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{Rise of the Draegen - Part 3} Light's Song
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Post by
denjerre
((Oh you want an intro of some kind? Well... erm. This - I, if.... You know what, just read!
Part 2
-
Part 3
))
Whatever world a person lives in, big news travels fast. Very fast.
A Night Elven messenger reached Astranaar before he traveled back to Auberdine to take the boat to the Exodar. One of the inhabitants of Ashenvale’s capital city who heard the news was Dilea Moonrobe. Mere minutes later, miss Moonrobe was in the Crossroads on a diplomatic mission. In the Crossroads, a young Troll adventurer heard about the rise of the Draegen as well. While carrying a package to Ratchet, the Darkspear told a Goblin merchant about the Dragon-men.
That merchant booked passage to Booty Bay, where he told his best friend, an armorer, about what he heard. That armor would later the day be visited by a representative of the Rebel Camp who wished to have his gear repaired. Back at the Human settlement, the man explained the story to his comrades. One of those comrades happened to travel to Darkshire for goods, where he informed the whole town. John Smithers was also a diplomat, who was trying to get the Stormwind Guard back in Duskwood. It was Smithers who eventually told Stormwind about the Draegen, where the news would reach a young Paladin still training in the way if the Light.
Samuel Timberlain was born in the Eastvale Logging Camp, where he would work as a farmer boy. His father was named Jack, there for, people referred to him as ‘Samuel, Jack’s son’. He payed frequent visits to the farms in Elwynn and Westfall to work there in exchange for money. Due to the fact he often sang songs while working, people started calling him ‘Samsong’. When he turned 21, the call of the Light became too much for him. Starting out in Northshire, he started out to become a Paladin.
The news of the Draegen intrigued him, and he was overjoyed when his superiors told him he would be part of the task force that would investigate the matter on behalf of Stormwind. Three other Paladins went with him, mostly to keep an eye on the aspirant Paladin; Njarn Alehammer, a Dwarf who never stopped talking, unless he took a zip of his beer, Lord Theoricus Halfen, a renowned Paladin and Samuel’s mentor, and a High Elf Samsong only knew as ‘Blue’, who always remained silent.
Their first task was easy; travel to the Twilight Grove, where Sentinel Starsong was apparently found, and investigate the area. Thus, the quartet steered their horses at an easy pace through the dark forest of Duskwood.
Alehammer was telling the tale of his search for the mysterious Ironforge Airport, and how a large blizzard suddenly appeared and stopped him from continuing. Lord Halfen listened to his Dwarven friend while scouting the woods with his eyes for hostile wildlife. The group did get attacked by the occasional spider or wolf from time to time, but it was nothing they couldn’t handle. Blue never said anything and just stared in front of him. Samsong, in the meanwhile, read anything he could find about the new threat.
No books or scrolls told about the Draegen or Marmal Ashwing, but the young Human did find some lecture about the Dragon Isles. Rumors, but interesting nonetheless. It was a set of islands far northwest of Teldrassil and Azuremyst, nowhere near the Maelstrom. The main island was shaped like a Dragon’s head, hence the name. There were many caves in the region, and if anything valuable resided there, it would probably be underground.
Samuel turned his page and looked through the wilder guesses. Some say this was Deathwing’s former home, or at least a place he has been. Others say a volcano in the middle of the area had erupted and left the isles under sea level. Further speculation on the rumor says the Naga now rule the land in the name of their queen. Somebody had also drawn a picture of a giant sea turtle carrying the islands.
Samsong didn’t pay too much attention to the gossip. He knew that most of it were probably lies, made up to entertain the reader. He put his book back in his backpack when the four Paladins reached the entrance to the Twilight Grove. A hopeless feeling overcame them, strong enough to make Alehammer silent, which in turn caused Blue to smile.
They left their horses at the base of the hills and walked up the wide path. Out of the dark, a large Worg attacked them. The black-furred beast wasn’t like the others of his kind the men had seen. Half of his face was torn off, leaving his skeleton open. He missed a large portion of flesh on his back, and had no fur on his neck.
Although it attacked the quartet fast and hard, it’s lifeless body soon fell on the ground. Lord Halfen carefully inspected the corpse. He peered his eyes and groaned, then stood up, urging for the others to venture inside with him. Samsong ran next to him and asked; ‘What have you seen, master? Clearly, that thing wasn’t normal.’ Theoricus replied with a foreboding voice; ‘I have certain ideas, but those are best to be left unspoken when lacking decent evidence.’
When the Paladins entered the Grove, a foul stench overcame them. They immediately began coughing and bending over. Lord Halfen managed to concentrate enough to heal their diseases and shield them from the smell. As they reached the middle of the valley, they saw the cause of the stench.
If it had been alive, the Dragon could have easily filled half of the Grove. But it was dead, it’s skin rotting, bones sticking out and the corpse slowly being absorbed by the soil, which was corrupted in the process. It was presumably a Green Dragon in life, but his scales had a hint of grey in them as well. The parts of his body untouched by death were deformed nonetheless.
Lord Halfen was nearly overcome with fear, but he wasn’t the only one. The sight was a true terror to behold. When he spoke, he practically yelled; ‘It’s death, a foul stench coming with it, but it’s not the same as the Scourge! I’ve never seen anything like it!’ The other three looked at him for guidance, and after a few minutes he exclaimed they would make camp in the grove, but as far away from the body as possible.
Blue and Alehammer fetched the horses while the other two set up tents behind a moonwell on the other side of the Great Tree. ‘Lord Halfen’, Samuel asked, ‘what are we going to do tomorrow? How can we report something we don’t even understand?’ The Paladin gulped before answering. ‘Our first order of business is to get a decent rest. Decisions will be made tomorrow, young one.’
The four men went to bed with troubles haunting their minds. From the other end of the Grove, eight winged beings watched them sleep.
Post by
Monday
The first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this was the book Warbreaker.
Otherwise, nice job!
Post by
denjerre
The first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this was the book Warbreaker.
Otherwise, nice job!
I looked it up (for an amazing five seconds) but I can't seem to find the likeness.
Post by
Morec0
Again, nice one!
Post by
Monday
The first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this was the book Warbreaker.
Otherwise, nice job!
I looked it up (for an amazing five seconds) but I can't seem to find the likeness.
Lightsong, the god of courage.
Good book... And nice writing to Denjerre!
Post by
283869
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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