Legends of the Land

*A* *land as vast and diverse as Solus is full of lore to be discovered. Here is a popular legend from each of the regions to help you get acquainted with some of their history and folk lore.*

### **The Dragon Song**

This tale has been told since the time that Kraal reigned. It is said that tyrannical dragons once ruled over Sovngarde and subjugated the ancient Sovs. The fiercest of all was an ancient black dragon named Archon, the Vicious. One day, a challenge echoed through skies and over the peaks of the mountains themselves. Kraal raised his mighty sword and challenged Archon to single combat, with his host of dragons serving as an audience.

The fiendish Archon laughed at his proposal and flew from his stronghold to meet the man on the ground. On a cold, snowy day, dragon and men alike watched as the two engaged in fierce combat. It seemed dire, Kraal had lost a great deal of blood and had a thick gash across one of his eyes. Just as Archon was preparing to deliver the killing blow, Kraal unleashed a bestial roar. Using his bare hands, Kraal grappled the dragon and drove it into the ground, before finally snapping its neck. The other dragons looked on in horror as Archon laid defeated on the icy ground. Fearing Kraal, the host of dragons fled the land, never to be seen again.

Afterwards, using his sword, Kraal cut out the voice of the dragon from its body and fashioned it into an instrument. With it in hand, one could utilize the primal and ancient magics stored within the voice of the mighty dragons. The Dragonsong.

### **The Eye of the Leviathan**

Hailing from Zestros, the tale goes that a fisherman was once waylaid at sea. A storm was rocking his vessel violently and it looked as if he wasn't going to survive the day. The man clasped his hands in prayer and sent out a call to the Goddess Leviathan. Just as all seemed lost... he heard a voice:

*"Poor soul. The seas are unforgiving, and uncaring. Please, take my eye. It will lead you to shore,"* A woman's voice called.

Looking over the side of his boat, he saw the enormous body of the Leviathan slithering below the waves. Suddenly, the sailor noticed something glittering on the surface of the water. He reached down and picked up a crystalline orb, the Eye of the Leviathan. The fisherman held it aloft and the waves parted, the storm ceased, and the way to shore was calm and clear. After making it to the beach, the fisherman said a prayer and returned the eye to the water, knowing that one day someone else may need its blessing to survive the harsh waves of the open ocean.

The Goddess Leviathan watched from under the waves, content with the compassionate nature of the fisherman, and the use of her gift.

### **Tsukuyomi**

There were once two rival families that fought to wipe each other out, over a dispute long forgotten. The battles had been waged for centuries, with no signs of stopping. During this time, a son was born to one clan, and a daughter to the other. Growing up, they became friends as they did not know which clan the other belonged to. Upon reaching adolescence, they fell in love but were forbidden from seeing each other.

Despite this, they would sneak out under the light of the full moon to meet. This continued for a year before one of the servants noticed the daughter leaving the grounds of their home. She followed the daughter to their secret spot, a cherry blossom on the edge of a cliff. The servant saw the two together and immediately rushed to tell the matriarch of the family.

The next day, the matriarch was outraged at her daughter. She forbade her from ever seeing the man again, but the daughter refused. The daughter proudly declared that they were in love and she couldn't stop them from being together. She fled the home, followed close behind by her family. She reached a large field, and noticed the son running from his family on the other side. They met in the middle of the field and clutched each other tightly; a fight about to erupt between the rival families.

Suddenly, the sky went dark. The moon eclipsed the sun and cast the area in darkness. A woman, clad in robes made of moonlight, descended from above. She spoke to the matriarchs of both families:

"If this conflict cannot be settled, I shall settle it for you!" She announced.

Without warning, the woman flew to the ground and drove a sword through the couple that were clutching each other. A breath escaped their lips as they fell over, dead. The heirs to each family, gone. Both matriarchs fell to the floor, and sobbed for their lost children. They looked at each other, and promised to end this fued, so no more blood could be spilled.

The robed woman, watching this exchange, smiled. She stepped forward and removed the sword from their bodies, the two suddenly gasping. Seemingly brought back to life. The families rushed forward and embraced each other, and the conflict ceased once and for all. From that day on, one could visit the same valley and see a lone Cherry Blossom growing in the center of the field. Some say that the sword is still buried within it, death conquered by life. The Tsukuyomi.

### **The Staff of Origination**

There is said to be a staff that was created at the dawn of the Tyron's creation. An artifact of the gods that was capable of moving mountains, and parting seas. As the land became inhabited, many fought over the power of this staff. The land was torn apart, volcanoes shrouded the skies in ash, and oceans drowned entire continents. It was then that Bahamut, the Dragon God, descended from the sky and took the staff in hand. He shattered it into pieces and hid them throughout the world. Many have dedicated their lives to finding these pieces, and bringing them together, but none have accomplished it. That was the end of the story... until recently.

New tombs have been uncovered by the kingdom of Sovngarde and a prophecy was uncovered that they believe relates to the Staff of Origination.

*In the time of Wolves and Iron*

*When the world seems most dire*

*Heroes arise to take the mantle*

*And find the artifact, dismantled*

*With the force of ice, wind, and fire*

*Their arrival is announced with heavenly choir*

*To face the foe that shrouds the world shadow*

*And raise their blades in battle*

### **The Claws of Volunkara**

Hailing from Sovngarde, this legend is set in the same era as "The Dragonsong." The story goes that there was a cruel dragon named Volunkara, who took special care in terrorizing the world with her legendary talons. Sharper than the sharpest swords, longer than spears, and curved as perfectly as a crescent moon. Her claws could cut through solid rock, and she waded through battlefields like a hail of blades. Even the mighty Kraal, as strong as he was, was forced to retreat in the face of this overwhelming foe. It seemed that Volunkara would end humanity's resistance all on her own, her talons stained red with blood.

Kraal summoned his war counsel, and pleaded with them to find a way to conquer this foe. Their debate turned to arguing, and arguing turned to yelling. That was, until a mysterious figure appeared at the door. They turned to look at him as he removed his hood, revealing the face of a boy.

"M'lords. My mother and father were slain by Volunkara in cold blood. I wish to take revenge on her... and I know how to do it," the child explained.

Kraal strode forward, and placed a hand on his shoulder: "Dear boy, I will not send you to your death. There is no-"

"-bring me her blood," the boy interrupted.

"What?" Kraal asked, bewildered.

"Bring me her blood, and I can kill her," he replied, his face as still as stone.

Kraal could sense the determination within this young man, and knew that he was speaking the truth. He turned to his war counsel, and they began to craft a plan.

Deep in a grass filled valley, Volunkara was gleefully eviscerating a mammoth with her talons. It was howling with pain, as Volunkara knew exactly where to cut, and did so with such precision, that it was kept alive. Suddenly, a stick cracked to her side. She turned her head, but shrugged. *No one would dare attack someone as powerful as I. I am stronger than the gods themselves,* she thought to herself. As the mammoth finally died, Volunkara suddenly felt something pierce her side. She howled with pain as Kraal removed his blade from her thigh. The dragon rose to her full height and began stomping around, looking for her assailant. However, like a shadow, Kraal has disappeared beneath the waves of rolling grass. A vial of blood was given to the boy, who drank it greedily.

"Leave the dragon to me. She will not live through the day," he uttered.

Volunkara hissed as she licked her wounds. She stayed in her den, high atop the mountains, and plotted her revenge. No one would escape her wrath, and she would use her talons to destroy everything that man had ever built. As she did this, she heard the familiar beat of large wings approaching her lair. Another dragon coming to grovel at her feet. She rose, and walked to the mouth of her den. Volunkara looked into the air, and saw... herself.

Her hesitation in that moment sealed her fate. Sharp claws, *her claws,* wrapped around her neck and drove her into the ground. In one fell swoop, her neck was cut and the smell of her blood filled her den. The imposter dragon suddenly shifted in the light, revealing the small boy. He walked over to the body of the dragon, and placed a hand on Volunkara's legendary talons.

"As powerful as you were, Volunkara, you were your own demise. Now what was once yours, is now mine."

### **The Celestial Bow**

In the beginning, there were no stars in the sky. People would look into the night sky, and see nothing but pitch blackness. It made the night cold, and empty. Shiva frowned, seeing many people cower in the face of the night sky. She knew that she must do something to help those in need. It was then that she got a wonderful idea. She went to Titan, and asked him to craft her a wondrous weapon that would solve the woes of man. He accepted her request, and got to work.

After a day of working in his forge, Titan went to Shiva with a weapon wrapped in cloth. He presented to her a bow made of pure sunlight, and a string woven from the fabric of time. She thanked him dearly and descended to the world below. With the bow in hand, she fired arrows into the sky, and created stars. Shiva spent a hundred nights and put each and every star into the sky with her bow. Now, children would look into the night sky with wonder in their eyes, instead of fear.

With her work finished, Shiva left the bow on Tyron and returned to the heavens. While its location is not known, it is said that were stars ever to leave the sky, Shiva would return to continue her work.

### **The Bulwark of Faith**

In an unknown time, there was a legendary blacksmith who was renowned for making the greatest weapons in the world. Some say that she rivaled the god Titan himself in the craft. For many years, she created masterpiece after masterpiece for the Dynasty. Her weapons were able to sway entire battles on their own, and helped the Dynasty stave off foreign invaders.

An era of peace was brought upon the land, and the blacksmith was content. However, it would not stay that way for long. After the Shogun died, there was a power vacuum that threatened to collapse the entire kingdom. Once again, her weapons were brought to battle, but in his own nation, her own home.

A messenger arrived outside his door after a bloody battle in the capital. Her daughter, a soldier, was murdered by a man wielding one of her blades. She was ambushed in the streets and her armor was cut through like it were paper. The blacksmith went outside her door and saw the rising smoke from the capital below. She fell to her knees and wept, feeling responsible for her daughter's death.

After a time, the Dynasty regained control of the kingdom and peace reigned once again. The Empress came to the blacksmith's door, and asked her to forge a weapon befitting of the glory of the Dynasty.

She nodded to her, saying: "Bring me all of my crafts. I shall turn them into a weapon that will rival the heaven's themselves."

The Empress agreed and collected every single one of her crafts, and brought them to the blacksmith. The woman retreated to her forge and began crafting the weapon. After a week of time, a celebration was held to unveil the new masterpiece. The blacksmith stepped forward, weapon wrapped in cloth, and faced a crowd of tens of thousands. She removed the weapon from the cloth, stunning everyone. It was a shield, melded from the blades used to slaughter and kill.

"This is my Bulwark of Faith. One of peace, not of war."