Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Hail-Fire War (Open to Dragons)

Tatsuya, the father of dragons foretold that a ancient egg, a meteor from the sky would one day fall upon the Dagger Gates. The Aethr Stone, said to bring ash to the dragons of hail and fire. A battle fought that would bring gods to their knees and bring about the end of the Draconic Era.... And now that the Aethr Stone has fallen, the Great War of hail fire is to begin. Some will fight to gain lordship over the rest of the dragons, and some will fight to oppose, but as it was long ago foretold by Tatsuya and the first dragons.... This war will leave no survivors.

Athens was the only person who lived this far north, he himself had the powers of blue fire, and had lived for a few thousand years. Athens hut was built into the icy forest on the coast of the north most Isles of Ember. As dragons only lived for about nine hundred years or so, the scaled goliaths came to him all the time for advice and even medical treatment. Athens lived alone, a shadow of once was, his people used to ride the dragons as friends but now he is the last of his kind. How an immortal race went extinct is just another mystery Athens kept to himself... One of them being that Humans, Elves, and Druids littered the lands of the south but none came this far north, EVER!

"Your saying that this fallen stone is a bad omen?" Argyle was a fire Drake from West Dagger. The island was very large with two mountains, the bigger of the two was known as West Dagger. It was where the fire breathing dragons lived, and in the smaller mountain, easy dagger, was where the ice fangs dwelled. These two different dragons came in all colors and sizes, but the fire drakes didn't hate the ice fangs. Dragons weren't racist, that would be barbaric.

"Not only a bad omen... The end of all of us," Argyle sighed as Athens nodded. Argyle was probably the dragon that visited the immortal the most. He was so fascinated with the history this man could tell, but now he was sad. His whole world was about to end along with his people's world. "There will be a lot of blood staining the Dagger Gates," Argyle opened his enormous wings, "as always I enjoy our chats Brother Athens... But I must be going." Argyle had a lot to think about, only about four hundred years old, how could the war of judgement already be upon them???

((OOC: Athens is the only not Dragon allowed in this story, if you have a question or were badly wounded in a fight go to him. For everything else deal with dragons! HAVE FUN IN THE HAIL FIRE WAR!!!))

Nolithar was a very wise dragon who had been roaming the world for a total of around seven hundred years. Nolithar was neither an ice dragon or a fire dragon, no, he was one of the long extinct earth dragons. His draconic abilities let him shift the earth in truly amazing ways. Earth dragons had went extinct after a brawl with those of ice, showing who was truly superior. Nobody knows why the sea dragons disappeared but somy speculate they still live in the ocean's depths.

Nolithar had a hide of deep pine green scales and blue eyes. His horns curved back on top of his rigid head and two sets came from his back next to his wings. He had large leathery wings that he seldom had reason to use. But today he was going to visit the ancient, he would see Athens. He needed guidance.

What the dragon wanted most was to preserve the existence of the other breeds. He knew if he could find another earth dragon hiding away who happened to be female he could repopulate, but if the apocalypse took place that couldn't really happen could it? Nolithar wanted nothing more than for dragons to persevere and so he would do anything to halt the impending doom.

"Welcome," Athens said, it had been a day or two since he had met with Argyle and already news of the impending doom had spread across the land. "Not many dragons venture south of the island, you are one of a select few to seek wonders far from the islands near by... And what did you discover my Draconic friend?" Athens sipped his tea as he sat before his hit on the shore of Dagger Gate, "did you find that the world has no respect for power they can't control??"

It was very rare to see an Earth dragon, they were all but extinct now but their origin was a strange one. They did not originally hatch from any of the thirteen eggs of origin, they were molded by time and faded with it just as easily. Earth Dragons were once all fire dragons, but instead of taking to the sky's and breathing fire building their strength, earth dragons lounged all day in the magma chambers of West Dagger. Born from laziness the magma did give them new power, earth manipulation. But with that also came the throat shattering. Any fire dragon who burned their lives away in the magma chambers couldn't use fire breath anymore, and their wings were less powerful so they could only fly a few miles before needing rest. This caused most earth dragons to want to leave the Dagger Gates, hated by most dragons, most set out to find new homes but couldn't make the flight too far off shore before falling into the sea and drounding. This failed migration was call the Summer of Sinking Stones....

"So your ancestors were not only some of the few to get off the island during the summer of sinking stones, but you choose to return now, just as the Aethr Stone spells doom for the Draconic race... Why?" If it was love he was seeking, a few earth dragons did still dwell in the magma chambers beneath West Dagger, living out their lazy lives away from the majority of the drakes. Some had lived beneath that volcano so long that their wings literally faded away over time.

Argyle however had approached the Council of Gods, an elite order of dragons who lived in between the two dagger gates in a place known as the Valley of Temples. Here they decided new laws and followed threw with executions of other dragons. It was lead by four dragons, two fire dragons, an ice dragon, and an earth dragon. These were not exactly the strongest dragons in the world, but they were the strongest amount those who wanted a bigger part in their communities fate.

Argyle dropped out of the sky and approached these scaled strong wings. They were all between 400 and 700 years old, and ever since the great dragon king passed on from this world almost ten thousand years ago, the Coucil of Gods has ruled in his stead. "I'm telling you, I have spoken to Athens," Argyle began. "The fire-born believes that this meteor is the Aethr Stone from Dragon King Tatsuya's foretellings!" Fire flared in his nostrils as he looked around at the four council members. Bryn Mawr the Old Flame of 692, Kimballo the Phoenix Eatter of 431, Renchill the Red Blizzard of 477, and Xxesco the Wingless of 581... Argyle had to get his point across and see what the council thinks of it all. "Could there be some solution to Stop our extinction???" And to Argyle's surprised they all answered differently.

Bryn Mawr, "If this is the stone Father Tats spoke of then we are doomed, there is no fighting out fate..."

Kimballo, "Don't listen to this dried up scale, nothing will ever harm our race, we are gods after all!"

Renchill, "just like a young male dragon to be ignorant Kimba, take it from me Argyle. If we send some drakes to the first temples on the north coast of the island we should be able to find a solution."

Xxesco, "don't listen to her, or the fire fangs... Just drop it in the sea and be done with it..."

Argyle sighed, maybe he could break this four way tie. Accept our fate, ignore it, study it, or drop it in the sea and hope it doesn't cause problems... The council was usually two sided and the last thought was the deciding vote but here, this, it was odd. Was their society beginning to fall apart already???

Nolithar merely laughed and ahook his horned head. "I am here to help. What other reason would I have to be here? I wish to protect the existence of dragons." Nolithar announced rather boldly and confidently. He knew most dragons would only make jokes about his breed and most likely not accept help.

But he couldn't let that stop him. "Have you considered breaking open the meteor to find out what it consists of?" Questioned the dragon as he curled his thick tail around his bulky green body. It was an odd question but with his powers it might be possible and it might lead to new discoveries that could save the dragon race.

Athens shook his head, "Berwyn is the name of the dragon to first discover the Aethr Stone after it fell, when he approached it he swore he could feel himself getting stronger." Athens took a sip from a fat ol' bottle and continued, "he roared to alert his brother Winthwer what he had found, but as soon as Berwyn touched the Meteor his mind go, he killed his own brother... When he was captured he was spouting something about the touch of wisdom." The Aethr stone cause a surge of power in dragon within a mile radius, but this radius was growing slowly. Every fire would be twice as big, ice would be twice as cold, earth abilities, twice as strong. But any drake to touch the stone itself would instantly go mad, have an uncontrollable need to protect the stone and have all the power for themselves. "The Draconic race is a stubborn one, the dragons will either ignore it or be to curious to see it for themselves... It's a sick joke the universe is playing at..."

The Coucil told Argyle of Berwyn around the same time Nolithar was finding out about him. "An Ice Drake captured?" When a dragon disobeyed one of the three dragon laws, they were sentenced to a hundred years in the Cold Cages, a freezing cold prison on the east side of the giant northern island. They were built by dragons to hold dragon, the bottom of the cages were in a salty bay build of hard stone, cold steel, and fire clay. Meaning no dragon, no matter what race, could escape. Argyle took to the skies and headed there, it was time to visit the Cold Cages, "I think I'll have a world with this Berwyn myself... See why he murdered his own brother, and see what he felt when he touch the meteor..." And with that Argyle was beating his wings against the air headed towards the far side of East Dagger. "Never thought I'd willingly go to the Cold Cages."

1. No Dragon may ever kill another dragon unless you are fighting honorably in single combat.

2. No Dragon under the age of fifty may be challenged to single combat, nor may they challenge others to single combat.

3. If you leave the Dagger Gates, you may never return. You have dishonored your kind and that shall never be forgotten.

The wind was roaring in his ears as Quetzal flew at top speed to the Cold Cages, the news of Berwyn's crime spread like wild fire all across the Dagger Gates, and once it reached him he just had to confirm it himself. Quetzal's mastery over flight was unmatched by any Dragon so it took him no time at all to reach the prison, even from high in the sky Quetzal could make out the shapes and various materials of the cages that made it up, strong and sturdy, capable of keeping even the fiercest of Dragons ensnared. The guards stationed at the entrance gave him no trouble, visitors were allowed in the prison and they figured letting two disgraced Dragons converse wouldn't cause any problems, and so he entered. The cages were all occupied with various Dragons, Fire, Ice, and Earth Drakes alike, just left there to wallow in their shame. He too had experienced soul crushing loneliness, but at least he had the freedom of the skies, these prisoners had nothing, and so he felt a pang of pity for them. After moments of searching, he found the cage he was looking for, Berwyn laid inside, his back turned to the bars, he would recognized the Ice Drake anywhere, it has been centuries since they last spoke and it seemed that all that changed was his size.

"Brother..." Quetzal called to Berwyn, Quetzal was the youngest of his Nest and Berwyn was the first born, his role model in his early youth. Berwyn raised his head off the ground in attention, but did not turn to look at him.

"My brother is dead, what business do you have with me, Soratokage." Berwyn answered coldly, Quetzal was used to the insulting moniker by now, but hearing it from his own flesh and blood wounded him so.

"So it is true then, Winthwer was slain, by your hand?" Quetzal asked, a slight quiver in his voice.

"...He was going to take the stone..." Berwyn took his claw and slammed it against the cell wall, slowly scratching down as he continued. "...He wanted it for himself... I could not let that happen..."

"H-how could you, over a stone..." Quetzal replied incredulously.

"You know not of what you speak." Berwyn shot back, finally turning to face him. "It was no mere chunk of earth, it was the Aethr Stone of prophesy."

"And that makes a difference?" Quetzal said, his shock melting into anger. "You put a glorified meteor over the life of your own flesh and blood, you would take his life for such a thing! Well, I suppose it is not surprising, all things considered."

"You speak of your banishment." Berwyn deduced.

"I was barely old enough to be challenged to combat, they cast me out to fend for myself, through no fault of my own, and neither you, mother, father, or Winthwer said a word...!"

"Do you know the shame that my family has carried since then!?" Berwyn roared, his face pressed up against the bars. "The ridicule we had to endure because of you, our father, a once respected Ice Drake, was called impure, our mother infertile, and my brother and I were mocked merely for sharing your blood, never given the proper respect we deserved as warriors! What right do you have to cast judgment on me after all of the suffering you brought onto us."

Argyle landed at the Cold Cages after a good half hour of flight from the Council of Gods Temple. The Cold Cages littered this eastern bay, it was a freezing cold, shallow, salty landmass. Water mixed from the waterfalls of East Dagger and the northern seas, the water filled each cage a little allowing no dragon to truly find rest, just humiliation and time to dwell for a century on a past crime. Murder, challenging a young scale, or desertion. It mattered not, if some one was to say invite concours from the south they would be met with death before they could ever reach the southern shores of the Temple Valleys.

It did not take long for Argyle to find Berwyn's cage, he had only been place in it about four days ago. Along with that there was another dragon near the cage, the Soratokage. Known as the wind lizard, Argyle had heard rumors of dragons born without a power breath. Usually their elders put them down as a disgrace to the draconian line before them. But some were let live upon punishment of being shunned their whole lives. Earth Dragons lost their breathes of power through choice, it was looked down upon, but not as bad as never having one to begin with. "So the Soratokage was his kin... Interesting." Argyle approached cautiously, his nostrils flared, alerting the two that he was their. "Soratokage, I'm here to speak with Berwyn if you will permit me... I have a few questions regarding the Aethr Stone..."

Quetzal was about to rebuke when Argyle called out to him. He looked over at the Fire Drake, it was very rare for one born with breath to even fein any form of respect towards them, so the polite request threw him off a bit. He looked back at his brother, there were so many things he wanted to say to him, but it would do no good, what ever happened to Berwyn, he was now less likely to listen to him then ever.

"...Very well, but I will not leave, I wish to hear what my brother has to say about this stone as well." He replied, his claim making Berwyn growl at him.

Argyle approached, a bit wary of not only the Dragon who touch the Aethr Stone but also the wind lizard as well. There were many rumors about the wind lizard, like any drake who spoke to him would lose their breath of power as well. A slight flare of his fire re assured Argyle that his power still worked, "Berwyn, my name is Argyle son of Thorndale, Fire Drake of West Dagger." He nodded with the formalities out of the way, "What did you feel when you touched the stone? Darkness?? Madness???"

"Power..." Berwyn smiled, "I felt stronger then any other drake or fang alive, and Winthwer wanted it all to himself!!!"

Argyle was a bit confused, "Winthwer? Was that the name of your brother??" Argyle got the response he was looking for in the crazed smile appearing on Berwyn's face, as his fangs dripped freeing cold slush. "Do you think that there is anyway for you to become normal as you were again??"

Berwyn shook his head, "Never, I will always crave the touch of the stone, it is warmer then the heat of the magma pools, and more nurturing then the touch of a mother drake..." in his skull his pupils were slowly fading but this was the point at which Argyle noticed it, soon his eyes would be all white, not blind but something else, "Soon I will be an Awakened..."

Argyle closed his eyes at the thought, awakened, the thought of that made him tremble. If any dragon who got near the stone had the urge to touch it then there could be more like Berwyn within the next few days, and within the month everyone on the island could become these savage Awakened dragons. "This isn't good," he said turning to Quetzal, "the council says the radius expands another mile every day... when it landed it was just within a few feet of it now its over a three mile radius of dragons complaining of skull aches, pains behind their eyes and a strange curiosity to touch the stone."

Little did Argyle or the Council of Gods know but a few Dragons who had recently touched the stone, killed the two guard dragons protecting it. They were now worshiping it, as their new religion and at this very moment were plotting to pick it up and fly it south, straight towards the Valley of Temples! "If the radius keeps growing, or a crazed dragon flies it into a more populated area of the island, we could have a few dozen drakes at war!"

DRAGONS ARE BIG!

((For copper.))