The Forgotten Order

Prologue:

There weren't always dragons in the Valley... Tallus thought as he headed to the precipice of the cliffs that overlooked the valley and beyond. This was a normal place for him to go to contemplate such thoughts. This day was different though. There had been rumors from the huntsman in the valley. Very unsettling rumors. The huntsmen were saying that the woods east of the valley were empty, devoid of all life.

Tallus had to see for himself.

Since he could remember those woods had always been plentiful, but as he climbed to the precipice, he noted a strange smell in the wind. One that foretold death and decay. As his keen eyes searched the distance to view the woods to the east, he noticed something. Not only was there a smell of death and decay, but the woods seemed to have a strange mist through them. Not like a normal mist, but darker like a deep red mist.

The valley was always a peaceful place. There were land disputes here and there, but never anything major. There had been peace for the most of 2000 years. This, though, reminded him of the old stories. The ones long past that are only found in ancient writings. Most of these are only found in the Library of Vegdas. Traveling to the Library of Vegdas was not an easy journey. The forgotten city lay a burnt ruin with only the library standing tall preserved by some magical spell.

The people of Vegdas, when they were alive, were magical folks like elves, dwarves, and even necromancers. Magic did still exist, as well as magical creatures. Tallus was an example of that since he was half-elf. You rarely saw them, and the only magic you saw was the Magi performances. They put on fantastical performances for cities and villages. Fire blooming from the dirt, lights shining in the sky, and illusions that would drive the mind to wonder. Now and then you would hear a story here or there of the magical kind assisting others, but for the most part, they kept to themselves. If he was going to go on this journey, he would have to bring the crew together again.

His first stop was to find Jerba in Tarindon, a small village close to the eastern forest that produced mostly wheat. It was a very simple town. The folk would always come together at harvest time to help each other. The huts were thatch, their lives were simple and humble. As Tallus turned to the bend that led to the village, he did not see people in the fields. The fields were barren, rotted away like they'd been left unattended for years. The putrid smell of rotten flesh and food came on the wind, and he started to run.

As the village came into view, the site was terrifying. Huts seem to be burnt and decaying. The bodies of the villagers were all twisted and gnarled into some horrific state. What was it that could have caused this? He had never seen such a thing. Once again, those stories tickled the back of his brain, something he had read before once again floating to the surface and then fading away. Tallus searched desperately for Jerba. Thankfully, he did not seem to be among the twisted remains. Now, in almost a panic he had to find Frayn.

Frayn, Jerba's sister, lived a couple of towns over. If Jerba was not here, then that's where he would have gone. Stopping in the next town of T'nni only to grab his travel packs and his mare he let the town guard know what he had seen in Vegdas and set off for Grallin

Frayn and Jerba were swords for hire when he had met them. Traveling with a clan of merchants at the time. Jerba always looked up to Frayn. Not surprising since Frayn was Jerba's older sister and had taught him to fight with dual blades. They were usually never seen apart for too long. Jerba had gone to Terandon to assist in dispatching the bandits that had been harassing the village.

Riding hard now to the city of Grallin, passing people just conducting their daily lives like nothing was happening. They didn't know what had befallen Vegdas of course. Not even the town guard at T'nni knew. Arriving at the City Gates the guards waved him through, used to the messengers heading to and from the Fort that was the center of Grallin. Instead of heading directly to the fort though, Tallus made a beeline to The Drunken Stead, a tavern renowned for serving sell swords.

As he entered the tavern, he saw in the usual corner Frayn and Jerba were laughing and drinking. As he rushed up to the table Frayn's piercing green eyes looked up well into her drink.

"Whoa, whoa! What's the hurry old friend? It's good to see you! Sit down and dri-"

"- We don't have time for all of that!" Tallus stated, interrupting her.

"Jerba how long ago did you leave Trindon?" Pondering far too long on this Tallus never let him answer.

"-It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. What does matter is the town looks like it has been decaying for years."

"That's impossible. I just left two weeks ago after clearing out the bandits." Jerba slurred out.

"Well, it isn't impossible because I just came from there, and the village itself looks like it has been decaying for years. The fields look like they haven't been tended for years. The state of the people there, all twisted, tormented sculptures of what they used to be." As Tallus described the scene Frayn and Jerba started to sober immediately. It was one of their talents. One could say. They could be drunk as an old codger, but when the need arose, they would sober in seconds.

"What? What are you talking about? That's insane. Nothing we know can do anything like that." Frayn and Jerba spoke almost in unison.

"I know but it's true and I saw it not two days prior, and along the forest was this dark red mist. Something has arrived at this valley. I believe I may know what is happening, but if I am correct then we have to gather the others and head to the Library in Vegdas." When Tallus spoke like this the others always listened. Tallus was a half-elf after all that had lived longer than most of them. Gathering their belongings all three of them left the tavern. Tallus, pointing at Frayn and Jerba,

"you two know where to find Drivak. I will go and speak with Hinarash if she or her people let me. Meet back in Dravish in six days. You know where."

Traveling fast wasn't a problem for Frayn and Jerba. They were used to that. The problem was trying to find Drivak. He was usually in some random merchant camp selling his blacksmith skills or in some forgotten cave system collecting ores. At the end of day one, they came upon the first camp where he mostly liked to stay. Mainly because of how thick the coin stacks were there. Traveling merchants and sell-swords mostly. They are a rich group. The camp tents were vibrant with color and scents. Nobles mostly walk the camp perusing the wares at each tent. The sound of money and people negotiating prices dominated the atmosphere. On this day though, they were not so lucky. Finding the camp master's tent was simple enough. It was always positioned at the center, and it was always the gaudiest. Upon entering the tent, if one could call it that, Jerba and Frayn found the camp master Gerra thumbing through a stack of papers. Waiting for him to look up Frayn asked,

"have you seen Drivak around lately?"

"Oh sha dat damn dwarf. Say somtin bout findin' a new vein of Tinrium or some crap. Say he'd be gone fer 5 days. Well, here it is 6 days an not a sight of him. If yous find him, tell'm to get his arse back here. We have orders pilin up and money is being lost." It was no wonder the camp master was upset. Drivak, being one of the few dwarven blacksmiths that still dealt with humans, was in high demand and brought a lot of customers with large coin purses into the camp.

"Well....do you have any clue to the direction or location of this new vein?" Trying to pull information out of Gerra was about as easy as grabbing the tail of a Talani and not dying.

"I belif he spoke about going west to the Tryn mountains." With that, the Gerra went back to his documents. This was always his way of informing you the conversation was over. Staying for the night Frayn and Jerba stayed around some of the other sell swords they knew. Buying ale hoping to loosen some tongues and hear rumors from different areas. Nothing, though, came close to what Tallus had told them. Heading out just before dawn, they started the trek to the one mineshaft. They knew he had to be in.

Tallus on the other hand had it a little easier. He knew where Hinarash would be. That wasn't the problem though. The problem would be convincing her to join another of their expeditions. Yes, they were all good friends and companions. Yes, they had been on many expeditions together and survived. The last one, though, cost Hinarash too much. As it ended in the death of her beloved Kreesh. Hinarash was a magical being called a Belvin. At birth, Belvin created a bond with a Talani who was born at the same moment. They grow, learn to fight, and survive together. Their bond is incomparable. Because of that, they made a ferocious duo to fight against. If one of them should die though, then the other will seclude themselves away to grieve. During this grieving period, another Belvin helps care for the one left alive. They also memorialize the memory of the lost through tattooing. Once this ceremony is complete. The Belvin may or may not take on another Talani.

Hinarash had sequestered herself away to the north in the woods of Salhan. Home to a few others Belvin. They would be tending to her, helping her grieve by tattooing the memories onto her skin. When Tallus walked into the forest, he was not greeted kindly. They all knew who he was, and they all knew that he was the one that convinced Hinarash to go on that cursed exploration. Slowly and carefully walking past all the glaring Belvin and their screeching Talani, Tallus made his way to Hinarash's tent made of hides and branches. Hinarash glared at him as he entered.

"No," she said. "Whatever it is, you have come here for. The answer is no. If it's forgiveness, no. If it's to go on one of your accursed expeditions, no. I will not be part of that life anymore." Tallus cringed inwardly with that. He could still see the pain in her eyes. They had once been fast friends. Hinarash had saved his life a century ago, Belvin living about as long as half-elves do to the magic that courses through their veins.

"Hinarash I.."

"NO TALLUS! NOT THIS TIME! NOT AGAIN!" She broke down sobbing. " I can't have the pain of my soul being ripped away again. I have taken on a new bond, and I will protect it over everything. Even if that means denying you." Placing his hand over his heart with pain and understanding in his eyes he could not deny her this. Slowly nodding, he turned, walked out, and started heading towards Dravish.

"Where is this mine?" Jerba grunted out in his typical annoyed way. "I know that thing is right around here! Drivak brought me here when he first discovered it. Said we could have a grand time drinking that dwarven ale he has and clearing it of goblins!" Jerba stated frustratedly. They had been traveling for 2 days since they left the merchant camp and still had at least a two-day ride to Dravish. They seemed to just be getting more and more lost as time went on.

Thud, thud, thud. It was like someone was stomping the ground but from under them. THUD, THUD, THUD. Getting louder and more persistent. The ground now rumbling. Realization struck Jerba first. Yelling at the top of his lungs,

"RUUUN!" Too late though the ground gave way beneath them, and they fell into the darkness below.

"What was that? Why did the ground just fall away like that?" Frayn spoke after pulling herself out of the dirt and roots.

"I've heard Drivak speak of sink holes but those…" Her words trailed off as her eyes started to focus and get accustomed to the darker atmosphere of the cavern they had just been unceremoniously dumped into. The cavern was immense. They had luckily landed on what seemed to be a natural bridge that ran from one wall to the other. The thumping they heard earlier traveling down one of the shafts connected to the natural bridge. Looking at each other the two exchanged confused looks. With no obvious direction. They started heading towards the thump, thump, thump. The tunnel was on a slight downhill slope. Straight as an arrow would fly out of Tallus' bow, and the floor…smooth? Why was the floor smooth in a cave system? As they drew closer to the sound there was this smell of burning oil. They finally caught up to whatever monstrosity was making the ground shake and the air smell of burnt oil. Jerba now seeing what the thing was shook his head back and forth and let out an exasperated sigh. Frayn, confused, whispered,

"What is it?" Rubbing the back of his neck Jerba replied through another sigh

"Drivak." Sure enough, as they walked closer, they saw the short, sturdy outline of what could only be, a dwarf.

"Drivak! What in Degran have you gone and contrived up this time friend? We were above the cavern back there and when you passed under us the ground collapsed thankfully though we landed on that natural bridge a bit back." Turning as he landed Drivak's face, which always seemed to be permanently angry, gave way to a huge grin.

"Oh, this? It's a new mining transport I have come up with. It's faster than a mine cart and doesn't require a rail system to be built. Smooths the ground as it travels, and it has drills up here. It also has a hopper that separates and collects ore. Spitting out the useless material. “So, what brings you to my neck of the mountains? " A laugh rumbling from the dwarf. Conveniently pretending to have not heard the part about having nearly killed them. Drivak was always coming up with new contraptions, so it was no surprise at all that this was something he had contrived.

"Nothing good I'm afraid. I will let Tallus fill you in, because we don't even really understand it, but he needs us to meet him in Dravish in three days." Jerba stated shaking the old dwarves' rough hand. Drivak, a little sparkle gleaming from his jet-black eyes,

"Another expedition huh? I hope this one turns out better than the last. Well, climb on board! We can travel to the exit on this thing. Did I mention it can carry up to 4 people?" Hesitantly, Frayn and Jerba climbed onto the terrifying thing, Drivak pointing at some seats and restraints, laughing again.

"Might want to use those restraints. Wouldn't want you falling off and getting caught in the tracks!" As they started towards the exit Jerba and Frayn held on for dear life. After what seemed like an eternity of suffering the dwarf finally brought the machine to a halt.

"The exits right up ahead. We'll have to walk from here. Don't want anyone stealing this beauty!" Exiting the shaft Frayn noticed some marking scrawled around the entrance that reminded her of the scrawls Hinarash would create to hide their camps and confuse enemies. Turning to Drivak questioningly, "I thought you hated using magic." "I do, but the mountains here are full of nasties, and I just wanted some peace for a bit." After gathering only the necessities for the journey Jerba, Frayn, and Drivak headed in the direction of Dravish. An almost ominous silence hovered over them. The three of them remembered the last expedition and the toll it took. Even though it turned out well, many lives were lost, and hearts shattered.