Topic: A chapter in a long book.

CaelMal DulQue

Date: 2012-02-07 23:21 EST
The drow sat hunched over a small desk cut into the very stones of the wall. He was hidden away, underground and alone. The book was called "Lost Creatures and Hidden Magic." A short cough was given before the drow started to read in an even toned voice.

"I, Casol, put pen to paper to record a story told to me while I was looking for an elusive target, the dragon Aec'Mish. He is known as World Eater, Devourer fo Dreams. He often takes the form of a drow. This was related to me by a person said to have seen him. Thus the story starts."

"Dont go near the place, dang pass is haunted. Hauned I tell ya, ain't no two ways about it." The words were aimed at me as I sat at a remote tavern near the WindBorn forests. The man speaking was known as a local explorer, a mountain man. A haunted pass seemed a good place to look, so I responded as such. "Tell me...tell me of this haunted pass and the WindBorn Cliffs behind it."

"Sure thing Elf, I'll be tellin' ya. And I ain't a man to be wastin' time with idel talk, so ya listen and ya listen well. I tend to explore, and I seen a real old trail, musta been years since anyone or anything walked it. Naturally, I followed it. Cut right through the WindBorn Forest. Dark place during the day, but this was at night. No moon, no stars. Seemed to be darker then normal. You know the place" Ain't but a tenday's travel from here. Cut south, ya can't miss it. Anyways, there I was, walking through the woods. No noise, no life. Wasn't quiet. It was empty, like the forest was dead. Here and there peices of the ground were cut up, trees burned. Like something let its rage out on the whole dang place. Each step I took was hard, I was scared. Ain't one to get scared often, but I tell ya. Felt lost." Here the man stopped to take a drink, visibly shaken. In a short time, he carried on.

"So there I was. and don't ya forget that I'm a brave man. Ain't never been so afraid in my born days. Either way, I followed the path. Trees was burnt, but not all the way. Charred more like, lookin' like something had been spit at them. Hard to explain, gotta see it yaself. I tell ya, I felt lost and hopeless, like life didnt matter. All the light had been sucked out the place and I tell ya, my heart was heavy. Real heavy. I got out the woods after a time and saw the pass. Musta been tenn feet wide but the cliffs were about a thousand feet high. Jagged things, real harsh country. And the Manor sits on top of one of them cliffs. And I tell ya, a light was on in a room. I stared for a second, wondering who was up there. Then I saw it." He stopped again, another drink taken as he started to shake. I could feel his fear. The man was in earnest. I prompted him to continue though.

"I seen it. On the Northern most tower. Seen a shape, more of a shadow. But it was like a hole in the night sky, so dark that ya could see it. No lstars shone on the thing and it turned. I saw green eyes even at that distance, felt them cutting into me. And then it hit me, almost threw up. Couldn't hear nothin, only screams in my head. Awful. I seen two wings move and then I seen two wings spread out and turn into the night. Next thing I know, I felt somethin near me. Felt the wind and the hate." He landed on the cliffs, staring down at me. Dragon of some sort, and he looked right at me and spoke. Said 'I am the World Eater. They will look for me and you will tell him that I was here.' All he said before he turned and left." The man stopped again, still shaking and staring at the window with a distanced look. That was all I needed to know. I had found where the dragon lurked for a time. I would go there to learn more of him and his dread companion. The man turned back to me and said this.

"Ya know what? Ever since then, ain't had no dreams. None at all."

The drow stopped reading and blew a long, long sigh before he looked at the ceiling of his shop, one hand running through the long white hair. He muttered slowly, in a rather mellow tone "How long did he search for me" Were my crimes worth his life? Regardless dear, I will read you the rest of the story in time. You, and all I hold dear, should know the story of the World Eater, the Devourer of Dreams. You will know my pass if you would but listen."