all sides relented and resorted to benign diplomacy.
The Ninth Pass is one of the few places during the Celestial War where peace could be found, if one could get there.
Kinnarix was a frontline leader and tactician who fought against Xul’s rebellion. Flying through battles with its famous glowing armor, Kinnarix became one of the most recognizable figures during the Celestial Rift. In artistic depictions of the battles, a magenta streak crashing into a chaos of ink blots is often used to represent the battle charge of Kinnarix.
As the conflict dragged on and it became clear that a quick, clean victory was out of the question, Kinnarix grew frustrated at the costly stalemate between the many factions.
Kinnarix’s formerly measured and practical battle tactics turned brutal. With every assault, Kinnarix’s goal was to cause enough destruction as to force his enemies to surrender immediately. But Kinnarix wasn’t the only stubborn warrior on the battlefield.
Kinnarix’s brutality is her legacy and she works hard to turn a blind eye to dragons flinching when they’re in her presence.
Jaalkan was a champion of good that lived in the far north and joined Xul’s rebellion against the Celestials with pure intent. Jaalkan posited that the continued suffering of men and beasts in Atlas were a direct result of the stagnation of the Celestial Rule. Their slow response to Withermoon’s horrors and their similar slow reaction to the existential threat of the great Eclipse moved Jaalkan to side with Xul, similarly jaded with the status quo.
The great respect Jaalkan commands caused his allegiance to the rebellion motivated other factions to join Xul’s crusade.
Now fighting as a partisan mostly on its own, Jaalkan still believes that freedom and justice must triumph.
Heralded by the frozen winds of the Stygian Sea whistling through the crusty barnacles on his carapace, Barnov is feared and loved by the stolid, briny fishmongers of the Glaze. Barnov’s appearance on the shores means that the fish will be bountiful during the Hookhome Harvest. But, as any savvy seadog can tell you, Barnov always eats first.
When the Celestials’ armies started fishing to feed their warriors, they quickly depleted the fish population in the Stygian Sea forcing Barnov to take a stand in the conflict. Jaalkan convinced Barnov to join Xul’s Rebellion, thereby cutting off the food supply of the Celestial Northern Army forcing them to retreat in haste from Barnov’s shores
"Poor Charpent, for what are you meant?" the children of the Twilight Woodlands lamented in song. Charpent was born a pitifu dragon without wings or power and small in size. Charpent wasn't long for the natural world before an artisan woodworker took pity on him. The woodworker crafted a magnificent birch armor for Charpent to protect it from larger dragons and other predators. Charpent finally grew. Not only had Charpent grown physically powerful, but magical. The woodworker fit Charpent's shinglec wings with magic sinks, allowing Charpent to finally take his place in the sky.
When you' re as big as a draft horse and made of feathers, life in a world of violent, fire-breathing behemoths requires you to develop survival skills in a hurry. As vou might expect. Quilleth is one of the finest survivors in the world of Atlas. In fact Quilleth is so sure of his ability to get out of trouble, he can be found trolling far more dangerous dragons just to see if he can get away with it. Ouilleth's favorite target is Asura. the Emberheart Drake. Villagers of the Glowing Cradle often hear a tiger's roar of annovance followed by the cawing cackle of Ouilleth as he hastilv retreats from the dense iungle having stolen Asura's lunch.
Long ago, the wealthiest merchant in Atlas sought out the famous paper artisan, Washi. The merchant challenged Washi to create a perfect origami dragon... the prize? Anything Washi desired. Washi worked day and night for one year finding the most immaculate and magical materials from all corners of Atlas to create her masterpiece. Once Washi finished. she presented it to the merchant, smiled, and promptly died on the spot from exertion. Washi's spirit, unwilling to part from her creation, entered the paper dragon and flew off into the night.
Narmak's kind are highly sought after due to the bioluminescent bacteria that causes their distinct glow. Humans use it to light their houses. street lamps. and to create ethereal art for wealthy patrons. Narmak and his children once happened upon a ship that had been lost in a storm, and he used his bright lantern-lure to lead them to safe waters. The rescued sailors recognized an opportunity to make a small fortune, returned to those waters and attacked Narmak. captured his children. and left him for dead. Narmak now uses his lantern to lure unwitting victims to their untimely demise. Sailors call this light "Narmak's Revenge.
Observant pioneers have seen dead-eyed, stoic Gilas watching the caravans of the Celestia War pioneer-refugees stream steadily into the Northern Prairies from atop its windswept mesa. While Gilas is known to prefer solitude, Gilas' tattered saddle and burnished ornate armor suggest that Gilas had a rider once. Wherever that rider is, they' re long gone, and Gilas has been wandering the Northern Prairies ever since -- its empty saddle reminding pioneers that these strange lands have yet to be tamed
"The forty-five of us had gotten lost in the vast northern prairie. The dragon, lmix, appeared and urged us to follow it to a nearby town. Imix led us on a long trek. waiting patiently until we'd exhausted our supplies. Nearing starvation, we begged lmix to find us food. Imix indicated that there was plenty of delicious food within reach
We realized that Imix meant us. We fell upon each other with ravenous hunger, eating whatever flesh we could until there was only one left. Me. I looked at lmix, who laughed with glee. Imix simply stepped aside and there was the town, just over the hill."
- Nolavan Aida, lone survivor, 3rd Northern Expansion Corps
It's a little known fact that the word "nightmare" comes from the Northern Prairies. Long ago, when explorers went into the Northern Prairies. the locals with their thick accents were trying to warn them about a terrible steed that chased men through their dreams. Some would wake up, with blisters and burns running up their back. Some died of fright in their sleep.
The explorers returned with stories of these "nightmares" which came to mean bad dream But the people of the prairies weren't saying nightmare... they were saying Nockmar
Steelwing's life force, its perpetual inferna engines. theoretically means that Steelwing could live forever. Unfortunately for Steelwing. that seems to be the case. Steelwing outlived its creators along with everyone else that it has ever known. While Steelwing's true motivations are unknowable. travelers speculate that Steelwing is lonely. It strives endlessly to protect weaker lifeforms and accompanies adventurous pioneers safelv across the Northern Prairies. Its glittering armor is a beacon of hope in a land where hope is in short supply and always has been, and will be long after we're gone.
Ramnaught, the Burning Engine, has traveled relentlessly across the Northern Prairies, delighting in conflict and plowing through whatever is foolish enough to stand in its way. Although limited in offensive options, Ramnaught has three powerful defensive spells that make the dragon an implacable juggernaut-- making it a formidable earth warrior that plows through defenses.
Across Atlas, the nighttime was once something to be feared. But since Oraun took up the Mantle of Darkness, it seems that might no longer be the case. Now, every evening, streams of light flow across the sky to guide the lost and weary back to safety. Most who look upon these nightly auroras are content to brush them off as just a sign of the strange times sweeping Atlas. But those who have been saved by the light insist that it is their guardian and friend. What only a select few have seen is the serpentine shadow dancing among the vivid glimmer.
The proving grounds lay on a blizzard-wasted mote of rock off the Stygian shore-- a truly even playing field. In a contest for dominion over ice. neither aouatic nor airborne dragons were to have an advantage. The elder drakes prepared for bites of frost and fang, but nothing could prepare them for this sprightly creature. It bucked and dove in the freezing foam, wholly unconcerned by the clash. Many candidates succumbed to the vicious strikes of their competitors, and still, more were worn down by exhaustion. But not one was able to lay a claw on Corallae. When the last fighter had fallen, yet the young adept still leaped and darted and giggled in the waves, even the most hardened elders present agreed, the Mantle of Ice suited Corallae well.
Volcanoes. deserts, lava dens - for the most part, if you [for some reason) wanted to find a fire dragon, you knew where to look. However, just as hotter flames come in exotic colors, stronger fire dragons come from stranger origins. It is fitting, then, that the latest bearer of the Mantle of Fire came from somewhere less obvious . somewhere....darker. If you (for some reason) asked Reyze from where. exactly. vou would be the first to be brave enough. Even the other fire beasts know little of their new lord. and instead bow before Revze out of draconic instinct. Instinct, and because after Reyze challenged the last bearer for the right to wear the Mantle of Fire. only a pool of melted scales was left to witness to their duel.
In pure technical skill, Aerow had always been a peerless flier. Record-breaking speeds, uncanny levels of control, and laser-focus... It is no wonder that to this day, Aerow is remembered as one of the fiercest veterans of the Celestial War. But to Aerow, notoriety is nothing more than a burden. They've only ever cared about exulting in the joy of flight. Yet it is this love of the air which compelled other dragons to demand that Aerow take up the Mantle of Wind. Now, wind dragons all over Atlas look to the Supersonic Captain for leadership during this time of peace. Used to taking orders, not giving them. Aerow reluctantly considers for the first time, what do they fly for?
When left to its own devices, Krampi will typically comb through the Twilight Woodland picking up sticks to add to the collection it carries on its back. Seeing such a sight, a naive traveler might think it's placid, or even charmingly simple. That traveler would be sorely mistaken.
During long winter nights, Krampi will scour the countryside for villains and miscreants. As soon as it spots someone up to mischief-whether it be a vengeful dragon lord or a petty prankster-Krampi will fly into a rage that cannot be assuaged until it gleefully sets itself to smacking the perpetrator with the most painful branches in its possession.
Power of seismic proportions pulses through the slender body of Tiallos. It upheaves the seafloor into fantastical new shapes, creating islands and trenches and calderas wherever it travels. There was even a time when it was said that Atlas itself was one of Tiallos' creations.
However, as the non-dragons settled and built and fought over the land that Tiallos shaped, Tiallos went from revered to reviled. No longer could Tiallos shape the earth as it pleased, as there was always uproar that the dragon was favoring one faction or another, or that Tiallos would one day callously take away all the nations had built for themselves with a single tremor. Eventually, several budding nations agreed to cease squabbling over territory long enough to capture and imprison Tiallos. They chained Tiallos in the deepest trench of its own making, so tightly and so far that its most desperate cries for help were felt only as ripples on the sea, or a quiver in the earth.
For generations, Avernic was guardian of a small enclave of non-dragon folk inhabiting the Spinal Peaks. While they were safe, Avernic could rest easy. But the wily alchemist cared not for such maudlin passions. He promised to grant Avernic the power to protect others in exchange for sampling the alchemist's most recent potion. Unfortunately, the promise turned out to be worse than empty.
The curious draught opened something in Avernic, unstitching bone and sinew and leaving a maw of flaming green aether in its torso. out of this strange portal clawed half-remembered spectres and formless entities, desperate to escape the sweltering realm within Avernic. Though Avernic tried to suppress this outflux of energy, the wards that once trusted Avernic to shield them from the threats of Atlas now looked upon Avernic as the most abominable of those threats. They demanded that the dragon be taken to the Ancient Prison, far from their home. Avernic, true to its principles as ever, willingly allowed itself to be chained for the sake of the people it loved.
Unlike many other inmates of the Prison, Krygant never committed a crime, not even an alleged one. Back when Krygant was first imprisoned, the courts of Sudene agreed that Krygant, being nothing more than a golem created by a dark mage, had no will of its own. As such, its acts were only an extension of the acts of its rider. Thus, Krygant was not a criminal, but its rider most certainly was. Unfortunately for Krygant, being a construct also meant that the Sudenese saw no moral imperative to grant it even the pretense of justice. As a matter of convenience, Krygant was imprisoned to separate it from its creator.
Records of what happened to Krygant's creator are long gone, and without its rider's malevolent influence, Krygant has led a docile, almost peaceful existence in the prison. Seemingly unconcerned by the claustrophobia and squalor of the Prison, inmates often assumed that Krygant had no desires, or it would have expressed them by now.
And yet, when the prison break occurred, Krygant gazed up at the moon and claimed freedom its jailors - and its rider - had never seen fit to grant.
Barbend may be the longest-serving inmate in the history of the Ancient Prison. The "may" is only a technicality - all of the dragons who lived long enough to escape the prison testify that from the day they first arrived, Barbend was already lurking in a corner, surveying the newcomers with unblinking amber eyes. Yet, this testimony can never be corroborated by Barbend itself, for its metal muzzle will not allow the beast to speak, or even open its mouth
In fact, no one has even heard the dragon's true name. "Barbend" is only a moniker the inmates have been using for so long that none remember how it started. Some say it is from how the dragon unrelentingly thrashes at the iron enclosures in the prison until they dent - others that it stems from the barbed armor that tears at its own flesh. Even if Barbend were able to tell of its past, none would dare to ask. The unfettered malice in Barbend's eves tells onlookers all they need to know.
The Avian Flamebringer. The first of it’s kind to wield the fire of the dragons
The Frost Cursed dragon, with each day that passes, the ice gets thicker, and the armor feels tighter.
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