Prologue: Mutterings of the Past
This being the 25th Day of the 3rd Month in the 16th year during the 35th Dragonsong
Or
March 25, 3075
(From the Journal of the Dragonsong Legend Expert)
Myths are stories and legends are dreams or so many children are raised to believe, but what if you were raised in a world where myths and legends were reality. Welcome, to the world of Malovanda a place of lore and fable.
Part of the balance is held in check by the Great Dragon's; the only recorded offspring of the Great Dragon's of Life. There are three stories that tell of a time when one of the Great Dragons awoke and chaos spread through their territory. When the Sky Dragon awoke his parents calmed him as he was the closest to them, then the Land Dragon awoke…his calm came from the Wyvern’s that resided on his Island. Finally, the Sea Dragon awoke…his wrath was the most terrible, once he unleashed his chaos it took two children to sing in order for him to sleep. The widely known legend says that the Dragon Song can calm the three Great Dragons. Sadly the Song itself has been lost to common knowledge and is only known by the family descant from The Child.
My name is Taulin Storyteller, commonly known as Tau. I am a Sorcerer and keeper of the Legend of the Great Dragons. I live in a modest fishing village where The Child and The Only Son settled in. The truth of the Legend is a hard truth to swallow for some, for those who are The Child’s Descendants it is something they learn to get over. If one wants to learn the truth, then one must ask the Dragon’s themselves for the truth is not mine to tell, it is theirs.
Now, The Child or as her family knew her: Laylani Dragonsong. Her family name was once Lifesinger as it was befitting of their father, but once her sisters faded from existence and they settled here in the village of: Siren’s Port she decided to change it to Dragonsong. It wasn’t like her brother could refuse her, she married the first Void Marked and thus started the Dragonsong Bloodline. Her younger brother, known to family and friends as: Jaydence, was a musical genius. I spent many nights listening to his music, hearing all the different emotions held within a few simple notes. About three weeks before he left I heard heartache and loss within his music. I looked at Jaydence and saw tears. He looked up at me and we both knew what he had realized. So, three weeks later he bid farewell to his sister, brother and his three nieces.
I always knew, that he would suffer. When the news reached us of his death, Siren’s Port gained its name. A male siren with its Kraken Companion had come to me by magical means through the village’s lake. The lake itself was barren of fish life, but was the best place for magic to take root in. The Siren would be forever known as Sai to all children within the village. The Kraken was either Grouch or Kray to the children. They told me of Jaydence’s death, also of where his body now was. Turns out that the Sea took him to the Dragon’s Pool where deep within the Pool itself resting in claw of the Sea Dragon is Jaydence.
I suppose I should explain the Marked Ones. In reality the Great Dragons aren’t the only Dragon’s in existence. There are another race called the Void Dragons, they are Chaos’ children and spend their lives sowing the seeds of discord and sorrow. Many fear these Dragons, but they fear their Rulers the most. I suppose the Sun Dragon was smart in ensnaring the three Void Rulers and tying their lives to that of his sons. Should a Great Dragon awake, then the Void Dragon bound to him will wake as well. Whither to cause suffering or find the Marked One to calm him is entirely up to the Void Dragon.
If I was them, I’d look for the Marked One to calm the Great Dragon than knowingly suffer Sun’s wrath…but I digress, the Marked Ones start at Laylani’s three daughters. One daughter had the mark of the Sky Dragon upon the back of her shoulders. Another had the mark of the Land Dragon across the middle of her back, while the last daughter had the mark of the Sea Dragon upon her lower back. Their Father was a supernatural, but oddly enough none of his daughters even showed an ounce of their Father’s blood. Upon his front along his collar bone was the mark of a Void Dragon Ruler.
He ironically still lives to this day, but his view of the Dragonsong bloodline is a bad one due to the treatment the females had of the Void Marked. Every single being to bare the Void Dragon Mark has been a supernatural, also every being has also become something of a bed partner to the Great Dragon Marked One that they protect. Sadly, only one of the three females to bare the mark is capable of baring children. Usually only three are born each with a Mark upon their back. I have watched and worried, fretted and stressed, loved and hated all those to have bore the Marks. Recently, for the past five generations of Marked Ones the Voids have not come. I grew worried until the Siren told me that the Voids have simply grown tired of being playthings to the Marked Ones, I didn’t blame them and continued my watch over the girls.
The most recent one to be able to bear children was a fragile creature named: Gloria. She watched as the marks faded on her two elder sisters when she was pregnant with her first born; a set of twins. I was there at their birth, my shock was not lost as all the girls were shocked as well. The twins were male…and both had a Mark upon their back. I had to sit down because I was overwhelmed. The Siren said that the appearance of boys means that the bloodline is failing, the Dragons of Life have grown tired of the Dragonsong females.
I fear for the boys, as soon as they were born Gloria’s sisters were found dead in their homes…murdered by an unknown assailant. Soon after the twins were born, when they were four years of age; Gloria gave birth again. Her husband died while out on his boat two weeks prior to the child’s birth. Gloria was sure that she would have a girl and all would be well. She was cursed with her third and final boy. When the child was only two years of age Gloria drowned herself and the child. The Siren brought the toddler to me, angered and vindictive. The child was unharmed and his mother was dead.
Gloria never named her sons, so the task of naming them fell upon the village and myself. The twins were named by an elderly couple who had sons of the same name: Lysander for the eldest and barer of the Sky Dragon Mark, Syrus for the younger and barer of the Land Dragon Mark. The toddler and barer of the Sea Dragon Mark’s name came from the village leader himself, a young man who had no family; Rowen. All three names the children took as their own, I kept their surname as Dragonsong to do justice to their ancestors…I suppose I wanted to prove that Jaydence had some worth to his family’s blood.
I mentioned Wyverns in one of the past passages, well due to their influence upon Dragons, Wyvern’s have been viewed as “Lesser Dragons”. When the Voids first abandoned the Dragonsong Bloodline, three wyverns stepped up to be their protectors. Though these three have always been hiding in the mountain above the lake of the village since Laylani and Jaydence first came here and they only revealed themselves whenever Jaydence played. I was touched to see them come out to help. I trained the young ones and so they are now three humans, only a year older in appearance than the twins.
The eldest of the three is Star Wyvern a rare and beautiful race of Wyvern that usually can be found watching over the Sky Dragon. His name is Teagan and he is the apprentice to the local net maker. The middle of the three is a Mountain Wyvern one of the very same race that calmed the Land Dragon years ago. He was given the name of Aaron and is the adopted son of the Village Leader. The youngest and most hotheaded of the three is a Coral Wyvern, named Chance. Coral Wyverns are rare, but unfortunately territorial. He was adopted by the recluse and well, we call him the Village Clown.
I do not know what awaits the 35th Generation of the Dragonsong. The twins are now 17 years and Rowen is 13 years, I feel stirrings that put me at ill ease. I suppose they started 12 years ago when my younger brother came to me…
~~~~
This being the 25th Day of the 3rd Month in the 16th year during the 35th Dragonsong
Or
March 25, 3075
(From the Journal of the Dragonsong Legend Expert)
Myths are stories and legends are dreams or so many children are raised to believe, but what if you were raised in a world where myths and legends were reality. Welcome, to the world of Malovanda a place of lore and fable.
Part of the balance is held in check by the Great Dragon's; the only recorded offspring of the Great Dragon's of Life. There are three stories that tell of a time when one of the Great Dragons awoke and chaos spread through their territory. When the Sky Dragon awoke his parents calmed him as he was the closest to them, then the Land Dragon awoke…his calm came from the Wyvern’s that resided on his Island. Finally, the Sea Dragon awoke…his wrath was the most terrible, once he unleashed his chaos it took two children to sing in order for him to sleep. The widely known legend says that the Dragon Song can calm the three Great Dragons. Sadly the Song itself has been lost to common knowledge and is only known by the family descant from The Child.
My name is Taulin Storyteller, commonly known as Tau. I am a Sorcerer and keeper of the Legend of the Great Dragons. I live in a modest fishing village where The Child and The Only Son settled in. The truth of the Legend is a hard truth to swallow for some, for those who are The Child’s Descendants it is something they learn to get over. If one wants to learn the truth, then one must ask the Dragon’s themselves for the truth is not mine to tell, it is theirs.
Now, The Child or as her family knew her: Laylani Dragonsong. Her family name was once Lifesinger as it was befitting of their father, but once her sisters faded from existence and they settled here in the village of: Siren’s Port she decided to change it to Dragonsong. It wasn’t like her brother could refuse her, she married the first Void Marked and thus started the Dragonsong Bloodline. Her younger brother, known to family and friends as: Jaydence, was a musical genius. I spent many nights listening to his music, hearing all the different emotions held within a few simple notes. About three weeks before he left I heard heartache and loss within his music. I looked at Jaydence and saw tears. He looked up at me and we both knew what he had realized. So, three weeks later he bid farewell to his sister, brother and his three nieces.
I always knew, that he would suffer. When the news reached us of his death, Siren’s Port gained its name. A male siren with its Kraken Companion had come to me by magical means through the village’s lake. The lake itself was barren of fish life, but was the best place for magic to take root in. The Siren would be forever known as Sai to all children within the village. The Kraken was either Grouch or Kray to the children. They told me of Jaydence’s death, also of where his body now was. Turns out that the Sea took him to the Dragon’s Pool where deep within the Pool itself resting in claw of the Sea Dragon is Jaydence.
I suppose I should explain the Marked Ones. In reality the Great Dragons aren’t the only Dragon’s in existence. There are another race called the Void Dragons, they are Chaos’ children and spend their lives sowing the seeds of discord and sorrow. Many fear these Dragons, but they fear their Rulers the most. I suppose the Sun Dragon was smart in ensnaring the three Void Rulers and tying their lives to that of his sons. Should a Great Dragon awake, then the Void Dragon bound to him will wake as well. Whither to cause suffering or find the Marked One to calm him is entirely up to the Void Dragon.
If I was them, I’d look for the Marked One to calm the Great Dragon than knowingly suffer Sun’s wrath…but I digress, the Marked Ones start at Laylani’s three daughters. One daughter had the mark of the Sky Dragon upon the back of her shoulders. Another had the mark of the Land Dragon across the middle of her back, while the last daughter had the mark of the Sea Dragon upon her lower back. Their Father was a supernatural, but oddly enough none of his daughters even showed an ounce of their Father’s blood. Upon his front along his collar bone was the mark of a Void Dragon Ruler.
He ironically still lives to this day, but his view of the Dragonsong bloodline is a bad one due to the treatment the females had of the Void Marked. Every single being to bare the Void Dragon Mark has been a supernatural, also every being has also become something of a bed partner to the Great Dragon Marked One that they protect. Sadly, only one of the three females to bare the mark is capable of baring children. Usually only three are born each with a Mark upon their back. I have watched and worried, fretted and stressed, loved and hated all those to have bore the Marks. Recently, for the past five generations of Marked Ones the Voids have not come. I grew worried until the Siren told me that the Voids have simply grown tired of being playthings to the Marked Ones, I didn’t blame them and continued my watch over the girls.
The most recent one to be able to bear children was a fragile creature named: Gloria. She watched as the marks faded on her two elder sisters when she was pregnant with her first born; a set of twins. I was there at their birth, my shock was not lost as all the girls were shocked as well. The twins were male…and both had a Mark upon their back. I had to sit down because I was overwhelmed. The Siren said that the appearance of boys means that the bloodline is failing, the Dragons of Life have grown tired of the Dragonsong females.
I fear for the boys, as soon as they were born Gloria’s sisters were found dead in their homes…murdered by an unknown assailant. Soon after the twins were born, when they were four years of age; Gloria gave birth again. Her husband died while out on his boat two weeks prior to the child’s birth. Gloria was sure that she would have a girl and all would be well. She was cursed with her third and final boy. When the child was only two years of age Gloria drowned herself and the child. The Siren brought the toddler to me, angered and vindictive. The child was unharmed and his mother was dead.
Gloria never named her sons, so the task of naming them fell upon the village and myself. The twins were named by an elderly couple who had sons of the same name: Lysander for the eldest and barer of the Sky Dragon Mark, Syrus for the younger and barer of the Land Dragon Mark. The toddler and barer of the Sea Dragon Mark’s name came from the village leader himself, a young man who had no family; Rowen. All three names the children took as their own, I kept their surname as Dragonsong to do justice to their ancestors…I suppose I wanted to prove that Jaydence had some worth to his family’s blood.
I mentioned Wyverns in one of the past passages, well due to their influence upon Dragons, Wyvern’s have been viewed as “Lesser Dragons”. When the Voids first abandoned the Dragonsong Bloodline, three wyverns stepped up to be their protectors. Though these three have always been hiding in the mountain above the lake of the village since Laylani and Jaydence first came here and they only revealed themselves whenever Jaydence played. I was touched to see them come out to help. I trained the young ones and so they are now three humans, only a year older in appearance than the twins.
The eldest of the three is Star Wyvern a rare and beautiful race of Wyvern that usually can be found watching over the Sky Dragon. His name is Teagan and he is the apprentice to the local net maker. The middle of the three is a Mountain Wyvern one of the very same race that calmed the Land Dragon years ago. He was given the name of Aaron and is the adopted son of the Village Leader. The youngest and most hotheaded of the three is a Coral Wyvern, named Chance. Coral Wyverns are rare, but unfortunately territorial. He was adopted by the recluse and well, we call him the Village Clown.
I do not know what awaits the 35th Generation of the Dragonsong. The twins are now 17 years and Rowen is 13 years, I feel stirrings that put me at ill ease. I suppose they started 12 years ago when my younger brother came to me…
~~~~
The storm had been raging for three weeks. Sai and Kray had taken refuge in the depths of the lake and Taulin Storyteller was tending to the remaining Dragonsong female: Gloria.
The willowy woman was only 24, wispy white blond hair fell in soft gentle curls around her small frame, and sad distant sea green eyes were set in a heart shaped face. Tau watched her carefully as he was worried that her latest dream had upset her. Since the birth of her youngest son, an unheard of thing with her family, she had been forlorn and cold. Her dreams showed her of the void dragons and the destruction of the Marked Ones…her sons.
Tau looked to her firstborn a set of twins, Gloria had refused to name them or let them be named. Tau had found a way around that as in quiet tones the villagers and he, called each boy by a name. Tau knew they were smart as they answered to their mother if she called, but also knew that the hushed names were meant for their ears only. Tau tucked the blanket around the infant, whose mother refused to tend to. The infant was in fact two years of age and his elder brothers were six years. Gloria jumped as the door was banged open and Tau’s younger brother rushed in with a loud shudder. Tau looked up with a kind smile to his only family member who still lived: Kalin Storyteller.
“What brings you here to Siren’s Port, Kal?” Tau asked helping his younger brother. Taulin was crippled as one leg was mangled by a horrible backlash from a misused spell when he was younger, so to aid him in walking he used an oak-wood cane. Long dark purple hair that ended just past his rear held varying braided locks which were bound by shells that made musical noise as he moved; his bright silver eyes were hypnotic to those who locked eyes with him and his sun-tanned skin added to his allure. His body was well fit as the immortal male kept up with the Dragonsong children and their playmates on occasion.
“Nothing more that a simple visit to my beloved elder brother...” Kal replied easily slipping into a chair near the window. Kalin was tanned like his brother and held the same bright silver eyes, but his hair was a dark green which ended just past his elbows held back in a braid by leather strips. His body was fit as well, but due to different reasons than his elder brother. Tau sat across from him and noted that Kal watched the twins as they made sure that the infant was tucked in securely.
“How does your Master fair?” Tau asked referring to the fact that Kal was the sorcerer to a supernatural warlord further mainland. The younger magic user blinked at the sudden question, but smiled in understanding of his elder brother’s caution.
“He says nothing concerning the children, elder brother.” Kal said.
Tau shook his head before he continued, “I’m grateful for that, but honestly…how are he and his family?”
“His wife has passed. There was an ambush as they moved to the valley they’re currently residing in. She was protecting his youngest two…the twins.” Kal said eyes downcast and saddened.
“Life happens…depends on what you with it that is the true worth.” Tau said, recalling their Father’s words after they lost their Mother centuries before. Kal nodded in full understanding of his brother’s words, he glanced to the twin boys as one came to Tau’s side.
“They’re absolutely precious…” Kal murmured wary of Gloria’s vacant and detached aura, at his brother’s small nod his fear was confirmed that the female was mentally broken from the shock of having boys. Kal smiled as one walked up to him and crawled into his lap, his twin brother was already in Tau’s. Kal looked at the heart-shaped faces that gave them a feminine air; it was off-set by the mature eyes that the two shared. The one on Tau’s lap had pale gray eyes almost like a cloud heavy with rain, while the one on Kal’s lap had mountain gray eyes as if they were as old as time; both boys had their mothers white blond hair. A glance to the two year old told a different story as the child’s hair looked darker than his elder brothers, most likely due to his fathers influence.
“Sea-green…like his mothers. He actually takes the most after her in facial features than these two. If you saw their father, you’d say that they’re his image.” Tau said a cold edge to his voice that Kal picked up on with a mental wince. Kal knew all too well how the supernaturals viewed the Dragonsong Bloodline…his Master had no idea that he was here and not going to his families tower.
“Um…elder brother. Master wishes that when the current generation reaches the age of consent…that they travel to where the camp is now. If they move I’ll be sure to send one of my familiars to you with word---” Kal spoke quickly, but not quickly enough as his brother’s cold eyes cut him short.
“No.” Tau’s reply was short as he placed the child he held down with a look to the other; both children dashed to their bed where they dove under the covers and awaited their mother. Gloria seemed to snap back into reality as Kal stood to leave, the younger looked at his brother.
“He feels danger looming over this generation. This is a small fishing village…not even on the World Map; they can’t stay protected here for long.” Kal said as he put his cloak back on and left.
Tau leaned on his cane before sighing, “Tell me something I haven’t already thought of.” He looked up to the female, “Time for bed, Gloria…the boys are waiting for you.”
Gloria nodded as she gracefully stood to walk to her sons; she got into bed and tucked them in close to the wall where they would be safe in case the window broke. Tau moved the crib with ease, not disturbing the slumbering infant inside. He smiled at the child who bore his mother’s mark and walked into his room to prepare for bed.
It was some odd hours later that Tau jolted awake. He hobbled as fast as he could to where the boys and their mother were resting. Seeing nothing amiss he turned only to stop short as he saw the door open and an empty crib.
“Oh, Gloria...no.” Tau muttered as he reached the front door. Standing still allowing his eyes to adjust to the onslaught of rain and wind, he blinked at the sight before him.
The twins stood with their backs to the Immortal and facing the small lake that served as the namesake of their tiny village. Before them loomed the small gated pier, its small gate swinging open. Tau walked out and froze as the water raised up. The creature that walked briskly out was a Siren, he was also an old friend of the sorcerers.
“Sai! Gloria--!” Tau's words died out as he saw the rage within the others eyes. Sai was a beauty when calm, a sea born terror when angered. His narrowly silted eyes held the palest coral pink of the ocean as his hair seemed to be pearl-blue tentacles as he held something to his chest. The gills on the sides of his neck, rib cage and lower back were closed with his anger while the fins along his wrists, hips and back flattened. The siren's flesh was a beautiful transition of ivory skin to pearl scales; the male's elbow to fingertip, his entire back, from his hips to his toes, and a thin trail along his collarbone were scaled. Tau breathed in when he saw the infant child held within the Siren's arms.
“She tried to drown him, Tau...Kray's eating her now.” the siren said without any remorse as he walked into Tau's home. The twins following closely behind him. Tau breathed out and turned, glancing back to see three children watching the lake's waters.
As the group reentered the small home it took Tau three hours to revive the half-dead child and calm himself before questioning anyone on Gloria’s whereabouts. The twins had dried themselves and brought towels plus a change of clothes for their little brother. Sai stayed by the back door, as it was kept open for the water creature’s benefit, worry creasing his features. At the quiet cry of the infant boy, Sai’s features softened and he walked forward as the child looked up. Seeing the siren the infant’s reaction silently shocked Tau as the child reached up to receive the siren’s soft voice. Tau stepped back as the siren lifted the child to sooth him in the immortals native tongue, the warlock glancing down to the twins to see their blank expressions. Sai looked up to the warlock…
Taulin’s shocked voice made the siren chuckle, “Why is Kray---?”
“She was going to kill the child. We couldn’t let her do that, now could we? Kray and I acted as was our nature. Gloria understood that when she entered my domain. ” Sai said, an underlining cold edge to his voice which disturbed the warlock. Sai looked back down to the infant, “It’s all right now Rowen. Lysander and Syrus are safe, you are safe.”
Sai looked down to the child, whose bright crystalline blue eyes gazed up at him. Tau looked to the twins, understanding what Kal was now trying to tell him: the Bloodline was in danger. What kind of danger, the warlock had no idea all he knew was that already their lives had been threatened. Now, it was up to him, a possessive siren, a grumpy kraken and three young wyverns to protect the remaining blood…the Sons of the Dragons.
