|
Hrunda once was a beautiful world of lush forests, temperate climates in the east, and tropical weather in the south.
Though the north was oft snow-covered for all but the summer months, the tundra and high mountains that overlooked it were
still beautiful. Such organisms as could be expected thrived in the fertile land Hrunda.
Ever since they crossed the Western
Range and Neral Sea beyond six thousand years ago, Humans have reigned as the supreme species.
Although they found many
intriguing, new, and interesting species to share their new home with, Humans still maintained a greater intellectual intelligence.
Some minds, such as those of the graceful Elves or skilled Dwarves, the other humanoid inhabitants of Hrunda, equaled or even
slightly surpassed those of Humans. After a century or two of breeding however, the Human population soon vastly overtook
the others. While the three races remained on agreeable terms, they often times kept to own.
Along with other humanoids,
the Humans also discovered a wide range of animals that were not native to their homeland. The first experience with the mythical
beasts was shocking, but as the Elves and Dwarves before them did, the Humans soon learned to cope with the animalia neighbors.
It was also quickly learned that some of these mythical beasts had a slight amount of magic dealing directly with the elements:
fire, water, air, and earth. Naturally there were subdivisions of these categories, such as ice, rock, sand, or storm. A few
Elves even managed to copy these elemental abilities.
As much as the Humans knew about their new world, there was one
thing that did escape their notice: the dragons. Very few in number because of a devastating plague that began its sweep through
dragon-kind the very year Humans crossed the Mountains and Sea, the dragons separated themselves from the rest of Hrunda.
Secluded, they resided in the harsh mountains in the far north, dwelling in cavernous systems that protected them from the
unyielding weather. Although it took many generations and nearly four thousand years to rebuild the dragon population to sufficient
force, they regained the throne of Hrunda as the dominant species.
Their elemental powers surpassed all used by
Elves or anyone else on Hrunda. The only reason they had not risen before was because the lack of numbers. At one time it
was said that only fifty dragons were left; the species very nearly became extinct.
After Humans had been living in Hrunda
for four thousand years, dragons suddenly emerged from the north and in a quick and brutal war, enslaved the world to their
will. With minds more powerful than those of Humans, Elves, or Dwarves, and a physical strength that surpassed all others
by such a degree that is was unthinkable, dragons forced the lesser species to serve them; gradually, they shaped the world
to their needs.
Most species were locked away in Penal Colonies where they withered under the dragons commands. While
they preserved the nature of their world, dragons consistently built cities of their own through the hands of the enslaved.
The largest of these draconic cities was Memintha Luar in the north. There the King of dragons resided, and there bred the
dark power that soon infested each and every dragon on Hrunda. When combined with the elemental powers already possessed by
dragons, the darkness became even more potent and controlling. The measure of dark power in a dragon, marked by the blackness
of his scales and eyes, determined the status he held within his community.
Few Humans, along with an even smaller
amount of Elves and Dwarves, managed to escape the dragons wraith in the war known as the Calamity of Hrunda or the Eradication,
either term referring to the destruction of physical freedoms and the birth of national oppression. Resorting to caves and
underground cities, they managed to maintain a free, if restricted, life.
The mining skills of the Dwarves entitled enough
room to live. Areas where Humans and the others lived together in communities became known as Havens. These were located near
or in the Western Range. Gardens were grown at ground level in caverns with windows in the rocky ceilings providing sunlight.
Herd beasts were cultured and raised under cliffs with small pastures in mountain valleys. There was always a cave or carved
rock room where the herds and their shepherds could take refuge in if ever a dragon flew overhead.
The Council of
the Wise, an elected group of leaders among the Survivors who held positions of authority among all Havens, also known as
Elders, knew however that at the rate the dragons disregarded and distinguished life forms, they would soon need more slaves
to build their cities. It would not be long before the dragon eyes turned to look for replacements. A solution was desperately
needed. Not one of the Survivors wanted to live underground forever nor under the tyrannical rule of the dragons.
Expeditions
were proposed to cross the mountains and Neral Sea, back to their homeland. The Elves and Dwarves would have none of this;
they loved their own home still and tenaciously refused to leave it. With the rarity of lumber that could only be found in
mountain valleys, a suitable vessel could not be built anyways.
Several generations passed before any brilliant and possible
idea was formed. The Elves, being most tuned into the elements, began to develop a counter-power to the dragons darkness.
In addition to this revolution, something that could take who-knows-how-long to perfect and master, then build to the equality
of the dragons, the Survivors formulated another plan.
If they could only somehow become stronger than the dragons,
find something equal or, preferably, surpassing in strengtha friendly dragon was too much to hope for. Yet, if herd beasts
could be modified through breeding, why not dragons too? The opportunity came to test this theory when a clan of nomadic dragons,
cousins to the city dragons, unexpectedly nested near one of the entrances to a Haven. While the Survivors fled to other,
safer systems, a few remained, however dangerous the consequences might be, to observe the dragons.
For a while they went
unnoticed, but their scent lingered everywhere, and they were soon found out. During a wild and desperate attempt to escape,
a dwarf stole a dragon egg.
Oh, the stupidity! The presence of the Survivors was now known to the dragons, and while they
could not penetrate the massive rock, they did breath poisonous and deadly fiery fumes down the passageways and caverns, instantly
killing all inside.
How the egg survived none ever knew, but it was later found when the dragons abandoned the area.
It was thought that if the new hatchling could be swayed in the direction of good, then they could train an ally.
More
opposed this plan than agreed with it. The Light Elves, as the quickly became known as, quickly began to use their newly acquired
powers to impress on the young dragon, even while it was still in the shell, the ideas and theories they wanted it to know
and live by. When it did finally hatch, their exhausting efforts proved to be a success. The dragons element was water, though
some of its former ways (namely, a minimal amount of the darkness that was characteristic to all dragons) remained infused
in its mind, the young dragonet became a valuable ally. It was soon thought that if this could be done with one dragon, then
it could with others.
However, no one knew how to go about finding, let alone obtaining, another dragon egg. After
their first dragon, who they named Dremah, matured to a fighting state and learned all the Light Elves had to teach, they
implored him to help them steal another egg.
The idea was frowned upon by the great blue beast, yet he felt inclined to
please those whom he loved so much, his adopted parents. The dragon preformed as he was bid to do, and managed to bring back
not only one but four dragon eggs, one of each element, or so he claimed.
But the dragons had not forgotten the first
incident when one of their precious eggs was stolen by those untamable Survivors. A war was raged on the Haven. Dremah rose
to their protection, and while he fought valiantly, his life ended in defense of his home. All but a few were killed. Those
left of the Haven gathered the four eggs, which had again remained unharmed (a marvel that still no one could explain, except
that being of the dragon kind, the eggs were immune to such forces), and fled.
They knew that they were not safeanywhere.
The dragons would continue to hunt them until vengeance was satisfied. The Council of the Wise decided that the eggs must
be either destroyed or abandoned. They could bring only more danger and destruction left as is.
The eggs saviors could
not bear to part with them. They pleaded, and, eventually, were granted to store them in such a place and way that when the
time came where Light Elves were strong enough to oppose dragons, they could be retrieved and the same measures implored as
were used on poor Dremah.
After the Light Elves applied such preservation powers as they could to ensure that the eggs
would neither hatch nor be harmed, the small group traveled to the safest place they could think of, beneath Memintha Luar
itself. The most dreaded and dangerous enemy is the one who lives within the home.
After many months of travel, both
underground and above, they finally reached the fabled Great City of the dragons. They eggs, along with a set of instructions
as to the plans of the Elders and Light Elves, were stored comfortably in nests hidden hundreds of feet below ground in a
furtive room.
Regrettably, the eggs saviors relinquished themselves to the dragons mercury in hopes that they would cease
seeking out and terrorizing Havens. They were never heard of again. Records left in the Havens of this plan to one day defeat
the dragons of Hrunda were passed down by the Elders from one generation to the next. Even so, they eventually passed from
existence and were lost among the abandoned caverns of the Havens.
Two thousand years more, and such a time came into
being where a man was no longer welcomed on the Surface. The dragons only occupied a small portion of Hrunda, the rest was
wild and overgrown. Even so, dragon clans fiercely protected territories they claimed as their own. Nowhere was safe. It was
not uncommon for a person to never see daylight once in their entire lives.
The terror of dragons was scarce, as many
had not visited the Southern Range in hundreds of years. When one or two did venture among the mountains, enough Light Bearers
were usually present to drive them away, or, if the dragon was a small old one, kill it.
It wasnt until dragons decided
to nest again in the Ranges valleys that people turned back to the old legends and the old fear.
The
three races interbred, creating a new population special and unique in its own way. Decedents of the Light Elves became known
as Light Bearers. With the help of their abilities, people were able to further navigate and spread in wide regions underground.
The modern Light Bearers were stronger than their ancestors, some even dared to face dragons when they flew alone or in pairs.
Powerful as they were however, Light Bearers lost contact with many of the old ways. They could not use any of the other elements
nor could they improve their skills as easily as their ancestors. Strength came in generations, not during a single persons
lifespan. Even so, Light Bearers were highly regarded among the people and held a great status even with the Elders. Children
would dream and hope that someday they would discover that Elven blood ran through their veins and the Light Bearers would
seek them out. ((Ah, there's only 3 parts this time!))
Each Light Bearer carried a staff that symbolized his power;
for reasons unknown, only men became Bearers of Light. These staffs were metal, not wood, and contained at the top a crystal
or gem. The dwarven decedents were the Master Makers of these staffs and were thought to possess a minimal amount of power
all unique and their own. Each staff was different and specialized for its Bearer.
Some people whose ancestors where Elves
of elements also gained power in life. The women usually inherited Air or Fire; they became known as Healers. The men were
of Earth or Water, and they were the few outside of shepherds and Light Bearers dared brave the dreaded Surface. Explorers,
they were known as, and often explored or plotted dragon-safe trails through the wilderness, or freed slaves from Penal Colonies.
A social hierarchy developed among the people. At the top were the Elders, then the Light Bearers, the Healers and Explorers,
then the direct decedents of Elves, Dwarves, and Humans, finally came those who had mixed ancestry. Most times the freed slaves
worked as servants, maids, and drudges.
These Humans were not the first in Hrunda? a colony came hundreds of years
before. These original Humans first encountered the dragons when the species also first appeared in the land. Young Humans
sometimes bonded mentally with newly hatched dragons, and these dragons depended on their human partners to survive. Then,
when a virus sweeps through the land, the entire colony population is destroyed. The dragons learned to survive alone. The
plague that is mentioned in the intro and later kills most of the dragon population is a strain of this same virus. yada yada
yada Okay, now we get to the part where, as Im sure youve all guessed by now, our characters discover the eggs. Lets say that
when Dremah captured these eggs, by some draconic magic he altered them so that they depend on Humans (or Elves, Dwarves,
ect.) and become mentally attached to them when they hatch. Now, the room where they were stored was built by the Original
Humans, Mekkah finds a secret entrance to a room that has all sorts of artifacts and information on the Originals and their
way of life, and, possibly a secret on how to destroy the dragons rule over Hrunda forever.
|
