Night of Shooting Stars
[spoiler]Some call it an ill omen, others call it a portent of great events, but one thing for certain, and made doubly sure by the Disciples of Legend, is that the Night of Shooting Stars was the very same night which the surviving half of the Six disappeared forever from Greyhawk.
A shower of stars lit the night like never-ending stream of fireworks turned the darkness of the night into day. Astrologers are suddenly faced with disappearances of whole constellations and star maps no longer functioned for ships and land travelers. While there were reports of meteorites striking various areas, actual investigations reveal no signs of damage to anything, and no traces of any star rocks can be found at all. Many wonder if its a trick of the light or perhaps these stars are magical in nature. But what is most intriguing, the next night, the stars are all back into their original position, and the Six are not seen or heard from since.
What the hell happened?[/spoiler]
Darastrixhurthi Found.
[spoiler]It seems that the kobolds aren't lying. Kurtulmak in his mortal days did found a fortress that contains near limitless wealth that would ensure the prosperity and flourish of kobold culture, society and economy for near eternity.
It was discovered by a team of archeologists who were digging around the remote continent yet unamed in Aber-Toril. Upon finding an already-collapsed tunnel in the middle of their dig and upon investigation found millions of ancient kobold artefacts, artwork and even impressions of kobold bodies crushed into the earth, where the passage of time was so great even traces of bone were not found, but plaster poured onto the uneven floors reveal a grisly history of collapse.
Dwarven architects were invited to study the tunnel and the results were unanimous: The tunnel was better designed than the technology and knowledge of its time, the collapse was not something natural. Beyond that the dwarves had refused to comment further.
When news spread around the world, All-Watchers from every kobold warren made a personal trip down to the tunnel as subject-matter experts in order to investigate the ruins further. Slowly as more kobolds conduct private investigations and comparing results with the archeologists and fellow kobolds, more proof that this tunnel belongs to the ancient fortress mine Kurtulmak founded solidified.
Rather than resulting in any affirmation of the atrocity which Garl Glittergold committed onto the kobolds in that ancient time, the kobolds from around the world had instead petitioned that the kobolds be allowed to return and rebuild their ancestral home. However as tales of the material reason why Kurtulmak had chosen his fortress on this location became known, dwarven greed began to bubble to the surface. And after years of negotiations, breaking of the peace and several near outbreaks of war, the rest of the surface races finally relented especially when true dragons began descending and participating in the negotiations, to let the kobolds return home.
It was a joyous yet heartbreaking event when specially chosen kobolds were sent to reclaim Darastrixhurthi. Real evidence of divine intervention that lead to the collapse had indeed been found when the structurally sound and stable mining fortress could not have suffered any incident that would naturally lead to a collapse. With potent magic now at their disposal, the kobolds utillized everything they know and got to restore fortress to its original condition without nary a scratch. A question of why Garl did not attempt to collapse the mine again could perhaps only be speculated as the fear of a bigger backlash might be generated if he had done so again.
With the mining fortress established the kobolds have found their old home at last.[/spoiler]
Kobold Kingdom acknowledged. Darastrixhurthi Empire formed.
[spoiler]Darastrixhurthi, deep in the Corusk Mountains where the discovery of the long lost mining fortress of Kurthulmak is finally claimed and rightfully owned by kobolds once again.
However, unknown to the rest of Flanaess, kobold warrens continue their operations without most of the other races, particularly the dwarves being aware of it. The entire reclaimation of Darastrixhurthi, carried out with about a hundred thousand kobolds from an already unsustainable warren took this opportunity to present themselves as kobold representatives to reclaim and live in their ancestral home, having already erased their previous warren's existence.
Unable to deny that what was once myth is physical reality and the backing of various dragons with much to gain from the almost infinite wealth still untapped in this location, a gathering of representatives of the surface and underground races during this peaceful time have collectively acknowledged the kobold sovereignity and allocated the Corusk Mountains into their charge. This and a long built alliance with the frost, ice and cold barbarians surrounding the area, the kobolds emerge as a race living in a legitimate empire.
No sooner had the proclamations been made, the kobolds, instead of fanfare and celebrations, closed the doors of the mining fortress, with the moving in of several dragons, whom by some unknown accord, managed to stay within proximity of each other without hostility, especially between the metallics and chromatics. Hard at work, because work is what kobolds know and do best.
Iejir'Maekrix, the All-Watcher of Darastrixhurthi and secretly an avatar of Kurthulmak, is undergoing intense negotiations with representatives of both chromatic and metallic dragons.[/spoiler]
The Draconic Mandate Pt.1 The Choices
[spoiler]Kurthulmak remembers still the time when no Gods will intervene on his behalf as he tried desperately to claw out of the wreckage of his home, the cries of help and pleading for the still bodies around him to wake and move. He called for help, and the dragon whom he once served had not moved a talon to assist. Who would help this newly formed race?
Only Io would. Sitting at his desk with the lights turned dim, Iejir'Maekrix rubs his sleepy eyes. Documents and even gifts...gifts! Those dragon ambassadors think they can bribe him into devoting the resources of Darastrixhurthi to their cause? Never! He left the services of his master so that he can bring his people to independance. And without his direct leadership his people grovel before any dragon that would readily exploit their industrious nature. Ahh, this pains his heart.
Now the representatives of Bahamut and Tiamat have returned to their guest chambers to some rest. They seek to try to push Darastrixhurthi to one side of their endless conflict with each other. Iejir'Maekrix would have none of that. While these two children bicker, argue and fight, only Io intervened. It was Io who had allowed Kurthulmak this chance to ensure that his people could live. He is beholden to Io, and perhaps this is why the kobolds are still willing and eager to serve the dragons.
Fingering the documents on the table, wondering whether to read them again or not, Iejir'Maekrix props his head up with another arm, not sure if he will sleep on his chair again, or would get up and retire into his chambers. The deal is simply put forth: Darastrixhurthi's allegiance will be depended upon his choice of a mate. While kobold politics do not have monarchy or rulership by lineage, times have indeed changed. The ambassadors know Iejir'Maekrix's true nature, they know a child from the union of an avatar with a dragon will produce a dragon of deific power. That child will eventually grow and lead Darastrixhurthi, and the draconic heritage of that child will be an undeniable stamp of allegiance to either Bahamut or Tiamat's camp.
To serve one would be to antagonize another. To serve both would be to ensure that his people will never be free. To not serve either brings them down upon him, and he cannot count on the other dragon deities or Io himself to intervene now. Kobolds are not in a position of weakness to request..no. The kobolds will NOT ask for help, not even from the other dragon deities, not even Io himself. Kobolds MUST be independant. But how...
Placing the hood up over his head, Iejir'Maekrix waves his scaly hand as a magical circle appears on the table and the image of a copper-scaled kobold, old beyond any ordinary kobold appears kneeling on the floor, appears on the granite table.
"Meepo. Are you sure you wish to retire to the surface? Darastrixhurthi has a place for you."
"You honor me with this communication spell High Priest. Definitely sir, to be a Steelscale Knight without leaving for the surface world would be to deny half of what the Steelscale Knights work for. And sir, you know well that the blood of the copper within me longs for fresh air." the kneeling figure rises after a bow.
"Yes old friend, I know you well for that. The letter which I have delivered to you is most strange, but I believe you are anxious to seek any clues for Dardallion. You have my blessings, and be sure to return alive and well. We wish to chronicle your tale for our archives."
"Yes your Highness. I shall return alive hehe." chuckles the old copperwrought as the light winks out.
Dropping his hood again, Iejir'Maekrix drums his claws on his table. The time given for him to choose is a hundred years. A long time for shorter lived mortals, but a short time for the dragons. If the answer cannot be found within Flanaess, perhaps Meepo might come up with something unexpected from his travels.[/spoiler]
