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A Thesis on Ancient Folk - Labyrinthe Forum
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> A Thesis on Ancient Folk
abyatt
post Nov 1 2007, 10:44 PM
Post #1


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OOC Note - This is an IC document, produced by a player character, based on information learnt, events that occured on dungeon and in HOTE)


A Thesis on the Ancient Folk


Dragon Prince, Draconian, Melnibanion all these and many more titles have been used to describe our race at one time or another. But you do not understand, even most of our brethren do not understand. The Folklore, History as the Mannish Creatures would call it, having been forgotten and distorted to suit the needs of the twisted gods. They would tell you that we are lords of this realm that humans, those they call Mon-Kei, rose up in rebellion and destroyed our Empire of Bright Lights.

This is not true, how I wish it were known by all then maybe others would yearn to be as the Old Blood once where. For you see we the most Ancient of races, have been brought low, not by the Mannish Creatures, but by our Arch Foe and our desire to survive.

Our home realm was a tropical one, we came from the warm Isle of Melnibone (pronounced “MEL-NIB-O-NAY” in the old tongue). The descendants of Dragons, we rode the thermals upon the backs of our distant cousins and where a peaceful race, a content race of Scholarly Conjurers stepped in knowledge with a lust for learning.

Our only weapons the Moon-Blades, Elemental allies, Rituals and our Dragons. Now the armour that encases our people glows with unholy luminescence, our blades twitch with anticipation as they dream of their next victims. But I get ahead of myself Young’ling to understand a story you can not be thrown into the middle.

We built a kingdom upon that isle, which quickly expand to become an Empire, within years the entire realm was under our control. We where not harsh rulers in fact more like benevolent parents, allowing Mannish Creature and Elf alike to raise their own Kingdoms, providing they swore loyalty and did not threaten us.

Soon we became board, we had searched the Four Corners of our home realm, it was time to look elsewhere and look we did.

***

‘The quiet time. Tranquil. Peaceful. Solitude, a paramount virtue. The only arguments were ones of professional disagreements’
A Thesis on the Arch Foe’ by Vythym Slorm

***

The Old Blood came to Primus during the Imperial Year 345, through a rift intent on exploration, they had been attracted by the vitality of the realms pulsing heart as it echoed throughout existence. After but a few years it was decided to establish an outpost, a city was built hidden within the Fens by both nature and their arts.

The construction of Silvrin Shyl Dyo, the City by the Lake was completed during the imperial year 347. 100 Families where brought from Melnibone, these where the first and these where the last.

For a while the people of Primus could see Dragons flying through the sky carrying a people described as tall and wondrous, who drifted from place to place looking at the stars. Adorned in silver stones that sparkled in the moonlight.

Then disaster began to strike as the Old Blood lost contact with their home realm of Melnibone. Original a small rift had been kept open to exchange news and findings but this was closed suddenly on the other side. Rumours of a war had started to drift through just before and those left on Primus began to worry, yet remained hidden in their city.

***

‘We had become self sufficient, this Primus was wondrous to our eyes, to our ears, to all our senses. Life flourished here like nowhere else.’
A Thesis on the Arch Foe’ by Vythym Slorm

***

Unknown to the Old Blood, the Dhaarghrul or Dharzi as our people called them, had travelled to our home realm, evacuating the remnants of their population form their own. We do not know what caused it to start, but a Great War began Dragon, Element, Ritual, Moon-blade all where unleashed against the Dharzi, who released their own counter rituals and Bio-Constructs. The resulting confrontation turned our home realm into a barren wasteland, not a single blade of grass or bacteria specimen was left, but we upon Primus did not learn of this for many years many centuries.

In the Imperial Year 386 Mandaxer Mooncloak, the War Master of Silvrin Shyl Dyo began to suffer dreams of catastrophe, at first others tried to soothe his great mind, but soon others began to suffer the same. Dragons where sent out with riders, seeking signs of unrest elsewhere but no could be found, besides the petty Mannish Conflicts.

Perhaps these Dreams where a warning, a form of message from our dying realm an attempt to warn us about the Arch Foe. We will never know as the way home was blocked at the time and they could not return however many tried. Yet in the Imperial Year 390 the scouts finally found something, a group of large and unusual creatures wandering dazed and through the snow of the Brandins.

These strangers identified themselves as the Dhaarghrul and at first, unknowing of the events on Melnibone, the Old Blood met them as two alien peoples, made kin by the knowledge that nether belonged upon this realm. Our guests explained that they where seeking some of their Kin, known as Molech, those that dared to break their most scared laws.

Thus they where allowed to operate in peace within the city, this provide however to be a mistake. As one mist filled night during the Imperial Year 393 they stole many artefacts of power from around their owners necks. Using some form of stealth meld creature created by their own Bio Mantic power for this task, thus our forefathers slept on unknowing.

It was obvious to all what had happened when the Old Blood woke, they demanded the return of their artefacts and that their now unwanted guests leave. They refused of course, claiming the artefacts where theirs to do with as they pleased and that they would go where they wanted. The War Master then attempted to force them to leave, but he who was the strongest was no match for them and soon the entire city had joined the fray.

But it was not enough, the Ruling Family where the first to be eliminated and then the Dharzi killed one after the other of our people. Within days the city was reduced to ruins and the ritual stress placed upon it caused it to begin to sink and still the fighting moved from building to building.

***

‘On the eve of the final day. Mandaxer went alone into the Fens. A storm of epic proportions smote the city. Then THEY came”’
A Thesis on the Arch Foe’ by Vythym Slorm

***

Throughout the conflict the War Master had tried contacting the Elemental Lords and the Lords of Law, but there power had been drained by the conflict on Melnibone thus could not answer let alone aid the Old Blood. He tried to contact other powers, but in the end only the Chaos Lords would answer only they would dare intervene, for the Dharzi where backed by a greater power one that had once walked upon Primus during the days before the 1st Age.

Knowing that their aid would cost them dearly, the War Master had a single Duke transport his entire family and friends into a mystically prison, known as the Hidden Isle. Its true name known only to a select few, to prevent there would be benefactors from learning about it.

***

‘The Duke of Calibrae stood upon a silvery towers, his eyes seeing more than just the twisting maelstrom of colour that held back the intrusions of Chaos.’
Taken from the Diary of a Refugee

***

Thus the deal was struck and the Gods of Entropy, the Sword Masters came to the aid of the Old Blood. But their psyche was forever warped and the Ancient Folk became creatures of entropy due to the influence of their new allies, brought low by the power of Chaos. But with their aid the Dhazi where forced to abandon the city and flee to their stronghold within the Brandins, where one last great battle was fought and rituals enacted to seal them away.

However during this battle all but a handful of the Dragons where slain and Vythym Slorm sacrificed himself ensuring the rituals where cast and the enemy did not escape.

Sadly it was all for nought as the Dreams of Unity rather foolishly released them from their prison in the Imperial Year 992. They quickly set about reclaiming there stronghold hiding it from the Dwarfs as they only numbered 10 and did not wish a full scale war in their weakened state.

Yet our people, the Folklore all but forgotten except by a handful, quickly became aware of our enemies new found freedom. As they descended on first one Enclave and then another, everyone was slain, even children, but they could not find us all not even in a thousand years of searching.

Five years after the conflict began a new settlement was construction, our people began to flock there to serve under the banner of Dyvim Slorm, the descendant of Vythym. However many more stayed away, having already sworn loyalty to their Arch Dynast, made peace with the Empire or preferring the more independent life.

It was not until the Imperial Year 1002 that the Dharzi stumbled across a Mannish Creature who gave them pause for thought. He was insignificant to them in the grand scheme of things, yet something about him troubled them, it was then one of their number revealed a hidden prophecy. One that the Mannish Creature fitted perfectly, thus he was gifted a strange power from each and everyone one of them.

This Mon-Kei, this Mannish Creature, this Human was to rid us of our greatest enemy, by performing various acts that would enable them to return home. Knowing of this prophecy, the War Master had all our kind cease whatever actions they where performing against the Dharzi and a sort of peace came to be.

The Mannish Creature, who’s named was Aaron Steadfast, was given the task of recovering 5 artefacts of great power, that when combined would forge ‘The Cleaver of Ways’. This Cleaver could cut across time and space, within certain limitations and would enable the Dharzi to return to their home realm once nature had been appeased.

Those first three where recovered with ease, but the last two where hidden from sight and spell. It was at this time that a new age began for our people, a Young Blood, raised by the Mannish Creatures after the death of his family at the hands of the Dharzi, began to discover the truth of the Folklore. Speaking with Old Blood, following rumours and the whispers of forgotten gods he began to re-discover that which had been forgotten by all but a few.

It was as he was exploring the ruin of Silvrin Shyl Dyo that he found one of the half destroyed ritual chambers that could be found within. Using the fading embers of power he was able to gain the locations of the two remaining artefacts, the first was recovered within the week. But the second was to prove far more troublesome for this Mannish Creature and his allies.

The Molech, kin to the Dharzi, wielders of undeath attempted to stop the reformation of the Cleaver, they sort to destroy the Dharzi Pawn and those with him. Even when the Owl Lord arrived to aid them the battle was a titanic one and the allies where hard pressed to repel the onslaught. During the battle the Young Blood was given the task of translating some Dharzi script which explained how to re-forge the Cleaver, utilising Ward Pacts he was able to keep himself safe from the Foe during the battle.

But the Cleaver the was forged and the path way cut through time and space, the Molech attempted one last time to prevent the healing of the Dharzi home realm, but where unsuccessful. Aaroan Steadfast gave his life at the appropriate time and place, thus the realm was healed and our great enemy returned home, never to return.

The Cleaver was to be taken to the Knights of the Land, to be dismantled and it’s components scattered once more. It was however used one last time to cut a path, a path to Melnibone. At first we could see the Silver Spires and the Dragons flying through the sky, but before anyone could step through it closed suddenly. Communication powers revealed that what had been seen was a dream, a echo of what was for our realm was gone destroyed completely, the Cleaver had mealy sundered that which prevented us from finding out.

Other colonies on other realms still exist, some of our kin are as we once where, others are like us influenced by Chaos and a few have chosen a different path. But it matters not for now our people on Primus have a terrible burden…


100 Families were brought from Melnibone…

These where the first and these where the last…

We their descendants are all that remain…

It was some months after these events that the War Master called a Council, the first such since the destruction of our city, he declared that our efforts where to be focussed against the foe. For they threatened not only the Baronies and Empire, but also all who inhabited this realm, thus some of us began to strike at them, but Dyvim Slorm disobeyed the War Master and began to aid them lustfully believing their promise of power.

Seeing this as betrayal, the Young Blood who aided the Dharzi Pawn struck at him and his, ruining his plans, feeding information to his enemies. Going even as far to claim one of the Dragons as his own, taking it from this Dragon Lord Slorm, the Young Blood himself gaining such a rank among us by even doing so.

But the War Master stepped in, forbid the fighting and spill of their own blood without his word. Thus what had been a short and rather non-bloody civil war came to an abrupt end, yet despite Slorms protests the Dragon was not returned to him, punishment for disobey the War Master.

Peace reigned for nigh on 3 years, the Younger Dragon Lord gathered some 100 of our people together and settled in an abandoned Keep with the Brandins, along a forgotten trade route. Over time more flocked to his side, seeking shelter within it’s halls as vast improvements where made and rituals where cast. Soon the corridors echoed with the sound of new-born children, more where born in this time along than had been in the last century.

This Young Blood’s ways and thoughts are strange, he is like us all and yet at the same time he is not. But our people follow him, for he has built up a strong and safe home, made allies among the Mon-Kei of the Schtoy, the Circle and the Empire while gaining riches and respect throughout the area.

Then two events shattered the peace, they occurred at the same time; the first was that of another Prophecy approaching fulfilment, as two stars of the sky gave birth to a third. This third star slowly broke the bindings of the Hidden Isle and the Silver Schooner was prepared to sail forth using the three as guide to safely transport the imprisoned to Primus.

***

‘The Duke sat upon the harbour wall and peered into the gloom surrounding the bay. The twisted ether seethed as is some thing agitated it from within.

The Town was quiet, the Spring festival was over and its folk spent on the revelry of another years birth. Beyond the protections the elemental and daemons clashed, noise of their conflicts reaching even here’
Taken from the Diary of a Refugee

***

But at the same time, civil war began to rage once more, as the Storm Lord sort to overcome the Old Blood and place himself at our head. Both Dragon Lords united in a pre-emptive strike, the Younger spearheading the attack, while the Elder followed close behind.

In the end the Storm Lord lay dead, at the hands of one who is hidden from the sight of Dragon and God alike. But the Storm Lord had his last revenge, some 200 of our kin who he held prisoner and cowardly used as shields where slain.

Meanwhile the Schooner sailed the air it’s passengers free of their prison, but their enemies had taken a large toll for the Old Duke was dead and the ship it’s self was damaged. It crashed into the out skirts of Sellaville, which was to become safe heaven for them all.

***

‘The Goddess turned to regard the space that would be occupied by the Duke of Calibrae before he had even manifested. He did not seem surprised that she was addressing him as he appeared at her side.

“The Prophecy” she enquired.

He nodded in answer “the Angels and their allies bring it to fruition. Who would have thought the Ancient Pacts would hold.”

“That they do, shows the strength of the favours owed to your people” was her reply.’

Taken from the Diary of a Refugee

***

In the months that followed some of our kind began to acquire positions of authority within the cities of Imperial Empire, our race was becoming excepted it would seem by those that sort to hunt us for the money they placed on our heads. Then the Bone King came, not a threat to us directly, but he threatened Sellaville and those within.

The Dharzi Pawn stood at its defence and called to his masters across time and space for aid. The Wolf Lord answered and thus died at the hands of this so called King, his death was linked to that of a Sorceress of house D’tarn fighting side by side to the last. The Horde went on and swept over the walls of the city it’s defenders fighting valiantly, slaying more Undead than lives lost, but it was not enough the walls where breached.

The Younger Dragon Lord had sent his reeve with what warriors could be spared to organise and protect our kin within, thus none where harmed, meanwhile the Young Blood himself rode the sky’s atop his Dragon. Watching and waiting for the right moment, when it came the tide was turned several Held of Undead reduced to nothing but ash by Dragon Fire.

***

This Young’ling is our history to date, believe it if you will or not as the matter maybe. But know that victors and those that survive write the history as they see it, we have won, we have survived and shall continue to do so…


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