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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.