[DragonMerge] Dreams Write History, Not Nightmares

[Sansaku Metsubou]

In the quaintest of villages, round the fires which blaze bright during the night, the elders of the world pass by word of mouth the stories of the ancient order of the DragonMerge. Warriors of both light and darkness, selfishness and generosity, who despite their differences were able to keep the lands peaceful and balanced for ages beyond what mortal men could even dare to count. The children gather, the adults smile, and the elders take turns telling the tale. All is well in the villages, for now. The story begins, and the children hush. The elders are to be heeded.

"Ages ago, in the time when men and dragons bared their teeth at one another viciously, mortal men sought to expand their townships and devour the forests with their primive machinery. Ambitiously they advanced into the woodlands, hacking their way across the lands and destroying the homes of many a creature and beast. The Dragons, a race as old as time itself, became angered with the humans. Anger which did not come easily to the ancient and honoured race brought doom to the humans, many of the broods blackened the skies with their wings and wiped the men from the very face of the world. They were slaughtered in the hundreds, snuffed out in mere moments. The humans fought back, dragonslayers traversed the globe seeking out and slaughtering dragons wherever they found them, until at last there had been enough. Vorasyr, the leader of the Golden Dragons, came to the king of men in a dream. He spoke of peace, negotiation, and order. Rohinder, the King of Men, left his palace and traveled to the highest peak in the land, which he had seen in his dream. It was there that they met, and they spoke. For days they did speak, discussing the terms of their treaty, until at last an accord had been found. But each knew that their people would not answer to the demands of the other race. It was an extreme time, and it called for extreme measures. Vorasyr, perched high atop the mountain, offered an undeniable solution: They were to fuse their souls, come together as one single entity, known as a DragonMerge. And there upon the mountaintop they performed the first of many mergings, fusing their souls together and ascending to a power which had not yet been witnessed by the world. Rohinder mounted Vorasyr, and together they descended the mountaintop.

"From the mountaintop, they approached the home of the golden dragonbrood, where Vorasyr explained to his people that the only hope for peace was in this sacred union of souls. His people, trusting in his timeless wisdom and knowledge, followed him without hesitation. From there, each brood was called upon, the leaders coming from the world over to meet with Vorasyr. Most called him foolish, denouncing the union as an abomination, while one stood by him. One was left when the others departed, and to them Vorasyr explained the event upon the mountaintop. Gripped by this immense show of desire for peace, and the power achieved through this union, the drake returned to their brood and announced their allegiance. From there, they left their home to search the world over, seeking their rider so that they might join Vorasyr and Rohinder in their quest for balance. Meanwhile, the DragonMerge traveled to the kingdom of Men, where Rohinder abdicated his throne to the Regeant Lord, and announced the founding of the DragonMerge. The people were shocked, but they accepted the order. They had no choice. They would accept it, or they would pay the ultimate price. And thus, a new era had begun in the world. An era of balance, and tranquility..."


The Black and Brass Dragons, and an additional traveler.
[Confused Objectives, .Warpath., Sky Tonima]

You know the history of the DragonMerge, it is but a bedtime story to you. Or so you thought. You have been having dreams, lately. Dreams of fire and peril. Though only you know what you have seen, all around you know you to be resting uneasy. You know the history of this world, it is but a glimmer of the past to you. But History repeats itself. What does this mean for you? What dreams do you dream in the dead of the night? And what shall you write for your own history?

[SpectreShawn]

Dreams. A gateway to the inner most sanctum of the mind. A world, blacker than the darkest night, entrenched in the obsidian maw of a tormented slumber. Often he stirs amidst a deprived sleep, the occurrences happening more frequently now. Dreams? No, these are Nightmares. Plagued with the memories of a heart wrenching and tormented past, the dreams always carry themselves the same. The death of his eldest brother from a quick acting poison. Another falls on the battlefield, a misguided arrow from the wrong direction. Lastly, the youngest, smothered in his sleep by an unknown assassin.

Throughout this immersion of dreams, the one figure that remains the same is an ebony silhouette committing these horrid and volatile acts. Slowly the figure reveals itself, the young boy who smothered his youngest brother. The masked warrior who sends a rigid arrow straight through his older brother's head. Lastly, the esteemed gentleman who sits and eats calmly as the oldest brother, heir to the throne, chokes violently as the fluids in his body react and he falls from his chair, as blue as the midnight light.

The final vision, the worst of them all, was the death of a woman. A tall, older man in ceremonial garb stands tall above a woman laid out like a canvas atop an altar. One gauntleted hand plunges deep into her chest in a swift, violent motion, the gauntlet's veins glowing red as the essence of her very being is pulled within. He lifts his fist from her chest, turning to face the young boy who watches off to the side. Fingers unfurl to reveal a still-beating heart, though his face remains devoid of emotion.

Features change, his face turns rigid and skin is as black as night, scales forming across his features. A solemn face turns into a large, toothy grin revealing sharpened incisors and wickedly foul teeth. Eyes shift into slits, snake-like, wretched. A vision of fear causing shock and awe, demanding respect with sheer dominance of sight - humbling. The huge form takes shape and wings beat! A wicked mist sprays from it's mouth!

"NO!" he screams, awakened from his slumber in a cold sweat, body glistening in the moon light. It was late, a long time before dawn, but it was always the same. It always happened the same. It was not just his past that plagued him, but the past from long before...and the future that was to come.

[Confused Objectives]

Dreams were an uncommon thing for the forgotten warrior. It was not something that happened to him when he slept as his dreams were a living reality. When he dreamed of things, he knew they have already happened, are happening now, or will happen in the future. Whenever he dreamed, he knew that things would change because of that dream. This was no different. Ever since he found himself in the lands of Aeliyr, Kaos would have the same dream every single night. It wasn't even what someone would call a dream either; it was more of a nightmare.

Death. Decay. The images of dragons and humans alike. It was nothing normal, but it was something Kaos tried to live with for a few weeks, but every night the dream would continue and the nightmare would get worse and worse. He was beginning to wonder if the dreams would ever stop at all. The forgotten warrior even went as leaving Aeliyr altogether, but they did not stop. No, they continued to occur every night and he knew that this was not something he could simply run away from. No, Kaos returned to Aeliyr and did something he thought he would never do. He chose to keep dreaming instead of waking up when things got too bad.

He wanted to know why the dreams happened to him. Why here and why now. Surely it was not some common thing. This was something that involved him and only he would be able to figure out the answers to his questions. Instead of asking others, the forgotten warrior merely slept as long as possible in order to find his answers. At least, that was the case until he heard another scream as well. Kaos awake to find himself alone, but he knew that he heard it. He was not alone in this nightmare. There was others who had the same dreams as he.

Maybe if he found them, he would find the reasons for the dreams.
A new adventure was beginning.
A new day.

[Sky Tonima]

Walking through the night as he did so often when sleep would not find him. As he walked along he let a piece of himself open to the world around him. Listening. Those around him were sound asleep but he could tell whether it was peaceful or not. Dream and nightmares depending on how deep into it the person is can affect then in many different ways. Some woke with a start, their breathing rapid the fear evident, other would coo and drift deeper into the dreams hold.

But tonight the night felt thicker. Something was about, something was reaching out. Then as if his thinking it, it was gone, the feeling, the unease. The night was back to its serene bliss. Curious thoughts pulled at his mind, as he continued on keeping to the shadows. Before he left the shadows he grabbed a small stringed instrument that he stole two nights ago and began playing softly as he walked over to sit under a nearby tree.

"As the night fares true. I'll play you a tune. That tells of the fate we make. Whilst the moon shines upon our face. Those adventures and wishes we have. Deep within out selves. Making adventures with beast, burden, dwarf, and elves." He sang softly letting his voice fade so the notes took its place with lulling grace. "So sleep young dreamer, see your fate, your future. Look through the moon lit waters and smile. For when you wake your fate, and future can be just as you wish. The future a thing to make."

Finishing the song that was given to him by an old man trying to become a famous bard he smiled to himself. "Your songs may not become famous but they do, do something to the soul. Or to the dreamer." he laughed as he continued to strum as the night lingered on.

[Morgan]

@Amen

Disturbed by your dreams and unable to return to sleep, you decide that perhaps a brisk walk in the heart's emporium, the market at the center of Aeliyr, where the city literally never sleeps will do some good for you. As you browse the selection of wares that the various vendors have displayed, a group of rowdy boys "bump" into you. Quickly apologizing, they flee the scene, laughing as they do so.

@Kaos

You, too, find yourself walking the streets of the heart's emporium. You take note of a group of young boys whose running slows to a brisk walk. You notice that the boy in the center is holding a small pouch that seems to draw the entire group's attention.

@Sky

Your singing has not gone unnoticed. A passing group of young boys give pause to listen to your tunes. One of them is nice enough to toss a few coins in your direction from a pouch that he's carrying.

[SpectreShawn]

Walking through the street and browsing the various wares, Amen took the time to ease his mind by occupying it with menial trinkets of thought. Step by step brought him to various locales, each place darker than the last - even in the brightest day, the color black seemed to be most prominent in his surroundings.

It wasn't until Amen was finally at ease until something jarred him; woken from his thoughts, the sound of boys running off and a slight weightlessness to his hip was all hint or sign he needed. He was not, by nature, supremely evil. Not without conscience. Instead, he'd adjust the collar of his formal jacket and take to the crowd, pursuing the young children.

Exhilarating as this was, Amen had done far worse in many different scenarios - tailing a few children was the least of his crimes. As he walked, he proved that he too was quick as they, though not exactly a master, he was no stranger to the sleight of hand. A flash of his hand from one place to the next and suddenly, a shawl begrudged his visage and cloaked the man in shadow. Now, his overall presence seemed...less important. Blending in with the masses. All the while, never losing sight of those children.

He was interested to see how they reacted to such a small amount of coins, meaning they were likely brought up in poverty. It was very possible that they didn't even have parents. It made him sad, though not necessarily for the reasons one may think. They would never learn true corruption, the politics they would need for the rest of their lives. They would never learn deceit in a way that would best serve them.

No, these children were likely ones who would never amount to anything. So long as they succeeded here, the senseless drivel they spat as they droned out the rest of their lives on the street would seem like an easy life. An easy out. That is when Amen decided something, right then and there. He would help these children in his own way. Teach them the lessons a father would teach his sons.

He would show them what true loss was...

[Confused Objectives]

Sleep was becoming more and more uneasy as the night went on and so the forgotten warrior sought another source of means to pass the time. He didn't require to sleep anyways as he used the secondary mind provided by Germi to stay in top shape as he walked the city at the break of morning. Even for such an early time in the day, the city seemed to be brimming with life. The forgotten warrior found himself walking among the people of Aeliyr as he thought of the dreams of weeks passed. It wasn't going to get any easier; Kaos needed to find a way to bring it to an end.

It was around that time he noticed the children running past him with an apparent smile on their faces. He knew they were from the streets with the way they looked at the bag in their hands. If anyone knew the handy works of a pickpocker, it was Kaos, as he was such a thing in a former life. It seemed like a former life anyways, but that time was not that far off when he thought about it. He even noticed them tossing a few coins to a local singer.

Just as he paid attention to the singer, Kaos noticed something else. The youth before him had a hunter trailing them. A normal man would never figure it out, but Kaos was no normal man. He could sense the lurking eyes of the other, even if he tried to hide it. It was a feeling that one could never forget even if he wanted to. Kaos was torn between making sure the youth saw the next day or to find out why the singer sung of dreams that sounded oddly enough like his own. In a quick thought and even quicker action, Kaos moved to the singer and offered him another handful of coins as he smiled to the man and pointed to the figure known as Amen.

"Will you play my friend over there a tune? He seems to be in a gloomy spirit."

What better way to handle things if he killed two birds with one stone.

[Sky Tonima]

As he continued to play quietly his thoughts drifted from his world to this, from past and present. Then they went right back to that old man his white hair seeming as though he had tried one to many spells that dealt with electricity. Unfortunately Hoadi was an accomplished mage, or was it wizard. He could never remember the difference. He was never one for the basics of anything magic, he just got yelled about squandered potential.

Then he heard the clinking of coins, and that brought him back to reality. Standing in front of him was a group of boys by the smell of their emotions just successfully bagged some poor saps purse. Right as he was about to congratulate the boys another figure headed this way, and he caught the smell of worry then could see the mans body shift to the practice calm of a fighter.

"Will you play my friend over there a tune? He seems to be in a gloomy spirit." the man said tossing a few more coins.

"What the hell" he thought with a shrug of his shoulders, then started with another tune the old man came up with. He wasn't about to get his self caught in anothers fight. You like fights just as much as any other brawler, what keeps you from this one? his beast asked but already new the answer to. They could both feel that there was nothing normal about this human, if he was human. The tune continued softly as he watched and waited to see just what was about to unfold before him.

[Confused Objectives]

The seconds seemed like hours and before he knew it, the guards of the city picked up on the acts of crime. Apparently they had seen the pick pocket in the act and was following the group of boys even as Amen and Kaos followed(one following the other). So with a quick swift of action, the boys was brought to justice by the laws of the land and Kaos was left standing there beside a man singing the songs of his heart. So now what was the forgotten warrior to do? He could ask the other(Amen) what he was going to do to the boys, but nothing was going to happen to them now. So now Kaos could leave them all in peace without anymore actions.

"I thank you good sir! This may seem like an odd request, but do you have any songs of dragons? I find them in my dreams every night and think that maybe a song will make them rest in peace."

He looked at the man with his icy blue orbs and waited for an answer. The other had given him such a good song before, Kaos expected the same result again. So now he would wait and see; see if he was the only one dreaming of dragons or if someone else might find the song suiting for the soul.


Just a filler post to get things going, imo.

[Sky Tonima]

Dragons? Did the old man try making any songs about dragons?? he thought trying to remember. He also thought it odd, dragons when he did find some semblance of sleep he would see the blurred images of larges beasts who had once shook the world.

The tune was slow at first but slowly grew into a tune that made ones imagination embark upon adventure."The wind blows, the ocean flows. All that they are make cause adventure full of victory and woes. Their deadly breath, claws that cut and jaws that bite, force your life into this immense fight, His hands continued to play but his mind could no longer remember the worlds of the old mage.

"I'm sorry to say that I myself am no bard, the man whose songs I sing are from many years ago and some have faded from memory. I must ask tho why are you so interested and these scaly lizards from the past?" He asked taking a stand from under the tree. His mismatched eyes taking in the man standing before him. He couldn't place it but there was a few different energies to him one that he had just felt the night before for but it was just a breath of it. Then there was his own.

[Confused Objectives]

The forgotten warrior listened to the man as he tried to sing a song, but the words seemed lost to the would be singer. It was understandable that he didn't have a song for such things as it wasn't an everyday request. It wasn't even something Kaos would ask on any given day, but today felt like it just needed to be said. He was tired of the dreams. He was tired of the nightmares. He was tired of things he didn't understand. Kaos found his own away under the tree and leaned against the base of it as he sighed a bit.

"I suppose talking to a perfect stranger is better than talking to no one at all. I am having dreams of dragons ever since I stepped foot in this place. I don't know why, but it just seems like something is calling to me but I don't know what."

The whole reason he was here was he was on the trail of the watches he found at Hells Gate. Kaos heard rumors that this place was a large market area and that the things he asked about might show itself if he simply waited here long enough. He did wait and nothing came but the dreams of things he didn't want to see. So now instead of looking for watches, he was looking for dragons.

A rather odd change of pace, to say the least.

" I wonder about this place."

[Sky Tonima]

"Dreams of dragons? I must say that when I do find sleep I do dream of similar things. Not solely about the scaled beasts but of some kind of great and grand adventure with them somehow being involved." He thought at how small the world must be. "It's amazing at just how many people have such similar dreams." he said not really thinking nothing of it.

He had never been one who thought to much of dreams, hell he didn't even think much of magic and he has been on the receiving end of it many times. Though he couldn't put his finger on it, there was something different about this. Something more.

"Though I must confess there has been something, some force that has been lingering of late. But I never try to think to much of things of this nature."

[Confused Objectives]

So he wasn't the only one with the dreams? Kaos found this to be very interesting. He knew that something was up and that something needed to looked into or else he might grow to hate the idea of sleeping. And so he nodded to the man before him and brought up something that most might consider a personal issue in their eyes, but he hoped this one had an open mind.

"If you agree to it, I would like to see these dreams you are seeing and see if they are the same as mine. If what you said is true, I believe we might be connected in some twisted way with the dreams."

He thought of it for the moment and figured it was best to actually tell the man what he was going to do so there was no misunderstandings.

"I can read people's thoughtsbut I'd rather have your ok first. It's a personal code of mine."

He had learned long ago that some people's thoughts were they own and no one really needed to see them. But this was a special case and one where he would put aside his feelings on the subject and do it. It wasn't like he was going to do any harm to the would be bard. Kaos never harmed anyone who wasn't a threat to himself. This guy didn't give him that feeling at all. He was a good guy.

Kaos wanted to help him ease his dreams as well.

[Sky Tonima]

He listened to what the man had said and could only wonder at what his true motives were. There were a great many things he could do to try and get some answers to these questions. He could smell the emotion that was coming off of this man. Well what he could tell was that he was genuinely curious about all of this with a small bit of obsession. Then the man said he could read his mind.

His entire body bristled and the statement of him being able to read his mind. Telepath?! There was nothing he hated more than beings with that sort abilities. Anger made him open that that part of him that he forced shut until he wanted to use it.

"You may do what you will. But tread carefully I have little patience for any with the powers to read or hear into others minds. he said floating the words through the mans mind. Aloud he said with a growl. "I have a rough history when it comes to Telepaths"

Despite his qualms about powers of the mind, he was curious about these dreams. Not to the same extent as the man before him, but he could feel that something was coming not just for him but everyone around him.

You never know what kind of shit the universe is going to throw at you next. I just hope that it isn't something like global warming or something political.

[Morgan]

@Kaos AND Sky


Before, or perhaps even during your 'mind meld', an image is mysteriously implanted into the minds of the both of you. It is simply that of an aged, wooden door with peeling green paint and a red handle. Above the door is a sign that reads 'Seek your answers here' but the letters fade away to the name of a tavern. You recognize the name, though you can't seem to be able to read the words. You just know that you've passed by this particular location somewhere within this city.

[Confused Objectives]

When the other allowed Kaos to dip into his mind, the forgotten warrior was pleased to find the answers he wanted to find. He was looking for the dreams of past nights, wanting to see if what the other saw was what he saw. And he was correct on that assumption. The dreams, no, the nightmares was all the same. Images of war and dragons, this man was obviously connected with Kaos in some way. He didn't know why or how, but he knew that he needed to look deeper. When he did, he saw something that caused him to quickly pull away from the man with a bit of sweat rolling down his head.

"Did you see that or was it just me?"

He was shocked for a moment as he tried to gather his senses. Something was going on and now they had a direction to look. The red door that looked like he had seen it before. It was in the city if he remembered correctly, but the name of the Inn was just not coming to him. What was it? He just couldn't remember it. All he knew was he passed it somewhere before. The forgotten warrior looked back to the other.

"What do you make of it, friend?"

He awaited an answer.

[Sky Tonima]

As their minds flowed together and his memories being read, an image was put into their minds. No matter how hard he tried the power that showed them this oh so familiar door could not be touched. With mind, nor energies. The only thing that he could even think of being able to do that without either of them being able to come back with some answers of their own. This was something ancient, something sentient, something farm more powerful than either of them.

"My friend. I believe the universe has brought us together for something grand! If just to gain some knowledge of what is happening to us let us start this journey as companions and see what will befall us." He said his eyes glowing with an inner energy.

A growl of anticipation rumbled from his throat. He had not done anything even close to adventurous in quite some time. A quest to find out just what was pushing them along and what it might bring.

"Let you and I find this door. I wanna know what's on the other side of the damn thing" He said with a large smile.

[Confused Objectives]

Kaos smiled and nodded to the other. It was at that moment that he realized he hadn't even told the other his name. If they were chosen to be apart of something grand, it was only right that they know each other on a more personal matter. The forgotten warrior simply took a step backwards and nodded to the other.

"Forgive me, but I suppose we need to share each other's names now. I am Kaos Nightwolf, a simple wanderer with nothing but a smile to give to anyone."

When he was told the other's name, Kaos would nod again and begin with another statement.

"I say we split up for the time being and look for this door. We can contact each other through the link that I set up with you. If you manage to find it, just think of me and I will answer."

When the other answered him again, Kaos would find himself back in the crowd and on the look for the old red door.

[Sky Tonima]

Looking at the man, he had to smile. Even though they were about to start a journey together neither of them had given the other their names.

"I suppose you are correct. My name is Orin Phury Moonwalker. And I guess that you could say the same for myself. I have no real home, and have been doing nothing more than going where ever the wind pushes me."

Listening to what Kaos was saying he nodded and they both moved off through the town looking for the red door. Moving with intent he moved from alley to alley keeping his eyes sharp. Asking here and there if any locals have seen the door in that he described to them, he still was no better off than when he was started. Though he hadn't found the door he wondered if his companion was having any better luck than he was.

"Kaos my friend I hope that you are having better luck than I am. I haven't even found a hint of our door." Orin thought through the link.

[Eternal Despair]

The eyes opened for the first time for what seemed like days. The eyes of a young woman, that is. These eyes belonged to a hopeful young warrior, known as Emily Cresselia. As the young female took her first agonizing movements, she gazed around the horizon, musing at her surroundings. The awe that struck her was unfathomable; she could not possibly have imagined such a sight within her mind. But, as she turned her blue optics to each side, a realization and shock entered her already fragile mind. One word uttered from her esophagus, emanating the sound of utter surprise, and absolute doubt: "Impossible..."

Infinite were the possibilities that entered her mind; limitless bounds of ideas and possible futures slithered their way into her skull, causing her to fall to her knees once again in anguish. The land around her was strange enough; having severe pain enter her mind and psyche was a whole other level of despair. And, at only a mere trickle of a though of the word "despair" was enough to send a deafening sound to her eardrums.

Child. Your energy amuses me. Come to me... I shall be your guiding light...

Emily cried out in severe pain within her soul, her ears, and her mind, attempting, at all costs, to deaden the sound and the suffering she could already not sustain. "No... No... It's... too much... the pain... I can't handle it... Please... don't torture me like this..."

Heh heh heh... come to me, child. Your pain will be eternal... your suffering can last as long as you will it to. Now... come to me... end your own suffering, and come to me!

The voice was so demanding in its words, so enticing to Emily, that she began to will her pain away, standing herself slowly. Shaking from the withdrawal of the angst and darkness she felt in her heart and soul, she began to trek her way towards what she believed to be the direction in which the words told her to go.

That's it, child. You will find me, and I shall allow your suffering to end completely. Here is a clue to know if you truly have sought me:

Cloaked in Darkness I am, color of eternal night.
Say your prayers to your Goddess, for you shall help me in chaotic flight.

As the end of the short poem ended, Emily felt a rupture beneath her feet, causing her to fall, screaming, clawing at black, finding nothing but absolute darkness and utter despair... She looked below, destructive fear pulsing through her veins, and saw a very craggy floor below her, fixed with stalagmites, and ready to impale her.

Thus, the female awoke with a bloodcurdling scream, and felt her surroundings. Her breaths escaping within fast, pulsating hyperventilation, her eyes shut closed, and reopened to reassure herself. Calming down, her heart rate started to drop at very steady rates, her hand pushing her long black locks behind her ear.

"It was a dream, I suppose... Confusing as all Hell, though..."