Prologue:
A young black-haired earth Ashari man along with four others are sitting in a circle with the black haired brings out a book with an image of 7 dragons surrounding one with five different shaped heads.
Elsewhere in the realm. A new blonde-haired cult initiat who has finished being inducted into "The Cult of The Dragon." Is shown the same book, but with the seven dragons lying dead at the feet of the victorious five headed dragon.
In both gatherings the book is activated with a magic glyph sigil. Which makes the book float in mid-air and creates a projection that reveals the story as a 3D holographic movie. Both books are called the rise and fall of Tiamat. Goddess of darkness & chaos, and the mother of chromic dragons.
A dis-embodied voice begins to recount the story. "To all who watch what shall be revealed. Take its message to heart as a cautionary tale and a call for righteous heroes to answer. For what you shall see and hear is the story of how all the plains of existence came to be along with the origins of the gods, mortals, and the dragons. This is the story of the rise and fall of Tiamat."
At the dawn of time. There was the great and benevolent creator, IO, the cosmic dragon. IO had existed alone for eons with no others to speak to. So, then IO began time with them saying, "Let there be light," and there was light. IO made the stars to shine and formed the worlds from the cosmic dust. And they saw that it was good. With that the nine material plains/realms were made.
Then IO said, "let there be division in the worlds. With oceans being liquid. The land solid and the sky transparent. Let the moons and the stars dance across the sky's and let the clouds form wondrous shapes as they move along their way. Let the clouds also sustain the land with water by rain and snow." It happened as they said, and it was good.
Then IO said, "let the land, the oceans, and skies be full of animals and plants. Each according to its kind. Let them be able to reproduce and produce descendants that shall continue to fill the worlds of the plains with beauty and wonder." And so, the waters of the oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams. The lands of forest, dessert, plains, mountains, swamps, and coasts. Along with the skies of the worlds became filled with all manner of plants, animals, and some that were a fusion of both came to be. And IO declared it good.
Then IO said, "Let the many worlds of the nine be looked after by beings who shall tend to the needs of their worlds and guide the mortal inhabitants, and let us make them in our image. So that they too can have imagination and choose of their own will to love and to serve me and one another." And so, the first of those who become known as the gods and mortals were made from the dust of the stars. IO then breathed life into their lungs and others their gills. Thus, the gods, humans, elves, dwarves, avian's, reptilians, merfolk, and all the other races of mortals became living souls. IO then told them, "I have made you all in my image. For I wish to be partnered with you in my work filling creation with endless wonder, and to tend the worlds I have given you life on. Be fruitful and multiply until each of your families shall produce descendants that shall become as numerous as the stars. And also, for you to keep my single great command. Love one another as you want to be loved. Do for each other as you want them to do for you. Love by doing and not by only feeling. In doing love in daily practice you shall also desire to only love mercy, seek justice, and walk in humility with me always.
For in my endless and abundant love you only need to ask me for daily portion and it shall be given. Go forth and do everything else for all the rest of time."
The beings rejoiced for the life they had been given and did as IO had commanded. And IO saw that it was good.
Then IO decided to become a permanent part of the realms and deconstructed their very body and used their parts to create beings that would encompass all of what they had made. Beings that would appear beast like in appearance. Yet processing the intellect and empathy of the mortals, yet poses also the powers of gods. IO used their body to give birth to the first of which became known as "The Prime Dragons."
From IO's tail was born the mighty sea dragon 'Leviathan.' He became the high ruler and protector of the seas and all who lived with-in its waters.
From their torso was born the first and greatest of the Earth Dragons, Behemoth. Who would make the ground shake with every step. Carrying an entire mountain range where ever he went. Who could create mountains and canyons. Could start and end quakes. Who could make forest spring up overnight.
From IO's wings were born the silver dragons of the air and sky, 'Celestchia and Aviaos.'
From IO's front limbs were born the iron Dragons, "Taldierous and Iroshan."
From IO's rear limbs were born the copper Dragons, "Calmiras and Felidoor."
From IO's golden horns were born the golden Dragons, "Siveth and Carlatrious."
Finally, from IO's head was born Tiamat the guardian and from IO's heart her brother Bahamut. To whom the later, IO gave Bahamut the greatest source of magic, the 'All Heart.' With the All Heart in Bahamut's possession magic was able to flow across all the realms and was available to all. Sustaining life across the realms. And IO declared it was all perfect. With their spirit becoming the ethereal realm of Celestia where they rested and declared the time they came to rest as holy. Thus, the first age began.
For the first eon and countless generations of mortals and gods. All was well and the material plains of existence and realms knew only peace, prosperity, love, and friendship. Tiamat was a faithful guardian of the great magical balance. Yet slowly she began to have doubts about IO. She wondered if she was still as special in their eyes as they had said at her creation, or was no longer good enough in their eyes. So asked to have an audience with IO.
IO agreed to speak with her. She asked him, "Do you still me as among the greatest, if not, the greatest of your creations?" IO with gentle authority in their voice told her, "Of course I do. Just as special as the stars that shine in the night sky. The suns and the moons. The rainbows, the flowers, the trees, the animals, and the other beings I have filled creation with. I love all them as unconditionally as I love you. For I am love, and my love is boundless."
This response though meant to reassure and comfort Tiamat's concerns only felt like a sting to her heart. So she responded with, "So you see all the plants, creatures, gods, and mortals all equal in how you share your love with them?" Io of course responded, "Yes." Tiamat then asked, "And is therefore anyone more important in your sight than others?" Io, "No, I made and assigned everything and everyone according to their station. Like the parts of the body. The eyes need the feet. The hand needs the ears. The stomach needs the mouth. The heart needs the lungs. They all need each other. Just as the mind needs the spirit. That everyone no matter where they are born into or born as. Is essential piece of the system I have established that makes it so life can flourish."
Tiamat felt a new feeling whelming up from within that came to be known as frustration. She inquired, "But aren't I still special in your eyes? You who made me from your very head?" Io responded with reassurance, "I know what is troubling you my child, but I also see what makes every individual special. For in my eyes everyone is special." Tiamat feeling dejected replies, "Then that means compared to you. No one is truly special or exceptional."
Io curious then asked her, "What are you getting at?" Tiamat, "I think that since I and my fellow Prime Dragon siblings were made from your body. The mortals and the gods should pray to us and we then give praise to you. That your glory trickles down to them from us."
Io concerned tells her, "I do not like this line of thought you are pursuing. For that defeats the whole point of unconditional love. It started sound like you want to be praised in equal praise to myself."
Tiamat with growing frustration at Io's answers responds, "Well you said you see us all as equals. So maybe I deserve to viewed as your equal as well."
Io then calmly told her, "No, because though you were made from me. You are not me. You are meant to receive praise from others for fulfilling your role that I created you for. But I being the creator of all that was, is, and shall ever be. Is the only one who deserves praise for what I give through my endless unconditional love. I'm sorry if you do not like that answer, but that is what I say." Tiamat asked them then, "Well I think it still something that should be tried and see what it accomplishes." Io then said the words that like a crushing hammer on a tiny fragile egg. "My answer and my only answer to what you ask. Was, is, and shall remain no. Now please just keep doing as you have and let us continue to live in everlasting contentment, and you continue to find joy in the purpose I made you for. Understand?" Feeling crushed Tiamat bows her head as she reluctantly replied to their answer, "Yes, my Creator. Priase and glory be forever given to you." She says with a grumble as she then flies off to her realm.
Io then calls for Bahamut and asks him to have Tiamat watched. When asked why? Io told Bahamut that they are concerned that their answers, while loving in nature, might not have had the effect they were hoping for her. That they sensed a growing imbalance with-in her heart. That it might lead her down a path that could undue what they had made and hoped for her and all.
In her lair/palace Tiamat's mind was racing with doubts, insecurities, anxiety's, and a feeling of betrayal. That was the word that best described herself. Believing she alone should deserve praise from Io and all gods and mortals. For she felt that since she was made from Io's head. Thus making her the smartest of all the Prime Dragons. She should be seen as equal to Io. Yet she saw what they had said about unconditional love as an offense. That they called the gods and mortals as equal to her. None should be her equal she thought to herself, nor her greater. And so slowly and sure as gentle river water flows. The first seed evil came into existence in the form of the character and quality that came to be known today as hubris. And it continued to grow in her heart like a poisoned root of a weed.
She began to develop other traits as she continued to spiral down into darkness that was letting herself fall into. Because she refused to listen to the side of herself that knows right from wrong. As the darkness continued to grow inside her. It manifested as new heads on her body. Each embodying another aspect of the darkness that was consuming her.
Red, for her fiery rage at not getting what she wanted desired which became the trait of avarice.
Black, for her new sense of indifference.
Sickly Green, for her envy that she had towards those for whom Io saw as equal in deserving and receiving love and praise from them.
White, to reflect the coldness in her heart for those she saw as beneath her.
Blue, for her newfound ferocity.
Thus her transformation was complete at declaring, "I am Tiamat. I answer to none. I am beneath none. None are my equal. For I have betrayed by the one who said they loved me. But do not see me as more important than even the lowest of lifeforms. If they love the perfection they have made. Then I will destroy it and replace it with my own. But I will need aid in accomplishing. So I shall give birth to my dragons. They shall my tools of chaos and conquest. For I am cheif among my fellow Prime Dragons. I shall be the god above all gods. I will birth an army of my own children. I will be their mother and queen. Those who do fulfill my expectations and are too weak to accomplish my goal will be cast out or destroyed. They shall feed me so I can produce stronger offspring in their place and amongst one another. For this marks the beginning of my rise to greater power, and thus the new age. The age of Tiamat!"
Io and Bahamut were both aware of what happening with Tiamat. Yet Io could not bring themself to intervene. For this is what Tiamat had chosen, and Io would not nor ever will take away what they value most in their creations. Freewill and the power to choose for ones self.
Hidden away in her own realm. Tiamat, through the use of forbidden magic, gave birth to the first of those who would be the first what is known now as The Chromic Dragons, and her first mates/consorts. Who would further father the new generations of Chromic Dragons.
The Red Dragons who have come to embody her avarice and desire for greater territory and power.
The Blue Dragons to personify her ferocity and inspire terror in their foes. The lightning they shoot forth to match the storm with-in their hearts.
The Green Dragons to spread her deception. For like her they are cunning and work angels to trick their vicims into aided them before betraying them.
The Black Dragon's and their acid attacks to show her desire to melt away those who impede her schemes and her dark gaols. Painted black with indifference.
The White Dragons to show the depth of her cruelty because of how frozen her heart is. For is it crueler to burn your enemy to ash. Or freeze them into a frozen statue that shall exist as a lasting testament and witness of the depth of your cruelty.
She forged her legions in secret away from the prying eyes. Or so she thought, but Bahamut was under orders from Io not to interfere.
She would replace her mates and consorts when time had robbed them of their strength and prowess. Replacing them with either their own sons or the sons of other chromic dragons who did have the traits she desired. Those who could not meet her expectations. She would devour them. Choosing a new mate by making the males fight to the death to show who is the greatest among them. Then allowing her sons and daughters to choose among their chromic dragon types whom they see as powerful and worthy of fathering and or mothering their own children. For would tell them again and again that a true dragon will not accept or tolerate weakness of any kind. Where only ones might is what matters. That all that should matter is the power of one over another, and that mercy is greatest of weaknesses.
Then on a day that would go down in infamy as "The Great Fall." Tiamat made her move.
She met Bahamut, the Prime Dragons, the metallic dragons, the gods, and the mortals at the time of convergence. When magical energy is at its greatest. They were horrified to find what Tiamat had made herself into. Yet hoped she would see reason.
Tiamat asked Bahamut if she would aid her in taking down Io. Bahamut and those who had come with him refused to oppose and take down Io. When they refused her fury was so intense she fired out all her attacks. Her fire scorching the land. Her ice causing the lakes and ocean to freeze solid. Her black acid causing the mountains to crumble. Her poisonous green mist to poison the forests and her lightning to streak the sky and strike down her enemies from above.
With that Bahamut and the righteous guardians stood united against Tiamat. Further infuriating her. She then used her magic to open a vast portal to unleash her chromic dragons upon those who chose to become her enemies. Her legions were so abundant that they numbered as much as a 1/3 of those who stood with Io.
The battle was waged and tore the landscape apart. Bahamut's allies outnumbered Tiamat's but her chromic dragons fought more fiercely. Slaying as many 2 to 3 for every one of Tiamat's chromic dragons.
Tiamat and Bahamut fought so fiercely that there was fear they tear the world to shreds and reduce it to dust. Yet inspite of how hard Tiamat pushed Bahamut. He did not use the full power of the All Heart on her.
Finally shouting from above, below, and all around. From the clouds of the sky. The rocks of ground. The waters that remained unfrozen. And the flowers and trees cam Io's voice. Appearing to all in their brilliance. Blinding many of the wicked chromic dragons while the rest bowed in respect.
Io commanded Tiamat to stop this madness and they would forgive and redeem her for all she had done along with her chromic dragons, but she refused. She stated that as long as Io would continue to see others lesser than herself as equal in deserving their love. She would always stand opposed to them.
With that they knew beyond any possibility that Tiamat's heart was forever bound in darkness. For there was no love in her heart. Only rage, greed, and hatred. So Io was left with other choice. They declared, "You are banished from the material plains as you know them forever. I banish you to your own realm. Which shall now be called Infurnace. It shall be your prison along with twisted chromic dragon children and the spirits of all who stand in rebellion to me."
With that they separated Tiamat's spirit from her body and buried it deep beneath the ground. While her spirit physically manifested in her prison realm. Which became known to the mortals as Hell. Where the wicked go to receive eternal torture and torment for their wickedness when they lived.
The place where the first battle had taken place where chromic and metallic dragons died became what is known today as The Dragon's Graveyard. While Tiamat's spirit became imprisoned in Infurnace. Her Chromic Dragon children fled and spread across the realms. To sow terror on their own.
Bahamut used the all heart to restore the realms and what Tiamat and her forces had destroyed. It tasked him to even his limits. So much that Io created a realm just for Bahamut and the other Prime Dragons to reside. Where they would advise through the either. With Bahamut coming to the material plains as an old man escorted by 8 golden dragons, some born others who chose to made into golden dragons, he would choose to continue the work of spreading hope through-out the realms.
Meanwhile her new home. Tiamat began planning a new scheme. She used one of her surviving consorts to manifest a new physical avatar out from his body that her avatar shredded apart as she re-emerged into the mortal plains to sow fear and chaos.
She even took on many forms to decieve gods and mortals. Planting seeds of doubt and mistrust in Io and each other. Encouraging them that they could achieve greatness with-out Io.
She did this by taking advantage of their naivete and that Io wanted to test to see if the other beings they had created would rebel against them as well. One by one many chose what Tiamat offered and they became fallen. Thus were born the demonic lords and devils. The wars amongst the gods. Mortal men with inequities and sin. This hurt Io hard but he would tell those who had fallen that they would not abandon them.
They told them, "I am the compassionate God the Creator of all that was, is, and shall ever be. I am slow to anger. Infinite in my loyal love and faithfulness to the multitudes. Willing and able to forgive those who have rebelled against me in their wickedness and inequities. But I will not nor shall ever let the guilty an unrepentant go unpunished. For their punishment shall extend towards every generation that comes after them who freely choose of their own will to stand oppose to me and seek to kill those who do faithfully follow and serve me."
Tiamat eventually found away to manifest in the mortal plains while still trapped in Infurnace. She used her consorts as a means to re-enter the mortal plains. Thus she returned to them in numerous avatars. Each one could be slain, but she herself un-phased. Aided by the mortals who formed what became known as 'The Cult of the Dragon Goddess,' or just 'The Cult of the Dragon.'
To combat her master weapon forgers crafted scared weapons from the metallic scales of the metallic dragons that had fallen in the great fall. Thus were born the Vestiges of Divergence.
Yet Tiamat continued to return in the form of her avatars. Each looking just like in form. To spread fear, destruction, and chaos across the realms. Until the day that a human clairic used a spell to remove Tiamat's spirit from the avatar and cut off her connection to the material plains. By infusing Tiamat into herself. Causing her other avatars to dissolve to nothing. That Clairc name was Serphina and she was able to keep Tiamat's vengeful spirit contained, but died before she could permanently seal Tiamat's spirit away. Thus from that day. A piece of Tiamat's spirit still roams the mortal plains. With the heart of one who does not know they carry her on through their descendants.
With Tiamat proper in Infurance patiently plotting her return to unleash her vengeance upon the mortal plains once again.
One of the young ashari and the woman initiat ask their respectful master, "Why are you telling this story?" The ashari master, "Because we must be prepared to fight in the event she ever does return." Cult Leader, "So that we are prepared to answer the call of the goddess and serve as she commands. For the promise of being rewarded by her." The ashari master, "For true evil only wins when good people choose to do nothing. That the greatest battle is not stopping evil on the battlefield, but in preventing it from returning. That is my hope to you my students." Cult Leader, "That is what we expect from you young one. Do not disappoint us or the mighty goddess Tiamat..." Ashari Master, "Be willing to sacrifice your very lives to stop the return of evil when it reveals itself..."
Suddenly both men tremble and then twist and contort in all sorts of unnatural shapes before going limp and levitate into the air before being turned straight up up. Their eyes open and are burning red with black slits just like a red dragons eyes. Then their shadows on the floor and wall take on the form of a five headed dragon with different colored glowing eyes.
Out of both their mouths to their respective audience speaks a voice that sounds like a demonic woman's voice. "I endure! I cannot be contained forever. I am the beginning of a red dragons avarice. I am the mastermind behind a green dragons schemes. For my plots span ages. I am the fury of a blue dragons lightning. I am the ferocity and cruelty of a black and white dragons. For my ferocity cannot be satisfied and my cruelty knows no bonds. Soon all across the material plains shall be consumed in vengeance and all the realms shall be MINE!"
The cult leader dies instantly while the ashari master is tended too. The cult initiat picks up the multi headed dragon covered helmet while the ashari help their master up. With a young blonde hair male ashari asking, "Master what happened, what was that?" Both the master and initiat holding the helmet in her hands as then slips it on as they both say, "Tiamat is returning."
Beyond the material plains. Below the realms. Past the gates to the place that mortals call Hell. Across the infernal plains and before one reaches the city of Dis. Is the realm of Infurnace where the spirits of all the chromic dragons that died reside. As intangible shadows of themselves. At the center is a massive castle covered in engraved images of Tiamat everywhere. The castle is immense and large enough for a typical adult red dragon to walk through the gate like a typical human walks through a door. And at the center of the castle resides Tiamat upon her great hord from her ages of pillaging and tributes.
Tiamat is in the midst of the former members of the Chroma Conclave that surround her. Thordak the red Cinder King. The black dragon Umbrasyl. Brimscythe the blue dragon. Vorugal the white dragon. And finally Raishan the green dragon. Unlike the countless other spirits of former chromic dragons. They have been given new physical bodies by Tiamat's dark magic. Making necromancer bodies for their spirits to she still towers over all of them.
Thordak states, "Tiamat, why must I endure this humiliation of being with these lesser lizards. Especially you," directing his focus on Raishan, "you deceiving traitor!" "Only because you betrayed me first! You should've kept your promise. If you had maybe we wouldn't be here to begin with." Raishan retorts. Brimscythe blasts with his lightning at them both. "Neither of you lost any sleep after I was slain. You would've had a harder time taking Emon if I hadn't devastated their forces before those insects of Vox Machina ended me." Vorugal then says, "Now, now, its not really yours or my fault that we did not succeed. We all know it was really Umbrasyl's fault!" "Mine!" Umbrasyl responds hostilely. Throdak, "Yes, if you had just killed the vestige wielders instead of just playing with them. Our victory would've been assured." Raishan butts, "But you still would not have kept your word to cure me of my disease." Thordak flaring up, "You're one to talk. You who told the insects about the vestige's in the first place and aided them in killing me. Before you used my own body to save yourself. So I am glad the little ashari was able to make your disease infect it. Just so you finally perished defeated and humiliated. Being stuck here with all of you is the true torture."
All of them gear up to attack each other until they are stopped when Tiamat bellows, "Silence!" They all turn and cower as she stands a full five heads higher at her shoulder than Thordak. The shadow of her wings cover all of them with no strain and her 5 heads writhing as her red head speaks. "I did not bring your wretched souls here and give you physical form and life again. Just to partake in pointless in-fighting. You are here because you each have encountered and have been touched by the one who is going to finally release me and all of us from this infernal place."
Turning her attention to Raishan, "I brought you back Raishan as my councilor. Since you are indeed a true master of deception and have learned valuable information that will aid me and all of us trapped here. But do not think for a second you are replaceable. All are replaceable, but I will keep you as long as you continue to be of use and value to me. Understood?" Raishan bowing her head, "Yes my queen and mother of our kind." Tiamat praises her, "Good, very good. That's what I expect from a faithful disciple of mine."
Then turning her focus on Thordak, Umbrasyl, Brimscythe, and Vorugal. "And you all are here to serve me as my mates for when we escape and shall help revitalize the chromic dragons, and shall remain as such until you are no longer of any use to me. You and the fifth." "The fifth," Brimscythe asks confused. "She's referring to me," says a male green dragon that comes into view. Locking eyes with Raishan who give each other the cold stare. Umbrasyl inquires, "Who is this?" "I am Choraeth. Raishan knows me well since she and I were mates. Until you left me to die as those ashari hit me with the full doss of the disease that killed me instantly." Raishan, "Well as hard as it is to believe, babe, I actually am sorry for that. They got you before I could aid you." Choraeth rebukes her answer, "Likely answer from you. My former mate. Though I am now to be mated with the great mother of dragons herself. It brings me no comfort to know I must do so along with you four." Thordak flames up as he states, "Oh, you want to go for it?"
Tiamat, "Thordak!" He turns to face her as she looms above him. "You will respect my choice of mates alongside you. And you will be wise to comply with my wishes and whatever else I decide, my little red king." Thordak snorts and tries to raise his head, but he is just struck by increasing pain as he tries to resist as Tiamat glares down at him. Leaving him no choice but to say, "Yes, my queen and mother of dragons." Tiamat lifting his head to face her 5 heads as she says with satisfaction, "Good, very good."
Looking at them all. "Do not worry yourselves with each other. Soon you, I, and all of us trapped here shall have our revenge. To you my mates and disciple. I will give you freedom, vengeance, and as much of the realms as each of you can hold. Second and answerable only to myself. Until I decide your usefulness is at an end. Then you shall be replaced by those who shall come after you and so on. As it was, as it is, and as it shall always be."
Raishan then boldly states, "It's not like we have any other more appealing options." Umbrasyl then declares, "Even so, how are we going to accomplish that. When we are still trapped here in this wretched corner of Hell?"
Tiamat with a satirical smirk pridefully declares, "Patience my pet." Umbrasyl shouts, "You may own my soul and be the mother of Chromic Dragons, but I am not your pet." "But you are as are the rest of you," She says as she looks away. With Thordak then stating, "Big talk from someone who thought she could defeat Io and was instead banished to the lowest of realms."
The air grows thick with hostility with the others retreating back. As Tiamat turns her red head and all her eyes glow intensly as she asks, "What did you say?" Thordak is then enveloped in infernal chains and is brought down on his belly. He then stammers in his response as he says, "Uh, nothing I just..." Chain yanked by Tiamat as then says as she grows larger and larger and more menacing as she says, "If you ever say that again. I will not only devour you. I will tear your soul apart and use your screams of anguish to instill fear. Along with every disrespectful, WRETCH! Who dares to question and challenge me." Cowering he says, "Understood." Tiamat, "That's more like it." Releasing him as she returns to her regular size but still bigger than him.
Turning her attention to the rest. "That goes for the rest of you as well, understood?!" They all bow their heads as they all say, "Yes one true master and queen mother." Tiamat, "That's what pleases me and gets you on the only good side I have. Besides, we will not have to wait long. The convergence of the plains is fast approaching. Once it has occurred the vessel of the descendant who imprisoned the fragment of my avatars spirit with-in herself will unknowingly be the key to our freedom. Thus my victory and your revenge shall at last be ours." With all the Chroma Conclave giving a roar of impending victory. Tiamat looking down with her center red head at a ghostly image of, "Vex'hallia."
Causing Vex to awaken back the mortal realm beside Percy in a cold sweat at the sound of their roars. Lying back down as she says to herself, "Just a dream."