Chapter 2-7

Garkhen let out a quiet sigh as the hymn ended. The echoes of hundreds of draconic voices slowly died in the cavern, replaced by the muted sounds of scales and claws shifting on stone as dragons settled down into more comfortable positions. Solkh'Tolkharkha and Zerkheth coiled loosely on either side of Garkhen, and Garkhen simply sat back on the floor, one hand resting lightly on the stone beside the thick base of his tail.

Suddenly the crystals around the cavern dimmed, save for one high up above. Craning his neck, the young half-dragon could see another gold-scaled dragon glittering in the light. While it was difficult to tell, he got the impression that it was huge, vaster even than Solkh'Tolkharkha, which meant he was very old indeed, even among dragons. Something seemed... different about him, as well, though at this distance Garkhen could make out too little detail to be certain what it was. 

He only barely had time to register the profound silence of the cavern before the huge dragon spoke.

My siblings in the ways of Bahamut, he began. His voice rang out, echoing through the caverns, and even their vastness could not disguise the power of his speech. It has been nearly two centuries since we who follow in the wake of the Platinum Dragon have gathered. Much has happened... and we are even fewer than before.

There was a hushed silence as he paused. But let us not dwell on that. There is much to discuss, but we are not without joy in these times. Let the new initiates be presented!

After a moment, two dragons flew over from one of the other entrances into the grand cavern—one large, one small. While Garkhen could not make out their voices, he was fairly certain that the older one introduced the younger to the great dragon who had spoken, who then proceeded to question the younger dragon. After several minutes the two dragons returned to their perch, and the great dragon roared out, Let us greet Kharelvekh to our number!

In unison, all the other dragons roared, Kharelvekh! Garkhen could almost feel his head ringing with the echoes of that roar.

This process was repeated several times. As they watched, Garkhen asked, What is his name?

Solkh'Tolkharkha answered without turning his head. His name has long since been forgotten, by all but a few. He is known to us now only as Guardian.

Garkhen's eyes widened in surprise. Guardian in Draconic was... Garkhen. 

We will go next, should you still desire to walk this path, Solkh'Tolkharkha rumbled quietly. The young half-dragon nodded.

As the pair currently speaking with the Guardian departed, the great gold dragon gently picked his young charge up in one claw and flew up and across the cavern. As they approached, Garkhen could appreciate just how huge the ancient dragon truly was—easily more than a hundred feet long, perhaps closer to two hundred even from his snout to the tip of his tail. As Solkh'Tolkharkha glided in for a landing, Garkhen noted nervously that some of the massive dragon's scales were nearly as big as he was. Not only that, but he could now see what seemed odd about him—he did not quite look like other dragons. His scales seemed sharper-edged, he had more horns, and small spikes on his back, knees, and tail, and there was simply a... feeling about him, one of raw, barely contained power. Yet the look in his eyes was one of ages-won wisdom, and behind it a deep, profound sorrow.

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A longish chapter split up into smallish parts, but we're actually nearing the end. Now good night.

Chapter 2-6

They fought for untold ages, but always their battles were inconclusive. Bahamut and Tiamat used their greatest champions as vessels for their power, but even so neither could gain the advantage. Finally all dragons gathered together for one great conflict—the battle which those men who know of it call in their ignorance the War of Falling Dragons. Terrible that battle was, so terrible that it tore at the very fabric of Draezoln. At this moment the one called Jivenesh came, and at his coming the world would have been destroyed, had not Naishia, Bahamut, and even Tiamat joined together to bind him and cast him down. 

Even so, the battle and its coming had left a scar—what men now call the Madlands—and only shattered remnants of dragonkind, the smallest and weakest who had been at the furthest edges of the battle, still lived. But even these were greater than all that live today, save for the few who still live from that time (Garkhen's eyes widened slightly at this. He had not heard that any who saw the War of Dragon's Falling still lived.). For in the ruins, the three gods spoke. Naishia plead that the world be left to grow without more disastrous wars, but that rather the two dragon gods would simply seek to influence the world in secret to bend to their will. Again, they agreed, though Tiamat only reluctantly, and ever have her followers sought opportunity to again shed the blood of Bahamut's children. 

Without the direct touch of their gods, dragons no longer grew to the great heights of power they once had, and what was more, they were soon no longer alone. For the battle had attracted others—the gods of the smaller races, who besought Naishia leave to create their children on her world. That she did not admit the part of Bahamut and Tiamat in the creation of Draezoln shows the secret pride in her heart. When Tiamat learned of this, her rage was terrible, but Bahamut opposed her, and so the lesser races came to be.

In silent remembrance of our war, we did not watch as the lesser races spread throughout Draezoln. But now it is theirs more than ours, and so our war and our pride may be our ruin. Yet ever is our duty the same—to oppose Tiamat, to see that life in whatever form flourishes and lives without fear of fire and death. In so doing we will preserve both the lesser races and ourselves, for of a truth Bahamut teaches that all life is connected, and all are reduced by unnecessary suffering.

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Sorry for the late post. Again. Apparently I only remember this on Monday when I go to bed.

Anyway, this is the end of the summarized translation of the dragon's hymn. One thing I'm not sure has come up before is how young the human-like races of Draezoln are--they've only been around a couple thousand years at this point. There's a bit of a hint at that in this story, but that isn't something I"m keeping secret.

Chapter 2-5

Zerkheth was silent for a moment. Yes, of course, sir, he finally said.

They said no more for the moment. Garkhen could tell they were nearing the source of the singing—the swelling sound of draconic voices seemed to vibrate the very stone around them. Then they came around a corner, and the song seemed to thrum in his very bones.

The passageway they were in exited here into a huge cavern, so vast that even Solkh'Tolkharkha seemed tiny in comparison. Glowing crystals studded its walls, so that it seemed almost as bright as day within, revealing hundreds of dragons. They stood on various ledges or in entrances to tunnels all around the chamber. And they were all singing. Now that they were in the room itself, Garkhen could understand the words—a hymn to Bahamut.

Solkh'Tolkharkha and Zerkheth spread out along a ledge at the end of the tunnel they exited. Garkhen followed his mentor. Both of the dragons joined in the song, leaving the half-dragon to listen.

He realized soon that he recognized the story of the song, even though he had never heard it before. It was the tale of the creation—how Bahamut and Tiamat together had created the world. They had entered just at the part where they began to disagree on the nature of life on the surface of Draezoln. Quietly, Garkhen sat as the tale continued.

Tiamat wished a primal world of chaos, where only the strongest and fittest would survive the harsh environment and the fierce competition for its few resources. Bahamut desired a paradise, where life could flourish in harmony and grow together for all time. Eventually, their dispute turned to war, a war that nearly destroyed all they had already created. Finally, realizing their battle would destroy both of their visions, Bahamut called for a truce, and Tiamat reluctantly agreed. 

Despite agreeing that their battle could not continue, they still could not agree on its resolution. Their argument continued for ages, until they once again looked on Draezoln and found it full of life, and watched over by another—Naishia. Enraged, Tiamat sought to attack, but Bahamut sided with Naishia. Knowing what had gone before, and seeing what might happen again, Naishia proposed a compromise—both Bahamut and Tiamat would make creations to fight for them, and the winner of this battle would determine Draezoln's fate. 

Both agreed, and so created the races of dragonkind. Bahamut created the noble metallic dragons: golds, silvers, bronzes, and finally coppers. Tiamat created the savage chromatics (Garkhen glanced at Zerkheth, but saw no sign he was bothered by the description): reds, blues, greens, and whites. In this first creation, they were much larger and more powerful than modern dragons, and they went forth in great armies to battle one another.

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So yes, if I haven't made it clear before, Almonihah, Zakhin'Dakh, and Garkhen were originally D&D characters. I've tried to distance them from their source somewhat, but the colors of dragons and the battle between chromatics and metallics were too important to them for me to get rid of.

And yes, this doesn't quite match with the creation story Almonihah heard. Interesting, isn't it? :D

Chapter 2-4

A deep rumbling greeted them as the gold dragon and half-dragon walked into the cavern. It echoed through the winding passageways, seeming to come from all around them as Solkh'Tolkharkha led the way onward. At first, Garkhen thought it was the earth itself rumbling, then that it was the sound of many dragons speaking, but finally he realized what it was—dragons singing. He could not quite make out the meaning of what was being sung, but the sheer power of the singing was itself awe-inspiring.

Garkhen was just about to ask his mentor about the song when another dragon stepped into the passageway from a side tunnel ahead of them. He was a large, green-scaled dragon—somewhat unusual to see in a setting like this, but not unknown. He saw Solkh'Tolkharkha and greeted him—with his full name, no less.

It is good to see you again, my friend, the green dragon said. Then he looked down at Garkhen. And who is this with you? It is unusual to see any of mixed blood here, much less one of chromatic blood. 

Greetings, Zerkheth, Solkh'Tolkharkha replied, then added, My charge here is called Garkhen ze'Darkhen'Sem'dor, 

“Guardian of Small Dragons?” The other dragon, Zerkheth, repeated in the Common Tongue, surprised, before switching back to Draconic. An unusual name, to be sure. Well, Garkhen ze'Darkhen'Sem'dor, I am glad to see another of similar blood to my own in the company of Bahamut. I hope you will continue in this path, and not fall prey to the passions of our brethren.

Thank you, sir, Garkhen responded, giving the green dragon something of a bow.

Zerkheth nodded back, then started down the passageway, talking as he went. I trust you have heard the reason for this Convocation? He continued without waiting for an answer. The news is most troublesome... but even more is the debate about how to proceed. That some of our number should be so involved in the affairs of Men...

We long ago gave the world over to Men by our own negligence, Solkh'Tolkharkha interrupted. If we are to be involved in anything beyond our lairs, we must be involved in the affairs of Men.

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So, a day late, but still, it's a post! A fairly important one, too, though given that these books are basically the highlights of my characters lives, most everything is important.