Erynion and his people spent their lives learning about the way of the forest and all the animals in it, under the wise tutelage of Freja, the great forest dragon. Freja was not a grand dragon like the mighty Storm, however she was still a sight to behold. Freja was covered in flawless green scales that glistened brightly, and her eyes were of a rich ruby red colour. Freja’s teeth and claws were also of a ruby red colour which contemplated her eyes even more. Her green wingspan was perfect, and when in-flight, the underside of her wings would reveal a dark orange colour. Freja looked magnificent when breathing fire, as her eyes and claws would glow when she performed this act, she was a truly gorgeous beast.
Erynion and his people spent their lives learning from Freya, ultimately earning her approval of which she then bestowed upon them the name of woodlanders. Freja told her fellow dragons the story of the woodlanders, with their story of origin spreading through the world like dragon fire from Freja herself.
Many years have passed, and the woodlanders have mastered their abilities, allowing them to communicate with fierce beasts and heal all types of creatures. Woodlanders remain in the forest, only opting to leave when necessary, as when female woodlanders leave the forest they are hunted down, raped and used as sex slaves due to their natural beauty by evil warlords and kings, whilst male woodlanders that are captured are used to control beasts and force them to serve the evil warlords and kings. The gifts the woodlanders possess are highly sought after and have put them in high demand amongst those who have evil intentions. Now in this age, the king and queen of the woodlanders must build on Erynion’s legacy and protect them, as evil and darkness lingers on the horizon.
Dwarves
The dwarves are the only race throughout Dragons Continent who remain free from persecution, harassment, and bigotry. Revered by all the races across the lands for their excellent weapon and armour making skills, blacksmith workshops and their ability to abstract magic from gems to imbue into magnificent jewellery and weapons, has seen these hardy little people’s skills highly sought after by the other races. It’s common for all other races to travel great distances to request the services of these master craftsmen, with the dwarves choosing their clientele and ultimately choosing to make items of magic for whom they see fit.
These small beings have human-like anatomy and appearance, however they only reach heights of around four foot. They have stocky builds and their shoulders and chests are broad and firm. Their arms are particularly muscular and powerful due to the time they spend blacksmithing in their workshops, hammering constantly and crafting weapons and jewellery of famed beauty. They are clothed very similarly to humans; however they are always seen wearing mass amounts of jewellery, it’s common for dwarves to wear many thick gold and silver necklaces that have been melted down and crafted to suit the individuals tastes with gemstones also attached. Thick bracelets and gauntlets are often worn with imbued precious stones and it's common for dwarves to have rings on every finger. These fiery and brash individuals wear their items of jewellery with pride and as a symbol of accomplishment which showcases their own work. It’s very common when other races seek out dwarven blacksmiths that they are drawn to those who perhaps have the most goods on display and the most eye-catching artefacts. Dwarves also make their own armour out of fantastic gold, silver, and bronze elements, attaching stones and imbuing these armour sets.
Though dwarves have never been involved in mass war, dwarves have tasted combat and even joined other races in battle bound by friendships, and though the dwarves are small, their weapons and armour make up for this and gives them great battle prowess, they are fierce in combat! It would be fair to say that their gifts in blacksmithing and magic abstraction makes up for their fiery and aggressive natures. These lively little people are always full of energy and can be seen regularly shouting, cursing, and getting into all kinds of physical altercations with each other and other races. Dwarves have naturally aggressive natures and approach everything as though it’s a competition or battle. Their internal racial tensions usually reach boiling point when once a year they host their ‘Dwarven Fair’ in which all master dwarven blacksmiths bring to town all their greatest jewellery pieces, weapons, and armour that they have created that year and present them to other dwarves. The items were judged by a committee of master dwarven blacksmiths, and even Storm and his dragons would attend these fairs many years ago. The fairs are also used to settle squabbles and disagreements, as if the individuals agree, they can request duels to the death. Duels to the death are common at the Dwarven Fairs, rival dwarves can challenge one another in the fighting pit, the reasons for the duel are explained to the king who will make a decision, if agreed, the king will permit the fight to the death, this is how major disputes are settled in dwarven culture. Sometimes the dwarves also place prized possessions on the line in these fights, with the winner taking the belongings of his defeated for, it’s common for gemstones, gold, coin, and land to be up for grabs and at times, dwarves have even offered their wives or children as bounty for the duels.
In the early years, dwarves would also create Jewellery for dragons at their request and famously created the emerald and gold gauntlets of the grand dragon Storm, the famed blacksmithing abilities of these dwarves is legendary. Within their workshops, blow after blow is hammered down on molten hot precious metals, creating the finest swords that the continents have ever seen. Dwarven skill excels when crafting large sturdy shields for the defensive minded warrior, with it being said that no dwarven shield has ever faltered or been pieced in combat, spears are also crafted with razor sharp finishes and bows with edges and curves that are seemingly impossible to create, resulting in incredible archery results. Dwarven armour is tailored to perfection, with multiple sets of gold, silver, and bronze armour imbued with magical stones. As if these blacksmithing abilities are not enough, their magic abstraction is what creates weapons of extra magical power! Dwarves can place their hands onto gems such as rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and many more, then channel the energy out of the stones, guiding that energy directly into weapons and armour giving these items extra power. Rubies provide swords with additional fire damage, Green emeralds can add poison properties to arrows and spears and if magic is abstracted from diamond or onyx, it can provide unspeakable protection on armour. As energetic as dwarves are, abstracting magic puts a huge strain on their bodies, they can only perform abstraction once every few days as similarly to when other beings use magic, it takes its toll on the body. The dwarves reside within their homeland of Dwarven Peaks within an unbreakable keep, thanks to the help of the first dragons.
In the early years of Dragons Continent, the dwarves appeared. These tiny men and women resided in the middle of Centre Plate in a small spiral of rugged mountains and cliffs. Blessed with strength and the ability to craft items, abstract magic and being the first race to appear, they naturally caught the eye of a dragon called Umbra. The mighty dragon Umbra would regularly fly to the dwarves and watch these fascinating little workers ply their trade. The dwarves, upon realising there was nothing to fear from Umbra, would flock to see her in admiration of this gigantic dragon. They would regularly size up her claws, legs and neck and attempt to make all kinds of magically imbued jewellery, seemingly enjoying the test of crafting for a dragon! Umbra would return with other dragons, and of course Storm would visit. The dragons and dwarves enjoyed each other’s company, with the dragons bringing all kinds of gemstones for the dwarves to use and further empower themselves and create more impressive artefacts.
Dragons would search all continents, seeking mass sights of gemstones to bring back to the dwarves. The dwarves would make all kinds of wonderous items for dragons such as giant leg gauntlets, diamond neck bracers, solid gold dragon wing plates and tail covers and even armour to cover the very chests of dragons. The dwarves also crafted the famed gold leg gauntlets for Storm, with imbued and fitted emeralds much to Storm’s gratitude. The dragons knew eventually other races would emer
ge and try to steal or force the hardy little beings to make artefacts for evil purposes, so Storm, Umbra and all the other dragons decided to give the dwarves protection. The rugged mountain cliffs were a tough place to live and perhaps this is what contributed to the toughness of these dwarves, that being said they were exposed in the middle of Centre Plate, with approaches from all directions possible into these small spiralled mountains. The dragons decided to help the dwarves protect themselves and agreed to fortify their lands for them. The dwarves started to smash and craft small huts and households out of solid boulders, and burrow into the very mountains themselves, the dragons would use their immense fire to melt and weaken the boulders and mountains. To help the dwarves create this dwarven paradise, all the dragons took to the sky, and when the dwarves were under cover, rained down multiple barrages of dragon fire to the outskirts of this new dwarven village and small mountain area. The mountains started to melt, shrink, and create a mass wall like structure around the dwarven village, and when the dragons were finished, the dwarves emerged to find their new home now had thick impenetrable mountain walls. The dwarves thanked the dragons and the dragons named the village ‘Dwarven Peaks’
Storm also knew that a deterrent would be needed, he couldn’t risk other forces one day taking the powerful and precious weapons and artefacts from this race, so he requested his close friend, the mighty dragon Obsidian, to stand guard at Dwarven Peaks, Obsidian resided there until the year 375. The appointed dragon guardian, watched from the top of a mountain in the centre of this dwarven fortress, the mountain peaked so high its tip went beyond the clouds, and it's said upon reaching the mountain peak, a view of the entire Centre Plate could be had. The relationship between dwarves and dragons was close and prosperous.
Many races travel to Dwarven Peaks to buy simple swords, shields, bows and armour due to its fabled quality, this brings in a steady income for the dwarves, but magically imbued jewellery, armour and weapons are not up for sale, the dwarves themselves choose who they make these items for. Dwarves occasionally strike up friendships with people from other races, from time to time dwarves have been known to make mighty weapons, armour and artefacts for close friends and allies.
Though the dwarves do not have a history of war, there are accounts of their battle strength, as on the rare occasion, they have had individual skirmishes when they have ventured out of Dwarven Peaks and been attacked by beasts or would be thieves, and over the years they have also had to defend themselves from trolls, witches and vampires. Some dwarves over the years have also left Dwarven Peaks to open up workshops in other areas, and the dwarves are quite prominent in the seafarer’s village of ‘Oceans Kiss’ where they can be found using their skills to also help create magnificent ships!
With a mass war now seemingly edging closer, due to forces from the East, the dwarves will have no choice but to venture out of their fortress once again and join the Centre Plate in the war against the East. Predictions are pointless, but this well-armed and battle hardy race will be waiting if needed for the right cause!
Blood Maidens
Life is hard in Dragons continent, between warring kingdoms, blood thirsty vampires, man eating beasts and death seemingly never too far away, only one thing could perhaps be tougher in this world, and that would be living life as a woman.
For hundreds of years, and even to this day, women have been forced to suffer at the hands of men. Women have always been nothing more than sex objects to kings and warlords, nothing more than empty vessels to cook, clean, serve, and warm the beds of men, however with that being said, thanks to the first women to escape from the Eastern Plate and form a clan of mighty female warriors known as blood maidens, it has proven light will eventually shine, even in the darkest of places.
In the year 181 on the Eastern Plate, something started to change, something unthinkable started to happen, women started to fight back! Sick to death of being bed warmers, house servants and sexual possessions, women started to gather in secret and learn to fight, arming themselves with swords and shields as well as spears and bows.
Who was it that started this movement? Who was it that had the bravery to stand up to men, fight back and prove themselves as equals? Extraordinarily, it was a man that led the rebellion of women, but not just any man, he was one of the greatest swordsman to ever grace the Eastern Plate, and through a traumatic experience, he spent the later years of his life grieving, before paving the way for a desire to train and arm all women so they would not have to suffer the same horrific fate his wife and daughter had endured. This man was Akihiro Ena.
Akihiro Ena was an elite soldier of the Eastern Plate who had devoted his life to swordsmanship and served one of the ruling warlords, as at this time around the year 181, the Eastern Plate was not ruled by royal families and torn in two by bitter kings, instead the Eastern Plate was ran by different warlords. All the warlords were greedy, violent, menacing and yearned for dominion over one another; however, lucky for Akihiro, he served one of the most dominant warlords, a tyrant named Albert Moran.
Akihiro had just led a successful campaign over one of Alberts rivals, he slaughtered the rival warlord then brought victory to the steps of Albert’s door. The rival warlord was starting to invade Alberts territories by taking his hunting grounds, burning down crops, cleansing villages and of course raping and torturing innocent victims. Alberts rage grew, so he decided to put an end to the rival warlord's reign, as he knew his army led by Akihiro would emerge victorious. Akihiro led Alberts forces into battle and after days of warfare that ravaged local villages and swamplands, Akihiro emerged victorious! Upon taking the rival warlords head, Akihiro had guaranteed Albert and his people were now one of the most dominant clans on the Eastern Plate, and they now had all the smaller villages and territories in their grasp. Finally, with Albert's desires seemingly satisfied, Akihiro began to think times of peace would follow, however Akihiro would soon learn there is no end to man's greed and thirst for power!
Not long after Albert's triumph, Akihiro’s fate was sealed. The warlord wanted Akihiro to lead new assaults on new territories to expand his grasp over the Eastern Plate. Akihiro had begun to grow tired of the endless slaughter and death caused by his triumphs, and one night the blood drunk warlord stood Akihiro up in the centre of a mass party and banquet hosted by the warlord himself to pay homage to the accomplishments of their conquests, the warlord then asked Akihiro to remain as leader of the army!
Akihiro declined the offer to lead the army into new territory, he spoke honestly. “With respect, great baron, I must decline your offer. My sword and I have taken many lives in your name and have helped you prosper, but no longer have I the desire to continue, or the thirst for blood.” Alberts rage began to build deep within him and he was powerless as his own army and top commanders had stood side by side with Akihiro on many battlefields. Akihiro had their respect; therefore, Albert could not force Akihiro with threats of violence.
Akihiro continued his last speech to his men with honour and dignity. “I wish to see out my days teaching swordplay to those who wish to learn my techniques, and I wish to now be a father to my daughter and husband to my wife. I wish to be nothing more than a sword instructor in my own dojo which shall open its doors to all who wish to fight, with honour for honour.”
This act would cost Akihiro everything he held dear. There were more than enough capable warriors who could have taken over from Akihiro, but Albert, having tasted rejection would not accept this and his rage began building up and festering inside of him like a poison for many months. The wicked warlord, still angry at Akihiro’s rejection, decided to visit Akihiro one night and ask for him to return one last time, he would bring along his son and heir, the equally spiteful, sadistic, and wicked, Bastion Moran. This fateful night would set the wheels in motion for an outcome that would result in losses on both sides.
Albert and his son were welcomed into Akihiro’s home warmly, and Akihiro called out to his wife and daughter to also com
e and greet the warlord and his son. Albert and his son were taken back by the beauty of the women. The wife had locks of flawless blonde hair, hazel eyes, smooth white skin, and a petite body. Their fourteen-year-old daughter was a spitting image of her mother and beamed with an aura of innocence and youth.
The daughter gained the attention of Bastion, he approached her robustly, with purpose, grabbing hold of her hand and looking into her eyes perversely, unable to hide his sexual desires. He whispered seductively, “My my! You are quite the beauty.”
Akihiro knew of Bastion's violent and evil tendencies and pulled his daughter away from Bastion's grasp, she was clearly nervous and confused due to her youth and innocence. Akihiro’s daughter was clearly in the early stages of womanhood, he warned Bastion sternly. “Do not touch my daughter again! If you do, your hands will be severed, and I’ll send you to the afterlife, vile boy.”
Bastion shouted back viciously. “I’m the fucking warlord’s son, I do as I please, therefore perhaps it’s you that should be concerned, at least if you value the lives of your cunt wife and daughter that stand here. I could take your daughter now!”
Before Bastion could say anymore, Akihiro’s wife drew a sword which was secretly tied to the underside of a table, the daughter followed her mother’s actions, only with a small Katana blade which was secretly hidden under her dress within her inside leg. The mother and daughter were clearly capable warriors thanks to Akihiro’s tutelage, and before the situation could worsen, the stand-off was interrupted by an enraged Albert who knew there would be no way of gaining Akihiro’s services again now. Albert asked one more time for Akihiro to re-join, and again he was refused, the warlord and his son then left.
Killing Monsters Page 35