The Land Of Rohan

Chapter 5: Beyond The Velvet Sky: The Lost Hellion

Chapter V of the chronicles of the land of Rohan

- Celestial Palace Rahkon, Varvylon -

Krieger marched steadily beneath the dank underhalls of Rahkon, Wahrsager in tow.

“Be vigilant, young scout. Garrick is not here to protect you, and you are here to protect me. Once Flox knows that I am already at his doorstep, his minions will assault me from all sides, all the time. Going through the back door bought us quite some time, but I suspect we do not have long before we are accosted. We will run and we will fight, and we will fight while we are running.

Orcs, undead, and all sorts of villains will try and prevent me from reaching my goal. If you’re lucky, Flox might even throw us a party himself, or that crazy lackey of his. Hell, any one, two, or all of the Five might just suddenly show their arrogant faces and take us by surprise. Case and point, Rahkon is big, and there are hundreds of ways to die here.”

A momentary pause and the Great Dragon continued.

“Do not die here. Survive, and you will have proven yourself worthy. Should you run away and leave me and Garrick to our own devices, I will find you when I am done here, and I will kill you. Precision, my friend, is the order of business here. We cannot make a mistake, but they will make us falter. What we have to do is stay one step ahead, and bleed whoever gets in our way.”

The pair’s pace quickened as disembodied shadows and noises grew stronger the farther they strode inside the Palace.

“What’s your plan?”, asked Wahrsager, whose eyes searched every crack on the wall, every crevice on the floors and ceilings. “More importantly, what’s this adventure all about? I think I should know what I’m risking my life and limb for.”

Krieger cracked his worn and aged knuckles, the sound of which resembled of necks breaking.

“True enough. Before I tell you my plan, which we are already enacting, we have time for a little story.”

Krieger took a deep breath, and without pausing his stride, he told his tale.

“Apparently, I am not the last Great Dragon.”

- o -

Days of the past....before The Purge

It was around two-hundred and fifty-one years before the Purge that would permanently change all of Rohan, without a soul to predict it. In the Emerald Forest of Dharvegawan, before it turned into a dank wasteland, there was a ceremony about to take place.

“Armenes, the younglings are ready.” Krieger motioned towards the cliff to the draconian King. “I think they’ll do great today.”

Armenes, who was then Father Ohn’s confidant, and the King of the Great Dragons, brimmed with elation. The first generation of Dragon offspring, born from his and Queen Coral’s clutch, was to take to the skies today for the first time.

“You’ve taught them well, wingbrother! The sky welcomes them.” Armenes spread his great breadth high in the air, caught an updraft, and lifted. He torqued his neck about and bellowed a howl so majestic even Krieger was impressed. If rows of sharp fangs and embers smouldering behind them could constitute a smile, Armenes was full of it, at that moment.

“Rohan will bear witness to the rise of Dragons, wingbrother! Come, bear a message for me to the Five. Silva will want to see her new fellows invade her playground. And what joy for Roha! He was always so worried about the younglings ever since Coral bore the eggs. I’ll wager you a herd of cattle he’ll cry this noon.”