Lord Arntiraas, Shotar – Star-King of the people known as Falcanians gained fame by hunting down the tri-clawed beast called a Drak that had taunted the village of his tribe for many years.  He slew the firebird with the Kraris called Vanguard, which had been wrought by Falcania, the Ratava maiden.  It is because of this that his kinsmen often call Arntiraas, Drak or Arntiraas-Drak slayer of the beast of three claws.

Arntiraas waited hidden in a tree with Vanguard strapped to his side.  The shards ever resting in a pouch on his belt clanked and clattered as he waited for the beast to show itself.
Night came and went three times three.
"What does a Manling want in my tree?" a voice asked the Star-king.
In the deep darkness of night Arntiraas could make out two yellow eyes staring back at him from across the branch in which he sat.  Two glistening stars blinking with curiosity looked at the Star-King as he rested in the elm clutching his won blade. 

"I wish to kill the Drak for it has harassed my people the Falcanian for many years now."
The yellow eyes looked closer at Arntiraas.  "I have seen this Drak and know where he hunts." Purred the owner of the eyes coming closer to the Shotar.
Arntiraas was surprised to see that the yellow eyes belonged to a cat.  The creature was covered with thick black fur.  A white stripe, like a beard rested on his furry chin.  His right ear twitched listening to the sounds of the night; the ear was tattered as if the cat had been in a fight.  Indeed the Persian kheigra looked to be a warrior. 
On his hind legs the cat man walked across the branch with ease, his claws dug into the limb. Behind him the cats bushy tail swayed.  He extended his paw toward the Shotar.  "I am Kieva the cat General you are in the land of Sirad – land of the Lion.  My Empress Khaliress would like to meet a Manling who seeks to kill the Drak." Said Kieva his long whiskers twitching.  "For it also attacks us." 

Arntiraas followed the cat as he leapt out of the tree.  In an affectionate manner Kieva circled the Falcanian Shotar brushing against the Falcanian's legs.  Kieva began to purr.
As the two walked across the field the shards clattered in their pouch.
Kieva being a cat couldn't resist the urge to reach out with his paw and bat at the shards as they clanked together.  Also being a cat he was intensely curious.  "What's in there?" Insisted the Cat General clawing at the cords of the satchel. 
 "Nothing a cat would be interested in." said the Shotar.
"And how does a Manling know what a cat is interested in?"
"Because these are a gift from a beautiful Ratava."
"Even we cats know of the Ratava." Stated Kieva still batting at the pouch.  "So what does the Manling keep in his goat skin satchel?"
"Shards from a broken sword."
"Are they shiny? I like shiny things." Kieva said.
"Yes they are shiny…  but I still think that a cat would not care for the shards." Insisted Shotar Arntiraas.
"What pretty Ratava gave them to you? Why keep them with you?" 
"She called herself Falcania – the 'Shining Falcon'.  I keep them with me because they are a test, a game to see if those who come and wish to join our Eryies are worthy."
The cat man smiled.  "Cats like games." Purred Kieva.  "Let me see the shards."
Arntiraas was becoming annoyed, but this cat man who he needed to find the Drak also amused him and so he relented.
The Shotar let the Shards of Fordon clatter onto a stump so that Kieva might see them and hopefully be satisfied.
"Oh!" said Kieva in wonderment at seeing Fordon's fragments with the mid-afternoon sun glistening upon them.  "You are right Falcania did give you a special gift."
Arntiraas was intrigued.  "What do you mean?"
Kieva motioned with his paw for the Shotar to come closer.  The Cat General whispered into the Falcanian leader's ear.
Arntiraas, wielder of Kraris smiled beneath his beard.  Soon he began to laugh a deep and knowing laugh.  "Yes of course," said he still laughing.  "Even a cat knows the answer to the puzzle.  "I suspect then you can figure out the riddle as well?"
"I have an idea already."
The Wielder of the Talon-Blade spoke then the riddle of Falcania for the Cat General and indeed he did know the answer.  Always be wary of a cat, he always knows more then he says.
Arntiraas picked Kieva up and carried him on his shoulders.  The two new friends headed for the palace of the Cat Empress.

Entering the Palace of the Cat Empress Arntiraas and his new friend Kieva were invited into Khaliress's throne room.
Khaliress sat upon a huge cushion.  She suckled kittens at her nipples and smoked from a hookah filled with catnip.
"Welcome Kieva." Purred the calico empress.
"My Empress." Said Kieva.  "Let me introduce Arntiraas, Shotar of the Falcanians."
"Ah a Manling.' Said the calico.
"He is here to kill the Drak." Explained Kieva.
"None of my warriors have been able to rid us of the beast – even when it dies it returns to kill our kittens." Cried the calico.
 "I am sorry to hear that." Said Arntiraas to the calico.  "It has been killing my own people."
The Empress bade for Kieva and Arntiraas to join her for some cat - mint tea.  The three drank the warming mint and shared stories of the Drak.
It was decided that in the morning Arntiraas and Kieva would leave for the 'Razor Rocks' where the Drak often appeared.  The rocks – a maze of sharp obsidian made for a good place to hide.

Char's cerulean sun rose high over the land Sirad.  The Shotar walked up to the edge of the Razor Rocks Kieva bouncing along beside him.
"It is a vast desolate place." Said the Shotar peering across the maze of sharp obsidian.
"One could get lost." Replied the Cat General.  "Many of my soldiers have entered this place and never returned."
"Are you scared cat?"
The cat considered the question.  "When one ventures into a maze… on a road that one has never been on before – it would be foolish to not be a little scared.  But it is even more foolish to be consumed by fear letting it destroy you."
Arntiraas nodded.  He suddenly was very glad that he had befriended this Kieva for the cat was comforting to be with.  Together the two entered the labyrinth of volcanic rock.
The Shotar held fast to his Kraris, he also kept close to him a railkira, a collapsible fighting pike that shot bolts of energy at his foes.
Arntiraas climbed over the glass like rock turning to listen for the Drak.  Glancing to one side he saw that that Kieva was doing the same his ears twitching.
"Star-King I hear the beast.  Its talons smash upon the earth." Informed the cat general hopping with his nimble cat paws to look over the rock.
When Kieva looked down into the valley his already big yellow eyes grew larger, filled with both wonder and horror.
There was not one beast but a horde of Draks.
Arntiraas the Shotar pulled out his Kraris joining Kieva at the top of the rock to look upon his prey.  He also was astounded, though his fear was tempered with sudden respect toward these creatures. 

Crested and horned each animal was two legged.  Like a raptor the Draks had sharp black beaks clearly able to rend a man with little effort.  Their wingless hides were covered in feather like armored scales that ranged in a multitude of coloration's including deep blood red and black.  As a powerful mount a man could ride one of these beasts should he wrangle one and be able to apply a harness.
"These Drak are organized," said the Shotar.  "They structure themselves into warriors and workers." He observed noting the discipline of what he no longer saw as dumb beasts but cunning sentience able to think and act with a focused will.
 From their place on the obsidian rock the two watched the beasts form into battle lines following a blood red ruling Drak crested in gold plumage who called out in a harsh shriek.
A younger Drak not caring for the ruling Drak's command charged the older bird with its elk like horns.  The younger one's razor sharp beak ripped at his its elder's hide but the toughness of the scale-feathers repelled the onslaught allowing the lead Drak to dispatch with his challenger and send him cowering away with his own massive tri-clawed talons.
It seemed like the ruling Drak though still tough was old and getting weak but not willing to give up his place in his species hierarchy to the young upstart who had thought to take it with a simple blow. 
Arntiraas was impressed with the Drak's tri-claws thinking that they would make a fine pair of boots.  In fact the whole hide would make fine armor.
"I must challenge that One." Said Arntiraas to Kieva who appeared more worried then when they had first entered this desolate area of Char.
"It will kill you with no regard."
"I came here to kill him." Said the Shotar.  "Perhaps also I have learned something that will help me."
"Help you?" said the cat in his ever-questioning voice.  "How?"
 "These Drak are a savage force of nature but they have order and this makes them powerful beyond their physical strength.  Cat has it not occurred to you that these beasts have been seeking to disrupt the order of Char?"
"As agents of entropy?"
"Perhaps we can learn something from that?" Said the Shotar already considering how to apply what he witnessed here to his own tribe of Falcanians. 

The two made their way down into the gorge creeping toward the ruling Drak.  Arntiraas held his railkira and Kraris at the ready – Kieva kept his claws drawn and continued to make hissing sounds knowing that he and this manling likely marched to their doom.
Coming up to where the ruling Drak rested with his harem of mates both Kieva and Arntiraas leapt into the fray attempting to take the ruling beast by surprise.
With lightening speed the ruling Drak got to its tri-clawed feet and lunged forward its beak striking at the man who had come to challenge it.
Arntiraas dodged the strike for the most part but he took a gash in his shoulder losing his fighting pike in the shuffle.  Now he only had the steel of Falcania to hunt this monster bird with.
Tri-claws reached out for the man whom agilely avoided the talons thanks to his companion Kieva who's hissing and clawing kept the other Drak at bay and off guard. 
Both to Arntiraas's and Kieva's surprise the ruling Drak reared up with a shriek causing his fellow beasts to stand out of the combat.
The Shotar understood, the ruling Drak wanted to face him alone.
"Kieva do not interfere." Commanded Arntiraas.
"But lord manling!" protested Kieva with concern.
"Don't worry old cat." Responded Arntiraas.  He then did a strange thing he smiled gleefully at his cat friend.
For a moment Arntiraas and the ruling Drak shared a look their eyes meeting with understanding as their Urki - Primal Sparks shared a moment of synergy. 
Circling eyes locked Man and Drak felt the throbbing of the driving force surge in their blood.  Together they waited for the right moment to make the exchange and pass on the reigns of power.
None among my kind are worthy…  for so long I have waited, countless centuries for one to come and free me from my burden.  My kind grows restless and corrupt.
His judgment acknowledged Arntiraas listened as the ruling Drak passed on the images of his vast life.  He saw the beginning of Char and how the Drak had once ruled more then this desolate place.  He learned how entropy had engendered the Drak to bring chaos to the Ratava.  But this Drak, this king among the beasts had turned them from workers of shadow to caretakers of the world under the cerulean sun only toward the end of his life to watch his species basic nature rule out loosing them again onto Char.
There is hope manling if I choose this most unlikely of courses – they will obey.  It is our way.  You are not like the others for "Why?" is stamped upon your soul.  But much awaits you beyond this gorge of rock.
With all his might the Drak vaulted for Arntiraas.  He did not feign his strike.  To be sure Arntiraas would need to earn what the Ruling Drak was handing over to him.
Grappling the bird Arntiraas pushed his Kraris into the beast's heart finding the old one's last thoughts to be of the stars.  The ruling Drak crashed to the ground with a final thud of death.
Wearily Arntiraas turned and waited, not sure of what would come next. 

The young Drak who had challenged the old ruling beast tensed as if to charge at Arntiraas who held fast to his blood encased blade.  He held its eyes knowing that one was an opportunist and would take advantage of the slightest weakness.
Waiting the attack from the younger Drak never came.  Shockingly the young one was the first to do the most amazing of things it bowed in obedience to their new ruling Drak Arntiraas, now Drakonis.
Kieva watched, huge yellow eyes nearly popping from his furry face.  His ears twitching as the thunderous sound of the Drak bent in submission to their new master.
From that day on Drak would harness themselves willingly as steeds of the Falcanian tribe going with them in the Falcanians great airships that would travel across the skies of Char.
From the old ruling Drak's hide Arntiraas fashioned himself organic armor.  The blood red feather-scales made him appear as if one of the Drak.  His tri-claw boots were a mark of pride to the Shotar.
Now the beasts would be allies in shaping Char.

Each Falcanian joined with a Drak as they entered the airships to sail across Char.  Kieva also went with the Falcanians in their journey that had only just begun.