The Dragon Riders of
Aatuk
As is written the men of
Aathuk wandered far afield, leaving the Forge of the All Father even
before the first of the dwarven kingdoms. They settled, as all their
peoples did, upon the Sea of Erun, but migrated with the other
tribes, crossing the Dulcet and into the Wilderness. Their journey
was a long one and early on they left the other tribes upon the
northern shores, crossing at first the great isle that later bore the
name of Gal-Land.
In the Gal-land they dwelt
for some time, building towns upon the sea, but there came an age
where Mailuhm flew high and far from the world and the seas in those
climes froze. The Aathuk, always restless, moved north, crossing the
ice bridge into a wide empty land. They explored the country and
found little life there, for few could stand the snow, the ice and
cold. The growing seasons were short and those creatures that dwelt
there, large bears, seals, huge ox and other bovines were fierce and
not easy to hunt or harvest. But the land was quiet and still, the
forests deep, the mountains stark, cut and carved by the ever blowing
wind. Here the Aathuk found a true home, for they were a people of
themselves and lived as was their want, far from the haunts of man or
god.
They wandered ever
further, exploring the vast wasteland. They broke apart as a people,
spreading out in small bands. Some preferred the coasts, others the
woods, still others the higher mountains and start landscapes that
touched the skies. They built vast mansions and towers to house them
and they trafficked with each other when in need. They built sleds to
cross the icy tundra and boats propelled by magic to cut the frozen
sea.
They traded with few
others but for the dwarves that dwelt in the Channel Lakes and
Turmberg and those of Nogdrick Kam. The Aathuk studied all they came
across, but mostly they cast themselves into the heavens, seeking an
understanding of the All Father and the gods of the Val-Earhakun. In
these early ages they mastered shaping stone like none but the
dwarves and they built towers upon the slopes and hills, and later
the mountains. They mastered glass and from them came the working of
that material in many shapes and sizes. They built viewing scopes and
watched things afar and the heavens became the object of their
desires.
Of the dwarves they
learned the runes and the magic contained in them and with these they
built flying ships and greater viewing scopes. They plied the
heavens, climbing ever higher into the emptiness, seeking to find
gateways to the other worlds and the Void.
The Aathuk paid homage to
no gods but worshiped themselves and the elements more than all else.
And in their youth they mastered the dragons.
It is said that a Prince
of their people, Cynquil, came upon three dragons feasting on a
bovine of his heard. He called to the dragons, not knowing their true
nature and ordered them to be off, thinking he at least could salvage
the meat. But the beasts only growled, the larger of them, turning on
the kill to face the young man. Cynquil hesitated, and though armed
with a sword and a shirt of chain, he did not know what strength the
beasts possessed. He watched them through the long morning.
He saw the dragons were
meticulous in their actions. As they ate, they cleaned themselves,
and any disagreement caused them to stretch out their necks, and show
their armored hides, fangs or claws. They spoke to one another in the
vulgate, though the words seemed to tumble into the air more than
from their throats or mouths. He listened to them and thought they
sounded petty as they bragged one to the other of deeds or misdeeds.
At last Cynquil rose and
strode amongst the dragons and they growled, spreading wings across
the ground and tails snapping to and fro. As Cynquil approached he
cast runes into the air and walked through them, making him seem ever
greater than he was, and he was already a great man. When he stood in
their midst he uttered more runes casting them out and about to
settle like chains upon the dragons for they were charming runes and
runes designed to ease one's mind and open it to suggestions. But
when he spoke his tongue was honey and dripped of kindnesses,
compliments and other words of praise that made the dragon's minds
ease and think better of the Prince.
He talked then of flying
and wondered aloud how it must be to fly so high in the heavens. In
truth he knew, for he piloted a craft that sailed the skies. And the
dragon offered to bare him aloft, thinking he could shake this
creature from his back and slay him. So Cynquil climbed onto the
dragons back and bound himself there with runes. Hardly had Cynquil
finished his runes than the beast launched into the air, beating it
into submission. With powerful strokes it rose, clearing the forest
in short order. It climbed high and fast, rode the winds and cut the
clouds and Cynquil knew such joy as no man or beast in all the wide
world. His laughter pealed on high and he called the beast the
greatest of all creatures of the sky, earth and seas. The dragon's
heart softened at these words and it took a primal joy in the man's
happiness. For many hours they flew until the beast returned to the
clearing and its kill. The dragon's companions had finished the feast
and looked up at their return.
Once upon the ground
Cynquil called the beast many complimentary names, crowning him with
his language. And the dragon was secretly gratified.
But then Cynquil
challenged the dragon to battle, offering to spar with him, not onto
the death, but in a contest only, for he deemed the dragon held his
might above all things. Indeed he was a dragon young, but in the full
of his power. And the dragon thought to himself that here was an easy
proof of this creature's frail being and took up the challenge. In
deeds both bold and swift Cynquil defeated the beast, wielding runes
and blade in concert. At last the dragon fell to his arms and called
for mercy and Cynquil called him friend and servant and bound the
beast to him.
"No mercy can I give
oh drake of heaven's sent. For I deem you have held back the greater
of your powers in this contest and given me the victory for such a
creature you are." Though in truth Cynquil knew he had bested
the dragon.
And the dragon became
enamored of Cynquil and knew his words were true and he was the
greater of the two for he had spared the man. And it seemed to him
that he must stay with the man, protect him and allow him to visit
the heavens on high.
So the first of the dragon
riders came to be.
The power of the Aathuk
rose in the estimation of all people then, for the greatest of their
peoples mastered dragons. Always in the same manner, to conquer and
subdue, to offer flattery in place of condemnation and make the
dragon seem a beast greater than it was. And they were great indeed.
Many of the Aathuk died in taming dragons, for ever was it a wild
beast that they had to capture and though few dragons were as strong
as Cynquil's, few men were as strong as the Prince. But those who won
through, did so to ride dragons upon the heavens and serve their
people in peace and in war.
After many centuries of
peace the power of the Aathuk spread beyond the land of Aatuk and
they came to hold sway over the vast country of the Channel Lakes,
the lands of the east in Januk and the broad Forest of Rond. These
are held the Avowed Years of that people for dark Kings ruled them in
madness and chaos. They used the power of the dragons to build an
empire that spread beyond the alabaster towers of their homes. Men
bore them as gods and paid them tribute in whatever manner they
deemed fit or able. Few could withstand the dragon riders and their
power waxed great. Tis rumored that the Naarheit rose high in their
estimation, and though never worshiped, his shadow is seen upon the
halls of the Aathuk, so that those who were weak and willful listened
to his call and became as slaves to his madness. The Aathuk ruled
thus for a thousand years, mirroring the power of the south and the
dwarven Kings of Alanti.
In their interactions with
the dwarves, they passed on the knowledge of dragon mastery to only a
few. The dwarves of Nogdrick Kam, long allies and friends, took to it
as no others of that people. And only a few of the tribes of men, who
wandered wild in the world, and these few were numbered. What was
common in Aatuk and Nogdrick Kam proved rare elsewhere.
In time the power of the
Aathuk waned, the Dragon Kings fell away from Empire and the Avowed
Years ended. It was never the desire of the Aathuk to build worldly
Kingdoms but rather to turn to heavens and conquer the will of the
All Father. To do so they flew ever higher until their adventures ran
afoul of the Wall of Worlds and many were lost, confounded in the
infinite clouds. Some few broke free, to serve Corthain, or plunder
the far reaches of the Great Empty none can say.
But some, as is told, came
to the realm of the goblins.
~The Codex of Aihrde
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