Imagine Dragoons

There weren't always dragons in the Valley of Ataúd. In fact, when refugees from the recently defunct Sol system arrived on Draco Primus it'd been more or less a barren wasteland bereft of all but the hardiest flora and scantiest fauna. It took several centuries of laborious effort to finally terraform the landscape by employing aqueducts that redirected myriad streams through the mountains from a few faroff rivers. It was also how long it took for excavations beneath the planet's surface to yield the first vestiges of a bygone civilization that far outpaced humanity's plodding progress through the cosmos.

According to archaeologists and expert linguists, there'd long ago dwelt an underground race of reptilians whom called themselves Dräägz. Fossils and ruins were discovered on two separate continents, thousands of leagues apart. Incidentally, either expedition was being led by one of two twin brothers, Ereboz & Eroz.

Ereboz shone a light against the thick charcoal fog that seemed to emanate from a subterranean volcano. After losing sight of his crew, he pressed on and passed under an arch made of petrified bones. Within an echoing chamber that smelled pleasantly like camphor, Ereboz came across a gold beveled chest. It wasn't locked. A blue diadem awaited that attached itself to Ereboz' forehead before he could understand what had happened. Instantly, it told him:

"Glory be to thee who hast recovered the Royal Gemstone of Bel-Katran. Thou art become Lord of Dräägz!"

And so ever since, Ereboz was covered in scaly outer armor alongside a horned helmet. He then went off and uncovered a large cache of huge eggs from which he hatched a legion of dreadful Drakes. Those guarded the gates to the cavernous city of Bel-Katran. A number of Ereboz' colleagues made the mistake of following him there, where they met the awful fate of getting eaten alive by pitiless lizards.

Around the same time, Ereboz' twin brother Eroz was winding through another obscure corner of Ataúd and he too was coincidentally separated from the main scouting party. He passed a colonnade made of marble and walked amid a field covered in grey ash that felt fresh to the touch. At the end of a spacious hallway, Eroz found a chest lacquered with sterling. When he opened it, a bright red diadem installed itself as a third eye between both the others. Immediately, it informed him:

"Blessed be ye who hast recovered the Royal Gemstone of Dorn-Atrax. Thou art become Lord of Dräägz!"

Henceforth, Eroz was covered in plated body armor, including a frilled headdress. He flew away swiftly and located a cesspool that encircled the hidden domain of Dorn-Atrax as a moat hedges its castle. Some foolhardy explorers did make their way here, but instead of being eaten as we might expect, Dorn-Atrax spliced their genes with the DNA of Dräägz. Thus arose a new race of lizard-men that readily challenged the human cities overhead.

About one year later a third set of ruins was stumbled upon by a young woman named Nyx. Nyx had gone spelunking alone in the glassy grottoes of Ataúd, where she unearthed a ceramic vase embossed with pearls. It turned out to contain an emerald diadem, which affixed itself to her brow and communicated clearly:

"Lo unto thee who hath recovered the Royal Gemstone of Renna-Ür. Thou art become Matriarch of Dräägz. Know then that thy sons, Bel-Katran and Dorn-Atrax have already woken and are preparing for full scale war as they always did before. 'twas I who originally sealed them away or else they would destroy any chance for life to thrive on this orb. We must not permit them to run rampant once more."

Apparently though, Nyx wasn't as susceptible to suggestion as Ereboz & Eroz had proven to be. She decided to approach the authorities with this information. Unfortunately for her, they distrusted her motives due to the jewel's keen green sheen. Nyx was arrested and subsequently imprisoned in a fortress dubbed Æther. It wasn't until loud rumbles of unrest from below were heard that those in power started taking Nyx seriously. An inquest was formed to investigate whatever leads she had to offer. Quæstor Doloz questioned her:

"How did you know that two reptant kingdoms currently threaten our fledgling colonies? Are you connected to them somehow?"

Nyx answered honestly:

"Yes, I am telepathically linked to Bel-Katran and Dorn-Atrax via the diadems we each wear. Believe me when I tell you that either of them has sufficient forces at his disposal to rock the very foundations of our numerous settlements. You simply don't have the manpower to stave off these advancements indefinitely."

"Is that so? Then how would you suggest we should proceed regarding this looming menace?"

"You ought to trust me enough to restore my right of habeas corpus. I know of a place where I can summon the aid that we humans will rapidly require when confronted by those formidable Dräägz."

"And why should we let you go? For all we know you're probably in league with these other Dragoons. I can put you up on charges for treason!"

Nyx laughed and revealed:

"Quæstor Doloz—I'm here of my own accord because I thought you might want my assistance. Make no mistake though, I can mosey out of this prison whenever I feel it's necessary and there's absolutely nothing you or your superiors can do about it. For just as much as I'm Nyx, I'm Renna-Ür, Matriarch of Dräägz incarnate!"

Saying that, she used psychokinesis to unholster his sidearm and dismantled it before his disbelieving eyes. He stammered, then staggered away flustered. He returned the next day with a cadre of heavily armed Gardz that were to escort Nyx wherever she went. All four were neither male nor female as was typical to their station. They were namely: Anankh, Kronoz, Phanz, and Pontuz.

A mission to parts unknown had been sanctioned by the High Council. Nyx's team spent the rest of that day making adequate preparations and gathering provisions for a long journey. Yet with the clock ticking against an inevitable invasion, they couldn't get on the road fast enough.

To Be Continued...

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