Chapter I Beginnings
Clank. I blocked the older warrior's over head slash with my shield but it brought me to my knees, I countered with a leg sweep that brought him to the ground. I brought my long sword to his throat." You are defeated," exclaimed Evran. "You're getting better Evran," the older knight said. "Thank you Father, but next time don't just let me win like that." He took off his helmet and moved his shoulder length wheat blond hair behind his ear, there is a small but noticeable point in his ear marking his Silvanesti heritage. His mother is half Silvanesti and half human, which makes him a quarter Silvanesti elf. He is thirty-five years old but he looks nine-teen. His step-father, Evran's real father was Dhamon Grimwulf, is fifty-five but still is a sharp warrior. "Ok but then you wouldn't win," Varek said jokingly.
"Evran we better get home before your mother chews our heads of for being late." Everyone in Flotsam knows Rikali's temper when she gets mad; settling down with a family is hard for the old thief. Rikali used to be a thief with Dhamon Grimwulf, fetch the Kobold, and an Ogre Mage disguised as a human. That Ogre betrayed Dhamon to the Shadow Dragon. Dhamon was then turned into a dragon; with that power he killed the Black Dragon Overlord Sable which cost him his life. Dhamon was also Evran's real father; Varek was Evran's step-father. Evran also has a blackish scale on his thigh, courtesy of his father, Dhamon, who got his scale from Malystryx.
Father and son left the training field and headed home. " Father when is something exciting going to happen, I joined the Legion of Steel to find adventure, honor, glory, all I've earned is a broken arm and a bunch of bruises." " Trust me when I say this Evran,' you do not want to ever kill another man' it is a horrible feeling to take another person's life," explained Varek." Yes I've heard this speech before, let's go home."
They walk through the town for ten minutes, the city of Flotsam in the last ten years has been made into a much better place, and crime has dwindled, all because the Legion has moved into Balifor, but the change was for the better because Flotsam is now one of the richest cities on Krynn. They walk up the trail that leads to their home on the cliff overlooking the Blood Sea of Istar, which is falsely named now that the maelstrom in the middle of the sea has stopped and the red fertile soil has sank to the bottom of the sea once again, the sea is now a crystalline blue. They come to Lockwood's Manor, a modest house that covers about three thousand square feet. A beautiful woman with jet black hair came to meet them." Pigs, 'bout time you two showed up, well get in the house and get cleaned up for dinner," said Rikali. "Evvie's back hurray," cried a small little girl. "Yes I'm home Feril," Evran picked her up in his arms. There was no worry in those young eyes, but yet did he realize that he will be part of the future of Krynn.
In the heavens above Krynn, Gilean the book called a council of the gods." Since I, Gilean, am the keeper of balance I have decided that I need to give up my godhood, I shall finish my job as Astinus though, till the end of Krynn," Gasps from the gods," but before I depart we need to set right some problems, we need to elect the new leaders of each pantheon." He turns toward the gods of light. "I nominate my mother, Mishacal the Healing Hand to be the new leader of the pantheon of light," Exclaimed Habakkuk. "I second that motion; she shall lead us to glory," said Kiri-Jolith. "Do you all agree," asked Gilean. The gods of light nodded that they all agreed with the decision. "Congratulations mother," Solinari said." Thank you," said Mishacal. Gilean looked towards the pantheon of darkness.
"I nominate my father, Sargonas the Dark Vengeance, be the new leader of the pantheon of darkness," exclaimed Zebiom. "I nominate my, ally Chemosh the Lord of Death, be the new leader of the pantheon of darkness," countered Morgion." I am undecided," Nuitari said." How dare you Nuitari, not even side with your own father," said an enraged Sargonas. Zebiom had a look of disgust on her face." I vote for Chemosh because slavery is flourishing with his undead and they are lousing their souls, but I expect a favor Chemosh," said Hiddukel. "It's unanimous, I Chemosh, shall rule the pantheon of evil. And Hiddukel, I will make some slaves for you." Chemosh said. "Why thank you Chemosh." "I swear Chemosh, my minotaurs will destroy all of you undead followers, and any of your living followers, and you will not have my minotaur's souls. Except those treacherous kaziganthi, they will all be damned to the fiery depths of the abyss," raged Sargonas. At the word kaziganthi Sargonas shoots a glare of hatred at Kiri-Jolith, he minotaur clan of the kaziganthi who worship Kiri-Jolith instead of Sargonas. Well I guess this means war 'Firebringer', using Sargonas kender name as an insult, I will have the Knights of Neraka on my side, or shall I call them the Knights of Chemosh, sounds nice," Sargonas then storms out of the council of the gods.
"Who shall be my successor," asked Gilean." I think everyone will agree with me when I, Zivilyn the Tree of Life, say that I shall be the new leader of the pantheon of neutrality." Gilean looked at the other gods to see if they all agreed, they nodded." And also, the dragons of light will now fly in your name Mishacal, and the dragons of darkness shall ravage the land in your name Sargonas. Also before I depart I asked Reorx to create a dragon of neutrality," two gray dragons appeared," the male's name is Arlidusk, or Dusk. The female's name is Ferladawnimy or Dawn, they had fifty eggs together and all of their hatchlings have reached maturity, I will send them to Krynn, they will come out of the Blood Sea of Istar, and they will dwell around that sea. I leave the gray dragons of neutrality to serve Zivilyn, and to be the mounts for the Legion of Steel. Dusk, I have a feeling that your destiny will intertwine with a young, well not so young, boy in the knighthood." It rained all over on Krynn that night as the gods of light and neutrality wept for Gilean.
After dinner Evran went to his room to sleep after a hard day of training. When he walked past his window overlooking the Blood Sea, he sees dozens of dragons flying out of the sea and heading towards the Khalkist Mountains. "Wow, amazing," he said witnessing his first dragons.
That night Evran had a life-changing dream that will set him on a new adventure." Where am I," asked a confused Evran. He spots an old man sitting under a huge vallenwood tree and a man standing next to him that seemed to be on fire. "Hello Evran, I bet you are wondering where you are and how I know your name, I am Zivilyn the Tree of Life." "And I am Sirrion the Flowing Flame." Evran gasps and instantly falls to his knees." You two are the patron gods of the Legion of Steel, " " You have been chosen by us two to be our champion. Since you are part of the Legion of Steel which is our knighthood and you will lead them to glory. There is going to be a lot of turmoil on Krynn. As Chemosh leading the Knights of Neraka, and Mishacal as the patron for the Knights of Solamnia. There is also a new race of dragons that side with neutrality; they will also be the mounts for the Legion of Steel. The clerics of Gilean will lose their powers because Gilean has decided that he needs to leave the pantheon of neutrality to keep balance in the universe."
Evran is in shock trying to take all of this information in at one time. "Evran, you will be the one to go to the Khalkist Mountains to the west and bring the dragons of neutrality to the legion of Steel. One of my loyal clerics from the knight hood shall accompany you, and before I go I will give you a weapon to aid in your journey," Sirrion said. He handed Evran a beautifully crafted long sword with rubies at the bottom of the hilt and on the two sides of it, the hilt was wrapped in red leather with fine as silk gold and silver threads. "This sword was forged by the clerics of Reorx with dragon metal, like what the dragonlances are made of and my sacred fire, some of my sacred fire was captured in this hardest of steel. The name of the sword is Dragonflame." Evran bowed to him and thanked him. " This is also for you Evran," Zivilyn handed a mirrored shield with a huge vallenwood tree of the cover of the shield," this shield was made with my wisdom, it shall repel all magical spells even dragon breath." Evran bowed to the god of wisdom also. "You will also need this medallion to prove to the dragons who you are." All over Krynn the leaders of the pantheons sent the leaders of each knighthood explaining to them what is happening, and hints to what will come in the future.
"But father, the dream was real, I have to go on this quest, I have to get the gray dragons to ally with the Legion. Solamnia has the silver dragons, Neraka has the blue dragons, Zivilyn and Sirrion came to me and said there were neutral dragons in the Khalkist," Evran tried to explain to his father." You are too young to go on this quest I forbid it." "I am thirty-five years old father." You know what I mean Evran, fine if the lord knight grants you permission, you have my reluctant approval." "Thank you father,
I will not let you down." "Evvie, do you have to go, I want you to stay here," cried Feril "Yes Evran, can't any one else go in your place, it seems to dangerous," Rikali said "Don't worry mother, I will be okay, and you," picking up Feril, "don't worry about me; I'll bring you back a present ok." "Ok bring me back a doll, I need more to play with," little Feril said. "Ok I'll make sure to do that
Evran walks down towards the manors stable and reins up his favorite horse, a horse black as pitch that no one else could tame, but somehow Evran finds a way to tame him so the horse is gentle to him and Feril only. "Hey Storm we need to go down to Twilight Keep to speak with Lord Dustan. They ride through the town and come towards the keep." Ho Lord Knight, speak your name and your business here so you may enter," the sentry said." I am Evran Lockwood I need to speak with Lord Dustan, it is very urgent." The keep's gates opened and Evran raced inside. He dropped his horse at the stable. "Here boy, take care of this one alright," Evran tossed the stable boy a steel piece. An escort of three knights in polished blue armor came and escorted Evran to Lord Dustan. "Wait Evran, I know why you are here and Sirrion wishes for me to go with you," said a young man in orange and red robes. "Thank you Kale, just follow me."
"What do you want boy," asked the head knight in Flotsam. Ignoring the boy comment, "Lord I wish permission to travel to the Khalkist mountains to in list the aid of the gray dragons of neutrality." The lord knight stared at Evran, and then let out a loud guffaw. "Boy there is no such thing as gray dragons," explained the lord. "Umm sir actually there is," said a messenger" we received these this afternoon, it's from Lord Maplebrook himself." Maplebrook is the head of the Legion of Steel, he was born a plainsmen, that shows that the Legion is very open-minded "Well hand it over than."
Dear Lord Falun,
I had a vision while I slept, it said a boy would volunteer to go on a fool's mission, give him permission. The dragons he speaks of are real and will make the knight hood a force to be reckoned with. There is also a cleric of Sirrion who will volunteer to go with him. The two, they must make it to the Khalkist Mountains because war is brewing.
Sincerely,
Lord Maplebrook.
"Well looks likes you were telling the truth boy. Do you need any one else to accompany you," asked Lord Dustan. "No sir, me and Kale are enough to bring those dragons here." "Then go, and if you succeed I shall make you commander of our knights on dragons." "Thank you sir."
"Well Evran looks like we are going on an adventure, where exactly are we going any way," said Kale. "We have to go west, to the Khalkist Mountains; there is a new race of dragons there. They are the gray dragons of neutrality, and they will be the mounts for the Legion," explained Evran. "Well Ev, let's go get our supplies." They walk down to the keeps stable and find a red robe mage leaning on the wall. The Legion of Steel isn't wary of magic so they incorporate them into their forces. "Hello Evran and Kale, I heard you two were going on a quest to the west, I hope you two were coming to get me right," asked the red robed mage." Of course Gia Rosterig that's where we were heading next right Evran," "Yep, we could use a mage on our adventure." "You might want your stable boy Evvie," said Gia using his childhood name.
"Settle down you damn horse," cried the stable boy as the horse pulled and jerked away. When Storm was about to bite the boy Evran intervened, "Whoa boy down, down, that's a good boy." Get your horse Kale and lets go," Evran said. "What about me," asked Gia? "Double up with Kale." Kale got his pure white horse with a beautiful gray mane named Cloud." Hop on Gia and lets go," Kale said. They went around town to get all their supplies, and then they went home and slept because in the morning they would set out on their adventure.