S
Saint Anne
Guest
Original poster
There was once a time when dragons ruled the skys and seas. Humans, and other legged creatures, ruled the lands, at times braving the shore lines and even making pacts with the lizards of the air. There has always been a healthy fear between the races-- dragons of humans and they of dragons. Humans were known for their science and thirst for knowledge. Dragons for their cunning and magic. They were also known for their treasure-- their scales were made of precious metals, many used in the humans technology. Peace was never truly prevalent-- as humans hunted dragons for resources, and dragons downed human technology in their curiosity. Their science was one of the few things capable of snuffing out the immortal flames of a Dragons soul.
On rare occasion, however, a dragon was known to form a bond with humans-- allowing the humans to ride them and have access to their noble power, in exchange for something dear to them. In idea, the trade would be mutually beneficial. In practice...
The King of Toridir was one of these humans. Granted, he was not always a King. He began his life as a sailor, one brave and fool hearty enough to bear his ship into water that at the time had been uncharted. It seemed only natural for a man of adventure to happen upon a dragon as curious as he was. A dragon, a silver beast of the sky, wanted to experience what it was to be human. To be Mortal.
And pact was made-- to give the sailor what he wanted most-- what most men want most; Power. In exchange, the dragon gave up her immortality, though retained her form and craft. The terms of their agreement were simple-- She would ensure the man became King, leader of a mighty nation on the coast, near to the sea and sky, and she and her kin would be protected from those foolish enough to hunt dragons.
But, alas, human greed is a strong thing. The man became King, and named his nation after his Father-- Torid. From there, the duo's truce turned sour. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, as the Silver serpent came to learn. Being King satisfied the man only for a time. Soon, he wanted more. He married-- and had children. He took over neighboring kingdoms. And still, it was not enough. After all, his kingdom was inhabited by countless beasts of unimaginable wealth.
The Hunts began only a short time after the King's first child was born. Dragons were slain in their sleep, their hoard collected and brought to the capital which soon became known as the Red-Gold City. Rivers of Dragons blood flowed over the land, and the Silver beast of the sky wished she had never made her pact.
The King called upon her, when nearly all other dragons had been killed. He mocked her, showing off his own bloody hoard, stained by the blood of her children and siblings. In her grief, the silver beast cursed the King and his family. To throw away and soil the pact they had made with such audacity had been at one time unthinkable. Now, it was merely unbearable. She forfeited her life to the Gods, crying out for vengeance against the ruthless King. As her life faded, her curse found a home in the belly of the Queen, where the King's second child grew.
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Nearly two decades later, the King remained as ambitious as ever. With no dragons left in his own kingdom, resources of metal were increasingly hard to come upon. The burrows of the dragons had been mined clean and empty-- and to the South, West, and East was nothing but Sea. There was nowhere to turn but North.
The blood of the Dragons has poisoned the land and Sea. No fish lived near the coast-- and no crops bore enough food to feed the people. While University and sea-fairing trade was available, there were only few countries across the ocean still willing to do business with the tyrant King.
In his War Room he sat, mulling over maps with his eldest Child. His daughter. Their situation had become dire. They had few options left.
"And you think trusting your brother with this task is wise?" The king asked, his silver hair pulled back in a long braid. His beard was trimmed short and neatly, his blue eyes trying to burn a hole in the map he stared at. Small flags littered the table, and cubes of gold and silver marked where troops stood guard.
The King had isolated his son from birth, disgusted and ashamed. The vile silver beast had cursed the boy to forfeit his humanity nightly. As such, the King spared him not even a second glance. He remained hidden at night below the white washed walls of the castle, and during the day trained with the men to become general for his sister when the time came for the crown to be passed on. He had only spared the child's life by request of his wife, who offered her guidance-- that he might still one day prove of use. Perhaps, that day was fast approaching.
On rare occasion, however, a dragon was known to form a bond with humans-- allowing the humans to ride them and have access to their noble power, in exchange for something dear to them. In idea, the trade would be mutually beneficial. In practice...
The King of Toridir was one of these humans. Granted, he was not always a King. He began his life as a sailor, one brave and fool hearty enough to bear his ship into water that at the time had been uncharted. It seemed only natural for a man of adventure to happen upon a dragon as curious as he was. A dragon, a silver beast of the sky, wanted to experience what it was to be human. To be Mortal.
And pact was made-- to give the sailor what he wanted most-- what most men want most; Power. In exchange, the dragon gave up her immortality, though retained her form and craft. The terms of their agreement were simple-- She would ensure the man became King, leader of a mighty nation on the coast, near to the sea and sky, and she and her kin would be protected from those foolish enough to hunt dragons.
But, alas, human greed is a strong thing. The man became King, and named his nation after his Father-- Torid. From there, the duo's truce turned sour. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, as the Silver serpent came to learn. Being King satisfied the man only for a time. Soon, he wanted more. He married-- and had children. He took over neighboring kingdoms. And still, it was not enough. After all, his kingdom was inhabited by countless beasts of unimaginable wealth.
The Hunts began only a short time after the King's first child was born. Dragons were slain in their sleep, their hoard collected and brought to the capital which soon became known as the Red-Gold City. Rivers of Dragons blood flowed over the land, and the Silver beast of the sky wished she had never made her pact.
The King called upon her, when nearly all other dragons had been killed. He mocked her, showing off his own bloody hoard, stained by the blood of her children and siblings. In her grief, the silver beast cursed the King and his family. To throw away and soil the pact they had made with such audacity had been at one time unthinkable. Now, it was merely unbearable. She forfeited her life to the Gods, crying out for vengeance against the ruthless King. As her life faded, her curse found a home in the belly of the Queen, where the King's second child grew.
----------------------------
Nearly two decades later, the King remained as ambitious as ever. With no dragons left in his own kingdom, resources of metal were increasingly hard to come upon. The burrows of the dragons had been mined clean and empty-- and to the South, West, and East was nothing but Sea. There was nowhere to turn but North.
The blood of the Dragons has poisoned the land and Sea. No fish lived near the coast-- and no crops bore enough food to feed the people. While University and sea-fairing trade was available, there were only few countries across the ocean still willing to do business with the tyrant King.
In his War Room he sat, mulling over maps with his eldest Child. His daughter. Their situation had become dire. They had few options left.
"And you think trusting your brother with this task is wise?" The king asked, his silver hair pulled back in a long braid. His beard was trimmed short and neatly, his blue eyes trying to burn a hole in the map he stared at. Small flags littered the table, and cubes of gold and silver marked where troops stood guard.
The King had isolated his son from birth, disgusted and ashamed. The vile silver beast had cursed the boy to forfeit his humanity nightly. As such, the King spared him not even a second glance. He remained hidden at night below the white washed walls of the castle, and during the day trained with the men to become general for his sister when the time came for the crown to be passed on. He had only spared the child's life by request of his wife, who offered her guidance-- that he might still one day prove of use. Perhaps, that day was fast approaching.