RuneScape Forum Archive | Draconic Interactions (3)

Darlantan

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Umbra paused for several moments, letting his words sink in before continuing.
"Now for the last. I am old... one of the oldest beings of this world and one of the oldest ancients. But I am not an elder. Our 'kind' distinguishes ourselves by three 'tiers,' if you will: the ancients, the elders, and the eldest. What distinguishes the elders and the eldest from the rest is the eldest. We know little of the eldest, only it was likely the first of our kind, the first being of the world... though Vates [pronounced 'Vaht-tays] would have you think he arose with the eldest. The elders... there are four, each representing the most primal, integral forces of the world. The oldest: Vates, ancient of time and space. Next were the twins: Lux and Tenebra, arisen together, ancients of light and darkness, respectively. Finally was the youngest: Nihil, ancient of the Abyss, he who most loved the world. According to Lux, those primordial times ended with the manifestation fo Nihil, for with him the world came into existence. What happened next... Nihil would grow silent and withdrawn whenever I asked; Lux and Tenebra I regrettably never asked. But Vates... it was always he who told the rest of us the tale of our creation. By his account, the eldest, whom he named Chaos, saw the world and was displeased with the order which had formed, stifled creation and ultimately sought the destruction of the new world. Vates claims he fought this 'Chaos' and slew him, unleashing the maelstrom of energy from which the rest of us arose. Most ancients accept the tale as fact... but I have always doubted it. Nihil would never affirm it was true, and he was always... honest, in those times... Ah, but I have not stated the answer clearly. What distinguishes an ancient from an elder is the elders existed in the time of the eldest. I choose not to believe the elder tales, for only one spoke on the matter, while two remained silent and Nihil refused to answer."

21-Jul-2014 06:24:54

Darlantan

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"Which leaves... Ah, yes. 'Him.' I have not spoken with another ancient since my imprisonment, so I cannot know who 'He' is... but I have strong suspicions. You see, when an ancient perishes and the nexus breaks, the force it represents is thrown into its disorganized, primal state... but if the force remains great enough in the world, the force will reorganize and a new ancient will arise. This has not always been the case; some ancients have perished and never again risen, but you would possess no understanding of what they were simply because their forces no longer exist in the world. However, the eldest... I am not old enough to have known what he truly was, but I expect he was all of creation, in a way. The very fact we exist should mean he would arise again... but he has not. However, there exists a being very much like an ancient... a being Vates also refers to as 'Chaos,' though he denies it to be an ancient. From what I have seen... it may very well be stronger than all of the ancients... and it certainly lives up to the name. It is a shapeless silver dragon which raves nonsense and destroys everything in its path. It arises after many millennia... and all of us save Nihil and myself fight to destroy it... usually at the cost of some to many of our own. I suspect it is the reborn form of the eldest... although the very fact we have always been able to destroy it leaves me uncertain. However, that being's nature served well to convince the others Vates spoke the truth of the eldest... In any case, it has been a great span of time since I last sensed Chaos' destruction throughout the world. Long enough that I believe the others suspect he will arise again soon. If I had to guess, I believe that is the 'He' they referred to. Most ancients fear speaking even his domain name, even if that particular name carries no power..."

21-Jul-2014 06:51:23

NarBloodwolf

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The dialogue with Umbra was not a chance Rhen would miss lightly to learn more of the culture of the Ancients. Before Umbra had began speaking Rhen prepared his mind; since writing down anything would be pointless; to memorize the knowledge Umbra would speak. It was all fascinating to Rhen as Anima and Nex did not share much of their culture as Anicents. But what Rhen focused on most was the knowledge Umbra provided about the void. The fact that it had no Ancient as an aspect of it was interesting to Rhen for that would also explain the chaotic nature of how the void and its energies flow in a destructive and unpredictable manner. Although Rhen now had a better understanding of the void, there was still much he did not know. Which left him pondering where and how he could learn more since asking the Ancient of the void was out of the question.

''Thank you for sharing your culture and knowledge with us Umbra. This is truly an experience I will not forget and the knowledge you have given will be treasured for the rest of time or for as long as I remain alive without descending into madness.'' said Rhen with a slight bow at the waist after Umbra finished.

~So....the void has a hole for an Ancient but the likelihood that there will be one is slim since the void plays no major role in the world. It does make one wonder though.....what would the nature of the void be if there was an Ancient to bring order to its unstable nature. From there one may be able to study the void with less side-effects than in current time. But only a fool would unleash the entirety of the void into the world. Well a Fool or a madman.~ Rhen pondered to himself.

''You said the you have been isolated from the outside world. If you wish I would gladly share my people's culture with you as you have shared yours. An exchange of knowledge and cultures if you will. Also since you have never met my race I figured, perhaps you would like to know more about them.'' Spoke Rhen after a moment of thought.

21-Jul-2014 15:21:11

Basileus257

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<Of course Caelidorus. Please, take as much time as you need. I'll spend the... night I guess someplace else so you can rest easier. If you change your mind and decide that you want something, just let me know and I will get it for you****;

Matt took one of the books from the shelf at random. Pausing only to top off his glass with more of the wine, he sat down in an armchair that faced Umbra. "Umbra, I hope you do not mind if I read one of these books. I am curious to see what you have devoted your time into writing." Matt said as he examined the title of the book he picked. "Did you write every book in here? There must be thousands or even millions of different books."

Matt paused for several minutes to allow Umbra the opportunity to finish answering the questions posed to him. A mixture of amazement and confusion filled his mind. Much of what was said contradicted science and logic but Matt doubted that Umbra was lying. "Amazing." He muttered before raising his voice. "If what you say is true (not that I think you are lying, of course), well... that would change the way people look at everything. What you have said though... well it brings several additional questions to mind. I hope you do not have a problem with indulging me further. Let me see..... I think i'll start with what should hopefully be a fairly simple question. Around the time you were imprisoned within your soulstone, about how many Ancients were there in existence? My second question is related to you specifically. Why is it that Nihil decided to essentially invade your kingdom and strike you down? It sounds like you were not enemies for a time, so what happened to change all that? My final question (or perhaps I should say questions) relates to something you said. You always said 'world' instead of 'worlds'. Was there only one world originally? If so, how did one world become two? Are there more worlds then just Neuva and Elune? Finally, is there any way to reunite the worlds again?"

“He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”

¯ Aristotle

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

Marthe Troly-Curtin

21-Jul-2014 20:16:14

Darlantan

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<I'll be listening... but my mind won't be completely here. With any luck I won't zone out of the important bits****;

Umbra paused for a moment, taking a long draught of his wine before regarding Rhen curiously. "I would be intrigued to learn of your kind. Humans may not have existed while I walked the world, but the essential construction of the race did. You, however... you are a new creature entirely. Nothing with a formation like yours existed in those eons long past."

The ancient shifted his position slightly, laying back in his chair and closing his eyes. "I did, in a sense, although not in a physical sense as this is a projection I have constructed of myself. 'Thinking' would be a more accurate description of how I created these tomes, but I am the author of all of them. I can see and sense very little of the world beyond my soulstone; there has been little else for me to do, aside from contemplation. One's works can add up when one has nothing to do but 'write' for eons on end. You may read as you wish, but the majority of my works are poetry. Some are diaries of sorts, collections of thoughts, various histories of what I know. A small few are my direct thoughts; one is even what thoughts currently reside in my head, so to speak, and records my words as I speak them, though finding that one would be quite unlikely given how many books there are to sort through. But yes, read as you wish. They would not open if I disallowed it."

22-Jul-2014 03:10:47

Darlantan

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"How many ancients..." the dragon frowned deeply, then opened his eyes. "...I truly do not recall. Beyond the elders, there was... Anima, Animus, Nex, Vita, Magnus, Sol, Luna... Oh, and the 'four elements,' Ventus, Terra, Ignis, and Aquam; your race would be wise not to invoke their ire, as they always took it upon themselves to 'cleanse' the world of mortal races whenever matters devolved into enough strike and warfare to displease them. Others... there are others, although some perished and did not re-manifest during my time... and there may be newer members of our kind, possibly born out of forces mortals introduced to the world. It is ultimately the 'idea' from whence a force originates... and anything in the world may lead to the formation of the 'idea.'"

22-Jul-2014 03:46:11

NarBloodwolf

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''Aye it is true that we were not among the first races on the worlds. But we are not a new group of beings entirely. My Elder never said much of our origins but we are not as young as other races. We have only remained hidden from unwarranted eyes hence why few know of our existence.'' Rhen began somewhat of a smile on his face since Umbra actually wanted to hear of the Watchers.

''But back to other things. Watcher are not born in a sense, we are created. Ever 100 years our people gather and pour their energy into what is know as the Orithar. The Orithar is the purest crystal in the worlds. It has no flaws and it is said to resonate in harmony with all aspects of life but the truth to this unknown. But regardless only one Watcher is born every 100 years. I was an unexpected exception to this cycle. Thus to other Watchers I am 'incomplete' or 'broken'. But I am rambling on.....My people have dedicated their lives to the study of magic as it is what gives us life and energy. But there are some forms of magic that are forbidden. Necromancy and Void magic are among the forbidden magics of my people. All knowledge we gain through out our studies in placed in the Great Crystal. A monolithic crystal that is enchanted to hold the knowledge of the Watchers of the past and present. We are able to both deposit and withdraw knowledge at our whim. In a way it is like what the humans would call a library. This library is the core of our city of Kagrenzel. Kagrenzel is a construct of magic as well. Formed of both crystal and natural plant matter it is a virtual fortress and his well hidden from unwarranted gazes by a dome which conceals the city.''

Rhen thought for a moment thinking if he missed anything before continuing on.

22-Jul-2014 04:01:36

NarBloodwolf

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''In my current state I look more human than the rest of my people. All watchers are born with wings like great birds and they are a symbol of status. I lost mine long ago and thus became an outcast. When a Watcher loses his wings he loses his life. I ignored the warnings and laws of my people and I delved into the forbidden magic of the void. My theory was that so long as there was a medium, the raw energy of the Void could be molded into anything that the user willed it to be. I was correct but my first attempt to do so ended with disaster. The energy I had gathered was too much for me to control at the time and thus it backfired and took from me my wings and one of my arms. From there I was cast out of society but in truth I think it was for the better. I am learning more in my travels that I would sitting in a study in Kagrenzel.'' said Rhen his expression becoming somewhat downcast when he spoke of his fall.

''One of the things I learned was how to create machines. This I learned from the humans. This lead me to creating Prosthetic replacements for the limbs I had lost. They are not perfect by any means as these are only prototypes but they serve well enough. Do you have any questions about my people or me in particular?''

22-Jul-2014 04:08:20

Darlantan

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"Your other two questions... they are related. After Nihil manifested, the world was created as the Abyss separated from it. It was single world: whole, not split into three. Nihil... he had a certain fondness for me. Perhaps I reminded him of Lux and Tenebra; shadow is born from the interplay between Light and Darkness, so I am most strongly linked to them of all ancients. I am also old... I believe I would have been the next elder to manifest if the eldest had not been slain. Regardless, Nihil spent much of his time here in my city... an honored guest of sorts. As for what happened... time passed, and Nihil changed. He grew more silent and further withdrawn... eventually I approached him, and he struck without warning. One of our legends states an ancient cannot harm another ancient... whether it is true or if it was for other reasons, he trapped me in my soulstone as my children turned against me, allying with him. What followed... I do not know many of the details, but he twisted the shadow essence of my children with that of the Abyss... not merely changing them or forming different creatures, but forming something new, creatures with a Name, abominations known to children of Lux as the Seekers. Before... a Name was something possessed only by ancients. To create such beings... you could say it was an unspeakable crime. Whether it was for this, for his actions against me, a combination of both, or something else entirely, I do not know... but it was enough to band the ancients together to create the Rend. They fought and bound him in chains... then quite literally tore the world asunder, momentarily creating a great rift to the Abyss into which they hurled him. The rift sealed and became the barrier between each half of the world... and he has remained imprisoned in the Abyss to this day, unable to set foot in the world. It was here the Rend occurred, which is why the barrier is thinnest... but yes, he betrayed me. Simply turned and... and..."

22-Jul-2014 04:23:57

Darlantan

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The ancient snarled and clenched a fist... then suddenly sighed and relaxed it.
"...I spent a great time hating him. Despising him for his betrayal. But over the eons... I know it is not his fault, now. Always knew, to an extent... but it was long before I was willing to accept that. I gazed many times into the Abyss in the past... and I saw it slowly changing, darkening into what it is now. The Abyss became corrupted... and with it, Nihil. That is why he turned against me. Why the Abyss became corrupted... well, you may or may not already know this, but the Abyss surrounds the world, encompassing it entirely. Very little of it seeps into the world... but things of the world seep out into the Abyss constantly. Some schism in the world slowly seeped this corruption into the Abyss... Vates claimed it was the fault of the mortal races. They brought violence and bloodshed to the world and the resulting evil infected the Abyss... but he lies. Of that I no longer doubt, for it was Vates himself who introduced violence into the world with the slaying of the eldest. I believe the eldest was integral to the world, and with his death the world was irreversibly wounded... tainted. I do not know... but I believe Vates broke the world, and I believe that is why the Abyss became corrupted. That... that is the true reason why I distrust everything Vates claims."
"Whether or not the world could become whole again... I believe it is possible, but it may very well require the rebirth of the eldest to be accomplished. It would likely be cataclysmic to your people. You adapted to a split world eons ago. For it to become whole again... your race would likely survive, but whatever civilizations you wrought would not. From our perspective, you would adapt very quickly. From yours... you would likely forget the world was not always whole before then."

22-Jul-2014 04:39:45

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Draconic Interactions (3)