Alburet bit back a snerk at just how blatantly the developers ripped off the well-known comic-book movies of the past. “That is fascinating. Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Dragon Tyrant?”
Marcus blinked at him before nodding, “Of course, as a two-souled you wouldn’t know many of the things we take for granted. Dragon Tyrants are the scourge of the northern continent. They have been at war with the Dwarves for all of their recorded history. They are very, very, old dragons that have amassed a lot of magical power. Tyrants are the pinnacle of their race, able to wield magical abilities that can decimate entire raids. They normally lie dormant unless they are woken by adventurers. When they are awake they engage in a horrible ravishing of the countryside.”
Sensing a thread for a possible expansion to the game, Alburet nodded, “Let us hope they stay asleep, then.”
“Next, we have an artifact from the Elves that we will be sending back in the next few days. The Windsprinter bow, famed to never miss a shot as well as being able to shoot arrows that travel faster than the eye can see. The name of its original bearer was lost during their war with the Trolls. So many wars between those races over their long history. It is said that the Trolls used to be Elves back in the mists of creation. It is rumored that the Dark Lord twisted them trying to make a hybrid demon-elf and what was left became the Troll race. The bow was recovered during a subsequent war and returned to the Elven Monarchy, who have since enshrined it as a symbol of the endless battle their people face.”
Biting his lip Alburet, held back his amusement at the artifact, barely managing. “I would bet the one who used the bow was a beauty, even if the wielder’s name is lost.”
“It very well could be. There was a very well-known general at the time who was famed for her use of a bow in combat. Elven lore isn’t my specialty though, so I can’t recall the name right now. And here is another major relic, from the Lunari tribes, which is also scheduled to be returned soon. A totem from when their tribes first came together to become a single tribe.” Marcus enthused as he led Alburet down to the last display to be seen.
Inside the glass case was a wooden totem carved into the likeness of a large headed cat standing on two legs with small eyes, three whiskers on each side and a skull attached near one ear. Alburet couldn’t help it, he snorted as he saw the totem.
Marcus frowned as he glanced at Alburet, “That is a little disrespectful. This is a representation of their goddess, Bestat. Before the Creator told the gods to leave the world and to watch from the planes, Bestat was known to walk amongst her people more than any other god. Said to be equally involved in love and war, she is venerated to a high degree by the Lunari. If one of them had heard you disrespect this totem they would kill you, many times over, until you apologized.” His voice was severe, obviously upset.
Alburet bowed, “I meant no disrespect, sir. The totem, though, is very similar to an icon from the world we two-souled come from. There it is more of a happy mascot, definitely not the figure of a goddess. Please forgive my outburst.”
Taking a calming breath, Marcus nodded, “It is fine. Tell me about this similar looking mascot.” The next ten minutes Alburet relayed what he could about the well-known icon from his world. When he finished, Marcus seemed to understand, “That is going to cause some issues for you two-souled I will bet.”
“I’m certain of it. I feel bad for the two-souled who started on the Lunari continent.”
Turning away slightly, Marcus rubbed his chin, “Well, those are the most interesting artifacts we currently have in the building. I could show you a few from the time of Maximus the Lightbringer?”
“Was he the one that made it so Summoners and Necromancers wouldn’t be hunted anymore?”
A bright smile lit Marcus’s face, “Exactly. We have that set up out front. Follow me, please.”
A few minutes later they were standing before a number of displays. Each held an item along with a painting of the historic figure. “These are Maximus the Lightbringer, Summoner Yuna Demonchild and Necromancer Steinberg Franklinson.” Marcus pointed to each portrait in turn.
Taking a moment to look at each, Alburet nodded. The line of the Emperor hadn’t faded much over the years, each one had the same strong jaw. Steinberg was a tall thin man with skeletons behind him, his long black hair flowing around his pointed Elf ears. The portrait of Yuna showed a frowning woman with bright red hair that seemed to stare back at the viewer. He thought he noted traces of Stewart in the jaw line, along with a hint of the Crowley line in the nose and eyes.
“Historical records indicate that Emperor Maximus was visiting the Dwelden continent to negotiate a new trade deal with the Dwarves. The Dragon Tyrants had just settled back into their long sleep but some of their children were still very active. He had opted to not use a portal, but instead take an over land trip to see more of their country. This proved to be almost fatal for the Emperor, but in the end worked out.”
Marcus paused his telling to take a sip from a flask before continuing. “The Emperor and his party were a few days from the capital in the foothills when the convoy was set upon by an Elder Dragon. Emperor Maximus was traveling with only a small retinue, not expecting to encounter any such trouble. When the dragon came out of the clouds his men fell into formation quickly, but they were not used to fighting the beasts. A number of them fell to the beast’s breath attack, and the battle did not look hopeful.”
Nodding, Alburet wasn’t surprised to hear that dragons here would have breath weapons. It was almost a given, really. He made a mental note to ask later if there were different types of breaths or just a single type. He could tell by the gleam in the man’s eyes that Marcus was in full storytelling mode and trying to interrupt would probably be useless right now.
“It was then that Yuna and Steinberg came galloping down the road. Seeing the Elder Dragon attacking the group, they dismissed their mounts and summoned their minions to aid them. They arrived just in time for the Destroyer of Yuna to pull the dragon’s gaze from the Emperor. The ensuing combat is told well in any number of songs and books, I wouldn’t do it justice by trying to tell it myself. However, when the dragon fell, the Emperor’s men leveled their weapons at the two adventurers.”
Pausing for another sip, Marcus cleared his throat before continuing, “It was here that Maximus realized he was only alive due to two people who should, by law, be executed for their class. Being a just man, he knew that would be unforgivable to his god. He ordered his men to stand down, then approached the wary duo alone. They declined all offers of repayment from the grateful Emperor. After the third refusal, the Emperor just smiled and declared their classes no longer punishable by death in the human lands. He thanked them one more time, vowing that any other boon they or their children asked would be granted, then the Emperor and his entourage used their Homestones to return to Stormguard. Upon his return, the Emperor issued the proclamation that Summoners and Necromancers would no longer be put to death for practicing their natures. The next day, Emperor Maximus used the portal guild to go straight to the Dwarven capital.”
“Huh. So Yuna and Steinberg never got any other payment?”
“Each of their offspring came forward during the reign of the next Emperor and claimed small rewards. Yuna’s child asked for rights to run an inn in the city, which was granted to her. The Crowley line still runs it today, being her direct descendants. Steinberg’s son asked for the rights to a ruined city in the Dead Lands. His request was hotly debated for a few years before it was allowed, with the condition that upon his death the lands revert to the Crown.”