Lineage – Prologue

Our story begins many many moons ago, in a far off land.

In a time when the old gods still ruled over the people of the lands.

In a time when myths were born and magic was alive in every living thing.

 

Now as to how all this came to be is a tale for another time, but for now I will be telling the story of how the Dragonwolf tribe was forged and how they would determine the fate of this world.

 

Now I know your sitting there thinking this guy is off his rocker and this is another one of those old maids stories, but I tell you this… There are those that have first hand knowledge of the events I am about to share with you, not all things die and time passes much differently to some of us

 

Now where was I, ahhhh the Dragonwolves…

 

Our story begins with a simple people, you would refer to them today as hunter/gatherers. Surviving in the mountains and lush forests of a land now known as Carpathia.

 

They lived their simple lives, struggling against nature and it’s beasts for survival. Until one faithful day, a loud crash was heard coming from the heavens as if thunder but no cloud could be seen. Then as their eyes fixed upon the skies they saw something falling from the heavens. It descended with such veracity that it left a sunken crater in the center of their humble village. The tribe’s people gathered around the crater and peered within. Very much scared and confused at what they might find within. They looked into the crater they were shocked at the sight before them. Laying there sprawled out in the crater, was a man, naked, scared and bleeding. His golden hair mated, and struggling to open his eyes revealed them to be blue as ice. There is man lay there, with such foreign features, and scars upon his back, barely clinging to life, or so it seemed.

 

While the tribe’s people were still trying to figure out exactly what they saw the old shaman of the tribe pushed his way through the huddled masses. He commanded that the stranger be taken to his hut. The tribesman too shocked and confused to argue did as they were told. They quickly gathered the man and carefully, under the watchful supervision of the shaman took him to the hut. For many days the shaman had locked him and the stranger away. Chanting could be heard echoing through the village at night as the shaman called upon the spirits of the ancestors to heal the stranger.

 

Finally the shaman emerged with the stranger by his side. No longer clinging to life but dressed in the tribe’s clothes. A air of power and authority surrounded him as they made their way to the chief’s hut. The tribe’s people sensing this radiating power quickly gathered along their path to the chief. The shaman needed to be constantly dismiss and remind them to make space for the stranger. The stranger seemed rather unperturbed by the attention he was getting; rather his focus lay on the chief and what lay ahead.

 

Finally they arrived at the chief’s hut and disappeared within as the entire tribe gathered outside. The tribe waited in anticipation to see what would happen. The entrance was guarded and non but the shaman and the stranger were allowed to have the audience with the chief. After what felt like a eternity the three emerged from the hut. With the whole tribe gathered before them the shaman declared that the coming of the stranger was foretold to him in a dream. The ancestors had foretold that the stranger would come and he would lead the tribe into a new age. The chief enthusiastically agreed with the shaman and proclaimed that as he did not have a heir, that this man sent from the ancestors would be his new son, and would be the next chief. The tribe exclaimed in joy to the news and accepted the stranger as one of their own.

 

The stranger then spoke, in a commanding voice in their own language. He explained to tribesman of his origins as best he could. He revealed to them that his name was Shamsiel and that he came from a land far to the south west. A barren land with a scorching sun and a desolate dessert. He was celestial being in service of the god which ruled there. As a celestial he possessed great power and knowledge. Being called from the celestial realm into the service of this god he had many duties over time. His final duty was to watch over this god’s people by living among them. He then told how he and his fellow watchers disobeyed their vows and began living with and helping the people instead of watching. This angered the god he and his comrades,they fell out of favor with the god. They were called back to the god’s realm to be reprimanded and imprisoned for their “crimes”. With the aid of another fallen brother and his wife he managed to escape to a place beyond the reach of the god’s powers. A place where he would be able to live in peace.

 

As time passed the chief grew older and passed away but Shamsiel remained ageless. As promised by the chief he became the new chief and leader of the tribe. The son of the shaman that saved him, Shamsiel bestowed great power and knowledge onto his line. He granted them extra ordinary long lives. The tribe he taught many secrets including the use of magic, agriculture, and weapons to aid in their hunts. The tribe flourished under his rule hidden in their valley. With their new found skills in magic and the hunt and weaponry, Shamsiel named the new tribe Bală~Lup, DragonWolf.

 

He took a wife and they bore many children. All of them were gifted with the abilities of their father, the sons adorned with golden hair and ice blue eyes. The daughters adorned raven black hair and emerald green eyes. Shamsiel shared the secrets of his knowledge with them of the celestial realms, magic. As well as the skills of a warrior celestial in the service of a benevolent god. The girls took to the magic as if they were made of magic themselves, while the boys took to the combat and hunting skills. And so the DragonWolf community was balanced, magic and strength in unison, and so flourished.

 

Generations passed and the god from the far off land’s power grew and so did the reach of his influence. Shamsiel was warned in a dream that he would come for him and his descendants, as punishment for his actions. Fearing more for the lives of his people than that of his own he gathered all his strength and created a amulet. The amulet bore a dragon wings spread wide with a wolf at her feet, overlooking the valley in which he had made his home. He split it into two halves the dragon and the wolf both separate, and gave them to the eldest of his children. The dragon to his daughter and the wolf to his son. The amulet would mask them from the coming threat, and so that at least some of his descendants would survive. He then fled to mountain at the border of their lands. He took refuge behind the waterfall of the mountain. He had hoped that if he was found he would be far enough from the tribe to save them with his sacrifice.

 

When the god’s soldiers found Shamsiel they bound him. They told him that they were under instruction to destroy the entire Dragonwolf tribe as well. Because of his influence and the knowledge he had shared with them. Shamsiel begged and pleaded with his once brothers to spare the lives of the innocents. The asked them to use their powers to merely erase the memories of him. His brother’s agreed to those terms as they did not particularly enjoy slaughtering the innocent. They imprisoned him within the mountain, in a cave behind the waterfall. They bound him in mystical chains to hold him until the end of times. Then sealed the mountain so that no other but one of their own, born of celestial blood, would be able to enter.

 

Then their attention turned to the village and the tribe. They descended from the heavens, with wings spread wide. They spoke in a language none had ever heard. A bright light blinded the tribe and then they fell to their knees and into a deep sleep. The following morning when the tribe awoke all memories of Shamsiel was erased from their minds. His existence, no one remembered their illustrious chief that fell from the heavens…

 

No one save for two, his eldest son and daughter. The two gifted with the amulets and infused with his spirit and power. Protected them from the spell. They alone knew the truth of their father and of their people. They become the leaders of the tribe and continued their father’s teachings.

 

Both could hear the voice of Shamsiel whispers in their minds. They would gather by the waterfall in times of need and in times they needed guidance. As generations passed, the waterfall became sacred ground. A place where only the chiefs – Shamsiel’s descendants would gather. Seeking answers from their self made god. The children of Shamsiel, half human, half celestial were blessed with his grasp and control of the magical realms as well as his prowess in combat.

 

Now all these events might seem surreal but for the most part went unnoticed by the outside world. They however of more significance then what was ever realized. Naamah and her mistress took careful notice of what had been unfolding. The events gave them a opportunity to finally fulfill her mistress’ plan. But for that to happen they would need the secrets Shamsiel had kept. The secrets that he had not even dared share with his tribe or his children. And the only way they would be able to get to him was through his children. Their blood combined with the amulets, would unlock Shamsiel’s prison for a brief time. Allowing access to Shamsiel’s timeless prison, not free him but to commune with him directly.

 

Naamah waited patiently for their faith and believes to wane. Using her mistress’ teachings of the darker arts and chaotic magic to interfere with Shamsiel’s whispers. She finally made her move, infiltrating the tribe as a traveling seer. Claiming to have heard Shamsiel’s voice when the tribe could not. She had come from a far land. Shamsiel’s voice guiding her to his children. They have lost their way and could no longer hear his whispers. The tribe being lost without their ‘god’, listened intently as she spun her web of deceit. She started to divide them. Turning them against on another . Hoping that once they were divided it would be easier for her to manipulate them into opening Shamsiel’s prison.

 

She finally managed to get the tribe to turn unto itself and split into two, the wolves and the dragons. She thought, ” Now is my chance!”, but soon realized that her plan was tragically flawed. Even though being dived weakened them and they would be more easily conquered, only united would they be able to unlock Shamsiel’s prison. Wounded by her fatal miscalculation she retreated into the shadows to pursue the other parts of her mistress’ plan. Shamsiel’s knowledge was a critical piece of the puzzle but one that would need to wait for now. She left behind flocks of black crows as spies. They were to keep her abreast of the tribe and their progress, in hopes that in time they would unify once more and in that moment she would strike. Until then she would leave them to their own devices and continue her mission.

 

Again many moons passed, so many so that the two tribes – the wolves and the dragons had forgotten why they were fighting. It had became so ingrained into them that they kept on. Other tribes had moved into the valley by now. They stayed well clear of the two warring tribes, for their power and battle acumen were legendary. The old ways mostly forgotten but certain traditions stayed. The eldest son of the wolves’ chief would receive the wolf amulet, and the eldest daughter of the dragons’ chief the dragon amulet. It seemed as if the two tribes would end up wiping each other out. But fate or Shamsiel or perhaps another diety, intervened on one faithful day.

 

The daughter of the dragons’ chief had been seeking spiritual guidance by the sacred waterfall. Since she would be the next to lead her people, she beckoned any one who would hear her, guidance to resolve the war plaguing her people. Alone in the wilderness she was attacked by a bear and would had surely died if not for the intervention of the Wolves’ chief’s son. He too had come to the waterfall seeking guidance for the future of his people. He had come just as the bear was attacking the Dragon maiden. He overpowered it risking his own life to save her. And then it was as if Aphrodite herself had laid hands upon them. The moment their eyes met, they knew that they loved one another. A meeting of twin souls. They had a torrent secret love affair for if their father’s or their own tribes people were to find out then there would surely be hell to pay.

 

So their love affair continued in secret. They were unified before the gods, in a secret wedding preformed by one of the neighboring tribe’s shaman’s. One day a huge battle ensued between the two tribes and both the chief’s fell in the heat of it. With their father’s passing, they would assume the roles of the leaders of their tribes. Through their love and union the two tribes would be joined together once more. Not all were happy with this in the beginning but as time passed, and Shamsiel’s whispers returned they knew that this was the way it was meant to be.

 

Shortly after that, they announced that they were with child. The tribe rejoiced with the news, all was as it should be. Naamah’s spies had quickly reported back to her of the recent happenings. She made her way back to the faithful valley to collect that piece of the puzzle that had eluded her for so long. With the tribe finally united she would have the means within her grasp to have a audience with Shamsiel. Though whatever means necessary she would find out the secrets he has so dearly kept for so many centuries. She went from one neighboring tribe to another. Inciting in them fear and hatred towards the Dragonwolf clan. For now that they were united surely they would mean to conquer the other tribes. To take all the lands for themselves. It wasn’t long before she had a army at her back, and it was time for her to strike.

 

The Dragonwolf tribe were overjoyed with the news of the birth of the daughter of the new unified tribe. Their joy was however short lived. On the eve of the girl’s first week and her naming ceremony both her parents had a prophetic warnings in the form of a dream. It was not their Ancestor and tribe’s father Shamsiel that came to them, but another god far to the west, named Hades.

 

He told them that the old gods’ power were waning and that the new gods with their following ever increasing had taken power of the counsel of god’s. One of these gods was the one Shamsiel had served in the past. With the secrets Shamsiel had of the god’s realm, it would mean the downfall of not only that god but of all creation. The death of the world tree itself. He warned them that there were dark chaotic primordial forces at work. That these dark gods who had ruled long before creation began, before the world tree and the nine realms. He warned that Naamah was coming with a army to slay all the Dragonwolf tribe. To take them to the scared waterfall, where they would be forced to unlock Shamsiel’s prison. Once she gains access, it would only be a matter of time before everything is lost. He left them with one last warning, that many of the old gods wanted to return to power and would destroy creation itself to achieve it. They long to have their power back and have joined Namaah, under promise of great rewards upon her victory. Many still do not want to see the fall of creation, and still stand against her. They must choose whom they trust very carefully as not all will be as it seems. The new gods are drunk with power. They do not heed the warnings given to them by the old gods. It is up to the two of them to determine the fate of creation. As their dream started to fade and they started to wake , Hades begged them to take their child and flee. To flee furthest reaches of the known world and never return to this place.

 

The two new parents woke up in terror with the images and words bestowed onto by Hades. They feared and contemplated on the recourse and actions they would need to take. After much deliberation and much painful debate it was decided. Both of them could not abandon their people in their time of need. The Dragon maiden would take a squad of guards, and the child and flee at the darkest time of the night. Using her magic to keep her hidden from Naamah and her spies. The Wolf warrior would remain and lead their people in the oncoming battle. When it is done, if he were to survive, he would find her, using their bond and be with her and their child. And so it came to pass that the Dragon maiden fled in the dark of night with the child, to the furthest reaches of the known world waiting for her love to join her.

 

At the break of dawn the following day the Wolf Warrior had rallied his people in the dead of night. Readying them for the battle to come. They were not prepared for the vast overwhelming numbers Naamah had brought up against them. The Dragonwolf’s last stand did not last very long. As all seemed lost the Wolf Warrior and his elite guard decided to withdraw and regroup. Attempting to save as many lives of the women and children as they could. It was during a sortie, accompanying a group of refugees that they were ambushed and the Wolf warrior received a mortal wound. One of the refugees, a young boy, a orphan who had joined their tribe recently, no more than twelve years of age, picked up the wolf warrior’s sword and slayed one of invaders as he was about to kill the Wolf warrior. Other Dragonwolf warriors arrived and slayed the remaining villains but it was to late for them to save their chief. The boy sat by the chief’s side as his life flame burnt low. The Wolf warrior mustering up his last strength and with his last breaths, took off his wolf amulet and placed it on the boy. He then cut his own hand, then grabbed the boy’s hand and cut it.

He then mutter the words,’ Blood of my blood, may the wolf live within you. With it’s guidance and strength ensure the survival of our people and our world. You are now my son, heir to the wolf….” With his last breath he held the boy in his arms and uttered, ‘ my son…. ‘

 

The Dragonwolf warriors looked at awe at the sight before them as a blinding light enveloped the boy. The Boy’s muse colored hair suddenly golden, and his hazel eyes now like sapphires. The warriors all knelt before him. Shamsiel’s whispers began to echo in the boy’s mind. Overwhelming him, as he fell to the ground unconscious. The warriors quickly snatched up the boy and fled into the forests. Naamah’s soldiers were close behind. They lay the boy in a crevice and stood to face their attackers but the but were soon overcome.

 

When the attackers reached the crevice where the boy had been hidden, he was gone. Stolen away by some unseen force. Naamah screamed out in frustration. Ankle deep in the blood of the battle surrounded by the fallen Dragonwolf tribesmen. Her plan had failed yet again. The Dragon Maiden was gone, and with her the child and the amulet. The wolf warrior had been slain and his amulet was missing. She had no way of opening Shamsiel’s prison. She screamed in rage slaying all those in her vicinity, even those whom had come to fight with her. After her outburst was contained and before the army turned on her, she faded away among the shadows. Leaving her agents behind once more to keep vigil.

 

The boy was stolen away by a Leshy, the green man also known as the man of the woods. A Celestial being in it’s own right, protector and guardian of the forest and all who dwell there. Being proficient in the ways of magic very few other beings are. He took the boy to protect it from harm and from being captured so not to be used by Naamah as part of her insidious schemes. He felt that within the boy a change had occurred. Some magic that the wolf warrior himself had not known he possessed. He had infused the boy with the spirit of the wolf and by doing so allowed the boy to take the form of a wolf when danger is near. This troubled the Leshy immensely. With the Dragonwolf tribe all but wiped out. The fire of fear in the neighboring tribes still burning high. and With Naamah’s crow spies all over the forest. Surely a half man half wolf roaming the forest would bring unnecessary attention and his capture or death would be imminent.

 

The Leshy did what he thought was the right thing to do. He hid the boy in a cave, near a tribe of nomads whom had made camp on the borders of the Dragonwolf’s land. He placed a spell on the boy to allow the boy to sleep until the last dragon is born. When the time had come for their destinies to be fulfilled. He then approached the nomadic tribe and offered them a bargain. Their people would be allowed to stay on these lands. To carry on the story of what had occurred here. To take the boy in as their own and teach him the way of the wolf and of his ancestors when the time came. In exchange, he would teach them the ways of magic he knew, and grant them the blessings and protection of the forest. The nomadic tribe could not refuse such a offer, not from one so near to a god as any other creature. They made their home there and continued to carry on the tradition of the story of what had happened in the valley below as told to them by the Leshy. Using the magics learned for healing and aiding anyone that needed it. Waiting faithfully for the time when the boy would awaken and the war for the survival of this realm would begin.

 

The Leshy too was contacted by Hades. He told him where the Dragon maiden, and her daughter were to be found. He taught a handful of females from the nomadic tribe great protection magic and divination. This band of female gypsies he sent to watch over the Dragon Maiden and her child, and their offspring. To protect them and when the time comes to offer them guidance and tutelage in the ways of magic and their ancestors.

 

And so it came to pass. Time ever moving and progressing. Reality became myth, became legends, became forgotten to all, save for the few still honoring their pact with the Leshy. The year is 2018 and the last dragon rises, and darkness and chaos are in close pursuit.