In the beginning, it was the dragons that defended us all, who protected us all from harm. Their formidable magic, their wing carrying them over the lands and the seas. It was a good time... While it lasted. Greed and desire however can corrupt even the most noble of beings. As the dragons protected us, their numbers shrank, slowly being drained by the task of staying ever vigilant, forced to neglect their homes and culture. They watched as the other people grew in number and power, leaving them behind. In time, they realised they could be the guardians no more, leaving their posts, in order to reclaim lost homes, and reform family groups. With this act, the people were no longer protected from the ancient enemy, and now, conflicts started to rise, as many groups refused to return land that had claimed in the dragons’ absence. And so wars broke out across our world.
It was many generations before the order was restored... But in the worst way imaginable... Our worst nightmare came true. Our fears realised. Man returned...
Man returned in force, with an army. An army forged of a mix between man and metal, giant machines obeying their commands. They came, they saw, the conquered. Time and time over, the people were forced to flee, weakened by infighting.
Only by working together could we survive... And survive we did, if only just.
The cetans showed us where to go, the dragons flew us there, the gargoyles covered our trail and we... We could do little but vow vengeance. Maybe I should have stayed. Stayed and fought until the humans killed me. It would have been mercy compared to some of the things I have heard done to those that were captured.
I have many stories from my life to tell, but they are not stories of me. Rather, this is a history of sorts of our struggle.
Read if you wish, and learn.
Dusk, seven months after the invasion.
3rd Rageday of Land's Awakening.
-North’s edge, Soul Island, Dark Isles.
Stepping back, Luzain studied The Wall, the work of many months. He sighed, knowing it was nearly finished, and that when it was, his life as he knew it now would end. It just wasn't fair. This was all the dragons fault. If they hadn't left their posts, if they hadn't gone back on their promise, if they hadn't betrayed the people...
"Then we would have died off, and then man could have returned anyway..." A soft voice, filled with infinite regret and pain came from behind Luzain as an Elder dragon approached him. "And now, it is the Gargoyles turn... Your time to pass into the shadows young one. To never see your friends or family again. To give your life to save that of countless generations to come. You and yours must protect these islands, or we are all doomed."
Luzain hissed in anger. How dare this dragon enter his mind! "It was your task in the past. It should be so again! Not ours. Not mine!" He spun towards the aged dragon, his arm swords extending, his armour chiming lightly, silver scales extending in challenge. "I should send you to your ancestors, if not to the humans!"
"The name is Rhyglen. Remember it well hatchling. The time will come for you to thank me someday. As I thank you now, for your noble deeds." The dragon smiled, his teeth aged, yellowed and cracked. "It's not all that bad, I remember it well. You will be stronger when you finally leave The Wall."
"Fuck you dragon. FUCK ALL OF YOU! I am not going in there. I'm staying awake, grabbing some weapons, and I'm flying back over the ocean, and getting my sister back!" The young gargoyle took a stride towards Rhyglen, raising his arm to strike. "And I'll kill you or anyone who tries to stop me, you hear?"
Rhyglen stepped back slowly, smiling slightly as he nodded. "Your funeral then child... Brave words might a hero make, but only a dead one. Not even the strongest dragon would dare to return alone, unless they had a death wish. The 'steel giants' would kill you in moments.
Luzain glared at Rhyglen, his scales slowly settling down. "They're called 'Mekton' you old gizzard lizard... And if I remember, your kind didn't do much better." He snorted, turning around, striding off home, where what remained of his family was waiting for him.
Behind him, Rhyglen smiled, purring to himself. "He will do for now... He has the determination, but lacks skill. I shall have to find another for that part." Chuckling softly, he spread his wing, launching himself into the air, flying westwards, chasing the setting sun.
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The morning after.
3rd Freezeday of Land's awakening,
-Cape Despair, Fires Hell, Dark Isles.
Icetalon was not a happy dragon. In fact, some might even call him pissed off, and for good reason. All he wanted was a little peace and quiet after those accursed raptors had been chased off his ancestor’s lands after Nailyan knows how long, and what happens? Humans. That's what happens. Humans come to his land, smashing eggs, killing his kin, stealing land just hard-claimed. Then he's forced to flee, carrying one of his mortal enemies on his back, and told to wait on a volcanic island, along with a clan of blasted fire dragons.
Honestly, it was enough to make one shit snow! Even more so, since he was being forced to hatchling-sit a bunch of scorcher brats. He snarled loudly as a hot coal stung his flank. He would much rather be skiing right now.
"Yes coldling, it's good to see you too." A wry voice broke Icetalon from his daydreams. "I know us firebreathers and you icespitters never get along, but still..."
Frowning, Icetalon turns his head around. His jaw dropped and his body hunched up protectively as he saw an Elder dragon behind him. "L-lord Rhyglen! I-I wasn't snarling at you sir... Honest!"
"I believe you brave warrior. You have done a good job here so far, better than many could do, though I can understand it's not to your liking. If you'd prefer, I _can_ have you assigned to a job more... suited to your personality." Rhyglen smiled. Being an Elder always made it so easy to manipulate the current generation of young dragons.
"Lord?" Icetalon was confused. A fire dragon wanted to help him? It couldn't be pure kindness. Lord Rhyglen must want something from him, something he couldn't get from his own kin, or... something risky. If he was asked to leave the island chain, it had to be dangerous. "I could not refuse a request from an Elder, no matter what breath they had..."
Rhyglen barely suppressed his grin. "Many thanks to you. I merely require you to deliver a message to allies on the mainland who stayed behind."
Icetalon snorted softly. A suicide mission. Typical. Well, he'd leave this wretched island, and relocated to another. "Of course lord Rhyglen. It will be an easy task."
Sensing the white dragons’ thoughts, Rhyglen purred softly. "Excellent. I knew I could trust on you." Predictable. Everything was going to plan. "Here then is the message..."
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Early dawn.
3rd Fearday of Land's awakening,
-A few kilometres Southwest of Colony #7, Insect Island, Dark Isles.
Grass, good foraging. Happy. Much food. Feed colony, good. Serve colony, happy. Sun bright, warm day. No sign, strangers. Quiet, safe, good. Queen safe. Colony safe. Happy.
Standing at nearly seven feet tall, armoured in a tough black shell, four armed, few would want to argue with an ant this size. His strong mandibles were powerful to slice through and arm or a neck in seconds, and this 'individual' was only a drone. The soldiers were bigger and stronger. Drone: 7-14.3 was happy. He was usually happy all this time, as long as his job was being done efficiently and helped the colony. The colony was everything to him, it was his life.
Good food, collect, takes home. Happy. Queen happy. Noise? Sky noise?
Drone: 7-14.3 looked up, hearing the beating of large wings. Had he eyebrows, he would have arched them at the sight of a large dragon hovering, watching him. He held on to what he carried, unafraid. In fact, the only emotion he felt was concern for the colony. Small glands released scents, warning all others of his kind nearby that there may be a problem. To his surprise, the dragon gave off a series of small clicks, language to the ants.
"Rhyglen. Want help or colony hurt. Help give, or queen hurt. Not want force, but must. Comply?" The dragon slowly bared his fangs.
Thinking, Drone: 7-14.3 came to the answer in less than a second. He was only one. The colony did not need him for its survival. "Drone: 7-14.3 comply Rhyglen. Help you. No hurt colony." He thought about what little was known about these titans. It was believed that dragons had an entirely alien and strange social system, each one, their own queen. As it was a queen, he had to obey.
Rhyglen smiled, landing by the drone. He wasn't worried at all about betrayal. These ants were little more than mindless and such concepts as revenge and betrayal weren't understood by them. He did blink slightly in surprise however as the drone climbed on his neck, sitting in between a pair of neck spines in a fashion that was both comfortable for dragon and rider. "Fly before?"
"Negative. Spot fits Drone: 7-14.3 well. Good stable seat."
Nodding, Rhyglen leapt into the air, heading for his next destination, and thinking. It looked like these ants were smarter as individuals than previously expected. This drone seemed capable of semi-independent thought at least. Chuckling, Rhyglen purred. This could turn out to be interesting.
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Midday
3rd Lifeday of Land's awakening,
-Concentration camp, Targ Nalio, Mainland.
Lt. Iason walked through a large camp, constructed for keeping all the prisoners and slaves that had been captured. Looking around, he could see all kinds of torture being carried out. Raptors having their killing claws cut off, gargoyles having their wings clipped, cetans forced to stay on dry land for long periods of time. Thinking about it, the dragons were probably the lucky ones. They were just executed.
He looked at the suffering and the needless pain, and it made him sick. He muttered softly to himself. "This isn't why we came. We came for war, not for butchery!" He hung his head as he neared the raptor compound, out of shame. Yes, he had killed many enemies, he had followed orders, and bombed many raptor settlements, but not for this. At first, he had believed in the cause, but now...
Now he was having doubts.
He heard a loud snarl, looked up, and locked gazes with an adult raptor, holding its child close. He sighed, and then whispered. "I'm sorry. I was only doing my job..." Looking away, he headed towards the hangers, shrugging inside his leather jacket. "Damn it! It wasn't meant to happen like this!" He growled in frustration, punching a wall, glad for once there were no other soldiers around to watch him. If his superiors found out he was starting to break under the strain...
A whine of pain caught his attention. Looking around, he saw a young raptor, barely a child, savaged and bloody. Long cuts, still bleeding ran down its flanks. Each of its sickle toes had been cut off, as had half its tail. From the look of things, its arm was broken too.
Iason strode over, pulling his sidearm from its holster. He took aim for the raptors head, tears starting to run down his face, cleaning small rivers through the dirt smeared on his face. "I'm sorry little one. This is my fault, and this is the least I can do to make up for it..." Slowly, he squeezed the trigger.
Above all the screams, all the crying, all the words of defiance, three shots rang out.
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Nearly Midnight
3rd Wildday of Land's Awakening,
-North Edge, Soul Island, Dark Isles.
Humpsnout stood still, gazing at The Wall, unblinking. He had heard rumours about this construction, and his natural curiosity had drawn him here. This was meant to save them from the humans? He couldn't help but rumble in amusement. It was a wall, a fairly large one, true, but as those stinking apes had metal dragons to fly over the walls, what good could it be? He shook his head, sighing. The gargoyles were about to throw their lives away on something that would never work, and the dragons would only grow stronger.
He snorted softly, rubbing the small hump on his snout that his name was taken from. Supposedly. He and his Alpha knew the real reason why he was named that on the day he came of age, and it was a secret that would die with him and him alone. His Alpha was dead now, killed by stinking mammalians. Sighing, he shrugged, moving his pack into a more comfortable position.
Listening, he heard a sound in the grass behind him. He sniffed at the air. Gargoyle, a young one too, maybe... no, definitely male. Quite possibly an armed guard. He smirked, flexing hide sickle claws. He spokes out loud, as if thinking. "Hmmm... As far as I know, this land is defined as a neutral territory. I'm sure not guards would attack, as long as I behave." Casually, he unstrapped his small neck pack, letting it fall to the ground as he sat.
From behind him he heard a soft snort. "Bloody impudent lizard! You and yours think you can go anywhere you want, don't you! So, where is the rest of your clan? Waiting to ambush us? I'll die before letting..."
Smoothly, Humpsnout cut in. "Pack actually, and I don't have one." He grinned as the gargoyle hesitated.
"A raptor, alone? You’re a poor liar. Maybe you'd make a better rug!" The gargoyle strode towards Humpsnout, raising a spear. He looked up, nearly dropping it in surprise as he heard a loud snort from above him. Humpsnout looked up too, curious.
Up high, a white dragon hovered, watching the bickering. He grinned, landing as gently as he could. "Heh... You're more aggressive than most of your clan, aren't you? Saaaaaaay, I don't suppose you have any food, hmmmmm?" The dragon slowly turned his gaze towards Humpsnout, licking his lips.
Humpsnout shivered slightly, but rolled onto his flanks as casually as he could. "Not me I hope ice cube-on-wings. I still have much to do before I die."
Growling, the gargoyle took a stride forwards. "Such as pray for your soul before meeting your maker!"
The dragon slowly extended one fore claw out to block the gargoyles path, the other reaching for Humpsnout. "Oh no... Allow me, please. I've had a long flight and need the food..."
"ICETALON! No! Bad boy, no eating travelling companions!" An ancient red dragon landed slowly behind the white dragon. "Besides, I brought a new friend..."
Blinking, Humpsnout stood up, reaching for his neck pack, even as both the younger dragon and the 'goyle hissed the same name in surprise. "Rhyglen!" He watched, arching an eye ridge as a large giant ant climbed off Rhyglen’s neck. "Travelling companions...?"
Rhyglen nodded, chuckling softly. “Ah, but of course! After all, it would not do to send ambassadors to the mainland and leave out the raptors. Gargoyle, raptor, dragon… If we wish to survive, we must work together.”
Icetalon tilted his head, gazing at the ant drone. “Ambassadors huh? And where does the bug fit in? It is not people…”
Rhyglen simply smiled. “This drone will be useful to you Icetalon, in reclaiming your homelands. Think of him as a scout, if you will. A scout that will not be suspected by humans. Luzain!”
The young gargoyle glared at Rhyglen in displeasure, snorting irritably. “What? You don’t really think that…”
“I think that you want to go and save your sister. I think that your chances would be better with allies. I think that if you listened to me, you’d find yourself one step closer to saving yourself and your clan. And I think that Icetalon, the drone and this raptor would…”
Humpsnout rumbled softly, looking quite amused as he lightly pawed at his muzzle with a foreclaw.
