A Bloom in the Darkness

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. It wasn’t always this way, a world filled with despair. There was once joy, love, peace and abundance. That was all before the dark one, Narek the most deceitful and conniving of dragon kind filled the minds of men with filth, death and violence. After he dredged up all of that hate and vitriol that was in us all along, he set about to change every man, woman and child into something different. Something twisted, something worse than what he had already done to humanity. He wanted to take that spark of light that was instilled inside us at the dawn of creation, and instill something of his own. Something writhing, something dark, something twisted. A mockery or a caricature of what humanity is meant to be, what we are designed to be, what we are destined to be…

“Grandfather, where did you hear these old tales? Of the old world?” Gerard whispered in wonder at the tale his grandfather was weaving. “Gerard, your old grandfather is a scholar at the university and has been for some time!” Of all of Gerard's family he especially loved his grandfather who always had a look of whimsy or a twinkle of creativity behind his kind and weathered face, framed behind a well kept graying beard and a large floppy hat that always seemed to get in grandfather's face. He complained and cursed the hat but in all of Gerard's fourteen years he had never seen his grandfather remove the hat unless it was time to sleep or rest. “Grandfather, may I go with you to the University tomorrow?” Gerard pleaded with a desire and longing that he had felt for some time. He desired to learn what he could of the histories held in the University's grand library! One of the last vast reserves of knowledge, true knowledge; not the drivel that is peddled by the oligarchs of the north, or the autarches in the south. Novourus is one of the last free kingdoms with power able to withstand the might of the worshippers of Reakn lord of the amber mountains of the south.

“My boy, are you paying attention to the words I speak?” Grandfather chastised. “I’m sorry grandfather, I was thinking about the world and the stories you’ve told me over the years.” Gerard complained contritely. “I thank you for remembering what I have taught you fondly, but we must prepare for tomorrow and then get ready for bed. Your mother would think poorly of me if I let you have free reign to do as you please!” Grandfather chuckled morosely. “ Yes, grandfather.” Gerard whispered. As grandfather and grandson picked up and cleaned the dishes that were used for supper, Gerard couldn’t help but reflect on his mother. She had been a magus in service to the Grand Duke Alexander. From all that Gerard had gleaned from grandfather she had died when Gerard was three years old. She died stopping the push of the followers of Reakn and the Twilight dominion at the mountain passes along the border in the south. Gerard submerged a plate in the washtub to soak and could sense grandfather's gaze off to the side. Gerard redirected his gaze towards his grandfather. “Yes?” Gerard raised his eyebrow quizzically. “I’m just proud of the fine young man you have become.” Grandfather whispered with tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He gestured towards my bedroom as he could see Gerard's growing weariness. “Go to sleep my boy, tomorrow you will come with me and we will see if you truly want to be a historian!” He said in his odd lilting way, with a twinkle in his eyes.

Gerard made his way to his room which was mostly filled with a decent sized bed and a shelf filled with a dozen books on the history of Novourus, and many of the surrounding lands. As he laid his head upon the pillow a deep soul sucking weariness overcame him. He could sense that if he went with his grandfather tomorrow his life would change in a dramatic fashion. One of the last things to pass through Gerard's mind was at first a speck, which grew in size rapidly. As the speck drew closer he could make out wings heaving mightily as they kept a beast aloft. The next attribute he could make out were a set of massive horns rearing back over its elongated skull. It drew nearer still and it was all he could do to not soil himself from the shear terror this beast brought on. Its scaly body was a burnished gold which wildly threw the last rays of sunlight all throughout his mind's eye. It was at this moment Gerard felt this massive predator's orange slitted eye upon him. It dove toward him and all that ran through his mind was this, ‘My grandfather knew of them.’ with that last thought the beast swallowed him whole.

Gerard awoke with a jerk, and saw that the first hint of daylight was making it through his window. “ Time for a new day” Gerard whispered to himself. He avowed himself to find what he could about the mysterious dragon lords and how his grandfather knew so much about them.