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===== Paldegora: The 2nd Apocalypse - Empire of the Dragons =====

==== The Arrival ====

So it came to pass in the last days of the age now known as The Twilight of Kingdoms a new star appeared in the heavens. Small and bright it burned and the Elves named it Philogon; meaning "bright child of Phi." Many marked its appearance and great hope was placed upon it, for it showed out as would the light of Phi herself and many took it as a sign of her return. But as the months and seasons passed it continued to grow ever larger and brighter in the sky. Its light became not one of pure white light, but one of shifting hues and colors, and a shadow fell over the children of Paldegora. For this was not something of Phi or even Sahn. But something strange and fell. it bore a sense of foreboding and dread emanated from it. It is likened to the sun shining on a summer's day, but it did not radiate warmth and life as did the sun. Its light showed upon Paldegora with only fear and apprehension and the people grew afraid. Its arrival lit the skies with fire and flame and shrieked as it fell to the ground. So violent was its impact that the seas raced away only to return and swallow whole cities. Mountains fell and valleys rose towards the heavens. Forests burned and the very ground shook and cracked and vomited forth its burning entrails and the whole of Paldegora shuddered over and over from the blow. For a thousand years, darkness covered the skies and fire did rain down upon all the surface of the world. Millions perished from all races and all parts of the world. The continents broke apart and the seas filled the void and many years passed before calm once again came to the tortured planet so that life and beauty could begin to return. Yet even in all the destruction that was brought the races did survive. Phi and Naa protected them and sheltered them and kept them for their own. Even Sahn kept his Darklings within his bosom until it was time. So it was that the people emerged and began to rebuild their world but it was a vastly different place than they had known before. To everyone's amazement, a new force also was felt. Something strange, powerful, and not known before this time.

Magic had arrived in Paldegora.

So it was also that something else had arrived on Paldegora and for a thousand years it hid and quietly and secretly grew and made ready the implements and tools of war. Then when all was finally prepared and ready did it spring forth and unleashed its ravenous hunger for blood and death and conquest. But not from one place only did it come, but from five points of the globe it spewed forth its cloud of violence and death.

From the fiery mountains of Ignus and the Black Swamps of Nox, from the burning sands of Cyrix, the frozen wastes of Nord, and the dense jungles of Bongadar came forth the Five Dragons of Destruction.

And driven before each was an army of creatures never before seen on Paldegora. Similar they were to the peoples of Peldagora yet different and they called themselves Men, and violence was in their hearts and minds. Large and fell were each army and they were all clad and arrayed in the armaments of war. Shining helms, swords, and shields that glittered in the sun, spears, and bows that sang a song of magic, and the banners they flew heralded each of the Dragon masters they served. All that faced them in battle were routed and died and were forced to fall back before them. Nothing it seemed could turn the wave of death and hopelessness the Five Dragons had unleashed upon the world.

Yet hope did not die.

==== The Conquest ====

For at this time three sisters appeared to the Elves. And the Elves cried out in amazement and fear, for surely here were three daughters of Men who they beheld with awe and at once were both beautiful and powerful beyond all measure, surely they had come to destroy them all. The eldest and tallest of the three had flowing hair of silver and eyes set of deepest blue azure. Gentle was her speech and yet a power emanated from every word. The youngest had hair of shimmering copper and eyes as green as emeralds of the sea and laughter came within her words. The middle sister had hair of brown and gold that shimmered and changed as she moved as the leaves of the Fall and her words came as one of strength, wisdom, and determination. Yet surely the Elves cried in anguish, they have come to us this day to destroy us all.

Then the three sisters smiled and spoke kindly to them and dissuaded their fears. And asked if they and their people might dwell among them, for they had great gifts of skill and magic to give them for accepting them. For with them also had come a multitude of men women and children Yet proud, these sons and daughters of Mankind were not warriors. These were artisans and scholars and makers of things and had much else to offer. Sensing no evil within them the Elves then granted the request and so the Elves named the three the Aeliophilon, which meant "maidens of light" in their tongue.

In gratitude, the three sisters bade the Elves to summon their allies and hold a conference with them, for they had powerful gifts in mind for each of the races of Paldegora to turn the fortunes of war to their favor and stem the tide of destruction that was coming for them.

And so messengers were sent forth to all remaining kings and leaders to gather together for great council and hear for themselves the wisdom and offerings of the Aeliophilon.

So the great gathering of Elves, Dwarves, and Gnomes was held at a city whose name is now forgotten but lay at the center of the realm of Valdernost, which thereafter was named Silverspire.

For two days and nights, they spoke and the Aeliophilon told them of many things. Things that were both strange and magical and full of mystery. Mainly though they spoke of the enemy they faced and of strategy and warfare and how in the end they could not stand against the dragons and had no hope of defeating them. The council was astounded at their knowledge and plied them with questions as to how they could know such things. It was then that they revealed themselves fully as the Three Dragons of Preservation and attested they knew all these things for good reason. The Five Dragons of Destruction were, in fact, their brothers, and then they shed their human forms and stood before all as three magnificent but monstrous metallic dragons of silver, copper, and bronze. The Elves trembled and wept and the dwarves swore and tore at their beards and the gnomes scurried toward any tree or shrub to hide, all were certain they had been tricked and betrayed.

Then the great silver dragon spoke and all were stunned to silence and stood wide-eyed and frozen, for their limbs would not work, and only could they breathe but nigh else.

As she spoke she bade them find peace in their hearts, and lay all fears aside, for she and her sisters would kill and enslave no one. All that they would offer would have to be taken willingly for force and domination was the nature of their brothers and not in them.

Then appearing before them all were the great gifts they would bestow upon them.

To the Elves the Silver Dragon offered an enchanted bow and harp and told the Elves with these they would become the fiercest archers of all Paldegora and their arrows would fly long and strike true. With the harp, they could weave spells and songs to heal and nurture the lands and forests and would preserve them all in undying beauty and song.

To the Dwarves, the Bronze Dragon offered an enchanted hammer and anvil that they might forge mighty weapons and armor of magic from metals yet unknown. Arrayed with such they would have the means to resist the fell armies of the Five Dragons. Yet also we're they shown a magical pickaxe so that they might delve into Paldegora to find the most precious jewels and metals from the depths below.

To the Gnomes, however, the Copper Dragon offered but one thing. A book of Magic. So that with this they could research, study and archive magic and learn to wield it and create from it artifacts and enchant items of great power and preserve nature so that they should always share this knowledge with all the other races.

All this they would give, and in return, all that was asked was to give their realm to each and to be offered tributes of silver and gold, jewels and magical items, and things of beauty that the peoples would create. For all this, they would agree to stand with them against their brothers. If not, they would take their leave and would not be seen or heard from again.

And so it was that the Elves, Dwarves, and Gnomes accepted the gifts and swore oaths to the dragons that they would keep their word and provide for them all they asked.

So the gifts were given and put to use. The army that went forth arrayed with magical arms did stems the tide of The Five and the war ground to a halt and peace of a fashion did return.

But each dragon now held sway over its kingdom. And those subjugated by the Five suffered and toiled under their brutality and cried out to Phi and Naa to hear their woes and free them.

But for now, all of Paldegora was under the claws of the Empire of Dragons and no end to it could ever be foreseen.