Reus and Dragons

#### Risen (He/Him):

*"Iron would slay everything he could see. Carve a path of fire to Reus through your town and then come here to end us all." - God-Light*

Aliases: *Death, Iron, McEdgelord, The Iron Beast, The Iron One, Giga-Daddy (By Æthel)*

Colour: Iron

The strongest of the 11, Risen was the first one to take his place as a god during the Ascension. The original founder of the 11, he was the one who convinced the others to take his mad purpose. In the New World he was the absolute authority and ruled with supreme control of the others. His claw was the only thing that could kill another of his kin, thus he was unmatched in his right to rule. Eventually the other 10 chafed under his rule and God-Light toppled the Iron King alongside his brethren. Forcing Risen into a demi-plane crafted from the ruins of his once mighty lair, where he would wander in eternal darkness for eons. That is until a pinprick of light pierced his cage, now he has returned and he hungers for his throne.

### The Golden Court

#### All-Bright (He/Him):

*"You fail to see Astel, this is the path towards greater good. One small sacrifice for safety, for peace." - All-Bright*

Aliases: *Pax, False-Iron, Kin-Killer*

Colour: Gold

All-Bright was the third dragon to ascend, moments behind God-Light and was originally the peacekeeper of the 11. He once was a gleaming example of gentle repose and nobility till he succumbed to the Eternal Twilight. It twisted his mind, corrupted him from the inside like rotting fruit. Soon he saw everything as threats to his perfected idea of peace, God-Light most of all. Eventually giving him the will and ambition through his own deluded idea of perfection to start the events of the Reclamation. Where, in the depths of his madness, he forced White-Sun to burn her divinity to cinder in order to protect her child. In the aftermath of the Reclamation All-Bright ascended Risen's throne and claimed rulership of the rest. However, this action did nothing but fracture the dragons and none would bow to him. A fact which haunts him to this day.

#### Hunger-Insurmountable (He/Him):

*"New toys? For me?" - Hunger-Insurmountable*

Aliases: *Inanis*

Colour: Black

He is the all consuming void at the end, the maw which devours life and light. Hunger-Insurmountable started life as a normal dragon but after the events of the Reclamation he was forever altered. When Evening-Star finished the seal something stayed within the New World from the place they had sent Risen. Something that found its host within Hunger-Insurmountable's soul and festered there, slowly consuming him till he was nothing but a shell. A black maw into which all he came across was drawn into.

#### Unyielding-Protector (He/Him):

*"Take that tone again child, I will be less lenient. You will be civil." - Unyielding-Protector*

Aliases: *Decus*

Colour: Bronze

The loyal dog of the throne, Unyielding-Protector has always stood by the one who would rule. Though his loyalties seem to be to the position rather than the creature in the role. He was Risen's personal errand boy, fulfilling his master's tasks until seemingly All-Bright gave him a better deal. In the end he betrayed him master and sealed him, pledging his loyalty to the new King. He is a severe and uncompromising individual. Following his orders to a tee and never doing more or less than is asked of him.

#### Devotion-Eternal (She/Her):

Aliases: *Amare*

Colour: Silver

Devotion-Eternal is an enchantress, perhaps even more gifted in the arcane arts than Cruel-Mouse. But where they revel in destructive capability Devotion-Eternal enjoys an unparalleled degree of control over others. She was the first one to support All-Bright's war against God-Light and was instrumental to recruiting the others to his side. Though her motives are never clear cut, the face of loyalty she wears now could just as easily be another one of her games.

### The Hunters

#### God-Light (She/He/They):

Aliases: *Ira, Last of Fire*

Colour: Red

God-Light was the first to follow Risen, the second to ascend to their place among the gods. They are a creature of will above all else, an unrelenting force of heat and rage. Before the ascension God-Light was a vain and arrogant creature, yet as the eons wore on they grew bored of existence. With nothing that could truly challenge them they saw no point in fighting. Building species has long since lost its allure. So they were left with an empty life and all the power in the world. They eventually started to walk among the creations of their kin, finding solace from boredom in the small view that two legs afforded. Though it was only when the met White-Sun, and when she forged Twelfth-Night from ash and ice, that they found true purpose.

#### Cruel-Mouse (Green) (They/Them):

Aliases: *Vafer, Truth Burned Singer*

Colour: Green

The youngest dragon of the original 11, they make up for brute strength with unrivalled arcane power. A mischievous but overly literal being, they delight in causing chaos wherever they can. A fact which is reflected in their holdings within the New World. They rule over a society of chaos, one that follows only the natural law, where death comes easy and quick. They were the most vocal against Risen during his reign, often being hunted by Unyielding-Protector across the plane while he was still Risen's loyal dog. They were vital during the Reclamation for their abilities to stall Risen, giving the others time to seal away the mad tyrant.

#### Morning-Star/Evening-Star (He/Him):

*"...Bright..." - Morning-Star*

Aliases: *Copper, Bright, Wholesome boi*

Colour: Copper

While the most of the others were overly proud adults or young fools crossing over Morning-Star was already ancient, nearing the Twilight of his life. He has never told of his reason for going along with the Ascension, though seemingly Eternity-Travelled has something to do with it. He is a being of brute force channeled with surprising gentleness when he is Morning-Star. A titanic creature who would move out of the way of the smallest of ants. Yet when he shifts into the Evening he becomes a whirlwind of darkness and starlight. During the Reclamation it was he who cemented the final ward on Iron's tomb, sealing the terrible king in eternal darkness. However, even as he did so Risen entombed Morning-Star in a prison of his own.

### Non-Combatants

#### Eternity-Travelled (Blue) (She/Her):

*"Which one is this me....." - Eternity-Travelled*

Aliases: Viatoris

Colour: Blue

Eternity-Travelled is an enigma within the ranks of the dragons. A true wildcard she barely interacts with her kin. Quoting some great purpose that she must fulfill whenever approached for war. She was the only one to not directly fight during the Reclamation, though she lended her magic in support of the cause. Her lack of commitment during the war led many to question her ideologies. Although whatever suspicions the other dragons have of her haven't stopped them from using her powers for their own gain.

#### Sundered-Blade (They/Them):

Aliases: *Tiamore*

Colour: Brass

Sundered-Blade is the oldest of the dragons, older even than Morning-Star. They were already in the Twilight of their life when they Ascended. A calm and rational being they are a gentle soul at heart. Their domain is utopian, they used the powers granted to them to rule with a gentle hand before the Reclamation. However, after Morning-Star was struck down by Risen they retreated from the world. Leaving a shadow of their presence to keep watch over the realms they had created. Allowing them to rest in their long slumber undisturbed.

### Dead Gods

#### White-Sun (She/Her):

Aliases: *Worldbringer*

Colour: White

White-Sun was perhaps the most brutal of her kin, an uncompromising force of nature in all she did. She was a semi-unwilling supporter of the Ascension, corralled into it by Risen. During her time as a god she was mostly removed from the others. Claiming her throne upon the polar tundra of the far north where she would spend her days creating monsters. Unlike the others she was unamused with playing god to civilizations, focusing her efforts on making creatures to hunt. She strove to create a creature that could give her the genuine fear of death. A feat which she never seemed to achieve before her death during the Reclamation.

### The Cause of War

#### Twelfth-Night (He/Him):

*"Reus is Reus, Reus is Dragon!" - Twelfth-Night*

Aliases: *Vivus, Reus, Dominus*

Colour: Pink

Forged from ash and ice by White-Sun, Twelfth-Night was the greatest of her creations. For he was a spark of the divine given flesh and of all her creations he shone the brightest. Twelfth-Night was raised in secret by God-Light and White-Sun. Who kept his existence from Risen as his very nature deemed him as a heretical being. The world was made for 11 gods and 11 gods alone. During the events of the Reclamation Twelfth-Night was killed by All-Bright and, using her full might, White-Sun saved her son from death by bridging his soul across the eternity between realities. She funneled him into the body of a dying warrior and since then he has come back again and again. Hunted across the millennia by All-Bright.

## Other Related NPCs:

### Humanoid

#### Toby (He/Him):

*"I get.... I get angry now Shards..... just angry..... Iron is gone but..... he left some of his rage in me." - Toby*

Toby was just a normal country kid till he was chosen as Risen's new host. Risen was eventually driven out of his body but some part of Toby was forever altered. He started developing at an unnatural rate, his mind and body now resembling a man in his prime rather than the shy 12 year old he was before the incident. Though if this effect is insidious or not it is hard to say.

#### The Cult of Inanis:

A cult dedicated to Hunger-Insurmountable. They have made attempts to manifest their god in the material before (See quest titled: Do You Want To Touch The Orb?). It seems that Hunger-Insurmountable still has ways of manipulating the minds of the material peoples even now.

### Draconic

#### Bruce (He/Him):

*Bruce-like death stare - Bruce*

Bruce is a product of the ***BONE ZONE***, seemingly the guide for those who visit. He’s is forged of the bones of Reus's mother. Built by White-Sun during her death as the protector of Reus, he fulfills his task proudly millennia later.

#### Brucette (She/Her):

*"She's a ravenous little tike." - Craig Montebrook*

Brucette was mad by White-Sun to guide her child back to his lair. She was forged of the bones of the mighty dragon and fulfills her purpose loyally. She was the one who, over the eons, slowly brought Reus back home over his various lives.

#### Sahkal (He/Him):

*"Fack aff" - Sahkal*

A bird taken from a battlefield in the New World and awakened by Dance. He is temperamental and impulsive yet, above all, loyal to Dancer.

## Important Locations:

### Waypoint

#### ***The Bone Zone:***

*"The Bone Zone is always hungry." - Reus*

It’s a ***ZONE*** of ***BONES***. Otherwise known as Reus's lair. It is more a living thing than a structure, constantly shifting in order to provide for its master in the best possible way.

##### Known Entrances to the Bone Zone

* The floorboards in the inn.
* The well.
* The floorboards in Arete's house.

### Material Plane

#### Inanis's Temple:

A great black temple forged of a single piece of an onyx-like substance. It is a place of power among the dragons, for it was the crossover point for Inanis. Thus, the wall between planes is worn thin. A weakness which All-Bright exploited in his attempt to tear open the boundary.

### The New World

#### God-Light's Island:

An island paradise floating above a barren wasteland where God-Light makes his home. It is a garden of Eden among the war-torn landscape of the New World and is a place of refuge for many of the species that neared the brink of death due to the Great Hunt.

## The Story of the New World

### The War of Ascension

*"And we alone are Gods." - Inscription in Inanis's Temple*

Eons past 11 dragons forged a new realm from the bones of the old world. For one among their number had seen the upper limit of their existence. Risen had grown powerful enough to see just how weak he was. In defiance of his father, Order, he rebelled against all the principals laid out. For Risen had grow upon a zealous world, even as a demi-god himself he was subjected to the ridged theocracy of his father's realm. The binding ideologies that tightened around the neck of him and his people raised the ire of the Iron One in time, eventually leading to full rebellion against the god he once worshiped. Though, even he knew it was a loosing battle. For Order was an ancient and nigh-all powerful being within the confines of his realm.

During the first battle the Son of Rust lead the charge, spearheading an incursion into the god's realm while protected by an ancient relic said to be able to wound a god, a blade named Deliverance. It was said the Son was given it by a dying man during night before he went to his death. Though he fought valiantly the mortal eventually succumbed to his wounds while covering the retreat of the decimated army. Though his fight was not in vain, he had managed to strike a crippling blow against his grandfather. A blow that never closed nor healed until Order's dying day.

Driven mad with grief, the Iron One scoured through ancient works, searching for any way to overthrow the ancient creature. Eventually he found it, guided by a creature of death he was lead to the Nexus of Ascension and immersed himself in it. From that mighty perspective he saw paths branching out before him, and all led to nothing but his name being forgotten among the vastness of eternity. A fate which he could not accept. Thus, he gathered his strength and set about the task of changing fate.

Dragon magic was the first true form of magic, and perhaps the greatest. Risen bent it to his will through sheer force. Using the strength of all dragons funneled through the 10, along with the lives of countless sacrificed in his name, he tore through reality and created a future where he would be eternal. A future where they alone would be Gods. He stepped through the now paper thin defenses that shielded his father and took his throne with one blow.

Thus, in their infinite wisdom they Ascended and ruled unchallenged.

### The Reclamation

*"Risen's mad reign could only be tolerated for so long by the glorious and noble All-Bright. For He knew the truth of peace, and it was His image not the Tyrant's." - A history of the Reclamation taught by the Bright-Eyed.*

Eventually All-Bright's ambition reached a boiling point and he snapped. It was easy to convince the others of his plan, for they too had felt the grip that Risen had around their necks. He had concocted a plan to end the Tyrant's reign for eternity. With the strength of 10 he could seal the Iron Beast away in a realm far removed from their own. The hardest to convince was Unyielding-Protector but he promised Risen's dog something that made him turn.

The battle was hard fought and the survivors were forever changed in the aftermath. Each bearing the scars that Risen had inflicted upon them, all but All-Bright. For he had never been on the field of battle. Instead, he was cementing his place as the New King. He killed White-Sun's only child, forcing her to use her power in order to shunt Twelfth-Night's soul to the material plane. In her weakened state however, she was no match for the overwhelming strength of All-Bright and she was consumed. Her power taken, her strength won.

It was only after the conflict when God-Light returned to their home to lick their wounds did they find the desecrated corpse of their wife. In that moment hell broke loose and the Great Hunt began. Forever plunging the New World into war.

### The Great Hunt

*"There is no glorious death at the end of this brother... I will ensure it. When you finally beg for death by my hand, your pitiful cries will be denied. I will send you to the maw of the Iron Beast, there I hope you find true suffering." - God-Light*

In the aftermath of the Reclamation All-Bright ascended to his throne and God-Light was left bereft. However, All-Bright was a false king and the others refused to acknowledge his authority in any way. That is until God-Light declared war upon the All-Bright. With sides drawn in the sand it was easy to install himself as the leader of one of them. He was able to draw in the loyalties of some and finally he was a king in truth. When he came for God-Light he came with all his might and fury.

But God-Light was not alone. They had with them Cruel-Mouse, and wars are not won through might alone. Thus, over the eons God-Light and Cruel-Mouse have been hunting their kin, making their lives hell. Cutting their throats when they're alone, razing their cities, destroying their worshippers. That is until Morning-Star was released from their bonds by Shards. Now the hunter have stepped from the shadows and the prey feel fear even upon their gilded thrones.

## The Present

### Finding "Peace"

*"Legends say that gold dragons are the most noble and powerful dragons" - Shards*

On a regular day in Waypoint a kobold crawled from the floorboards of the Last Chance in, and war came with him. A timid Reus scuttled up and, with the promise of free food, got to work as an adventurer. There were a few strange things about the kobold. First, he insisted that he was a dragon with dogged devotion. Second, he had little memory of his past. The only thing he seemed to remember was a great fire that killed his entire pack and burned him to the point of near death. He quickly ingrained himself among the member of the town, asking them to be on the lookout for scales he could add to his hide. A request fulfilled by Shards when she gifted him a golden scale, unknowingly placing him in the hands of his most dangerous enemy.

*"Am sorry name confuse, Pax no Reus now so Pax is Pax" - All-Bright*

During an outing to help Begnar with the construction of some sunbathing beds he fought a snake for a red scale that he saw in a river. After he found this scale however he started to act strange. Turns out this was because another being by the name of *Ira* had taken over his body. For a brief stint, they tried to fortify the town against invasion (For reasons unknown). But after they’d be found out they tried to bolt from the town and turned violent when intercepted by Shia, Shards and Astel. The party managed to subdue *Ira* but not before they felled Astel (*Astel will remember that*). Anyways, Shin got the red rock and that was that for a little.

*"Pax no want Reus here, Pax find family" - All-Bright*

During an expedition into the Grass Court, however, things escalated. *Pax* got not one, but two new scales. One green (A green rock) and one bronze (A shard of bronze taken as a trophy). These new scales were tested alongside *Ira’s* in an attempt to figure out what each dragon wants. *Decus* (The Bronze one) just wanted people to stop arguing (\*cough\* \*cough\* shut the hell up Willard). *Ira* got really angry and said they’d burn down the town if Carthol kept playing with the rocks. Carthol did not take this advice so *Ira* got even more pissed and said “peace”, detonating the stone in a big explosion. In the explosion, people saw a big ol’ eye (*spooky*). The green stone appeared inert for the time being.

Later on, in *Reus’s* lair, *Vafer* made their grand appearance. They challenged Shards to a game of truth, information was exchanged. And *apparently*, all the dragons want to do is “*Help Reus*”. But as was confirmed later *Vafer* is insane when they *laughed in the face of the goddamn ultra murder death robot*. In any case, *Vafer* went kaput and was exorcised out of *Reus*. Briefly making an appearance as a giant eye in the sky. *Pax* felt pretty sad about that for a bit but was kinda chill because of emotional support from people close to him (Yay! Friendship!).

After this whole shebang *Pax*, *Chains* and *Shards* went into *Reus’*s ***BONE ZONE*** to secure an artefact that Shards said was dangerous and needed to be hidden. Well, they found a good room to hide it in. One problem, the room wasn’t empty. In the center was an altar with a Copper teardrop inside which was being electrocuted or sumthin. *Pax* instantly balled up repeatedly saying that whatever it was was “in pain”. Shards had a brief convo with the teardrop and they decided to rescue it (Enter stage left wholesome *Copper* boi).

Things were chill for a bit. *Coppe*r put on a light show for some peeps (nothing scary about casually controlling the weather with your mind). *Decus* tried his hand a therapy, that didn’t work… *at all*.

Then things started to go batshit, an iron ring started to make the rounds. Eventually, it found a home with Toby (an *11 year old* farmhand who idolizes adventurers). Turned him into a crazy fucking dragon thing and he killed his parents (*FUNNNN*). Anyway, he nearly killed Chains and fled into the night (dun dun dun).

A little bit later *Copper* decided to act out and gave a vision of a battle between a person named *Morning-Star* and an unknown assailant. This was stopped by a third figure, a person in a big black cloak who defended *Morning-Star*. Directly after the vision finished out *Iron* appeared at the edge of town. Confronting the robot and some adventurers he did his big monologue (which consisted of “I am Death”) and said he’d destroy the world “blah blah blah”. This culminated in a fight where the dragon \*ahem\* ran the fuck away.

The next day came and *Copper* who had taken over *Pax* the previous night was still in control. This was pretty sus and Shia tried to find out why while she and *Carthol* put the boi to bed. Apparently if *Copper* lost control he would be forced to leave and he didn’t want to go (sad boi hours). So they got him to bed in his lair but suddenly *Pax* started to glow and *Copper* lost control. *Pax* and *Shia* had a heart to heart and hugged, during which *Copper* spoke to Shia and said “Don’t tell Pax” while slipping a brooch she’d given him into her pocket. After that, the two left and *Pax* brushed a bit of copper dust off his armour (what what, copper’s gone shock horror!).

Then things went really, really crazy. *Pax* turned out to hell-bent on killing *Reus* to stop “Death and Ruin coming to his world” (which is kinda a dick move if I’m being honest). Fights ensued, *Ira* made a cameo (appearing as a winged humanoid in a long black cloak) and protected *Reus* from *Pax* by breaking the gold stone. Also shielded him from the attacks of the people on the outside that tried to kill *Rues* because of *Pax’s* manipulation shenanigans. Things escalated, *Pax* possessed *Carthol* and turned him into a dragon who tried to burn *Reus* and *Shards* (who had changed her mind and now was protecting the gremlin boi). The *Paxthol* monstrosity set fire to some shit but eventually, the goblin’s body gave out from the strain and disintegrated (many tears were cried).

After that things have been quiet. Iron was killed upon his mountain lair, turns out he’s not all he’s cracked up to be (but his ring ran away, *oh no!*). Reus is now terrified of new scales and Waypoint is now slightly less dragon infested.

*Or is it?*

Also ***literally everyone*** wants to kill Pax now.

***REMEMBER HOW I SAID WAYPOINT WAS LESS DRAGON INFESTED***

That was a lie.

Vafer came to town again with a request to stop Inanis from coming to this plane. Apparently there was a dragon cult that was hell-bent on resurrecting him (See “Do you want to touch the orb?)