the Drakes
As told to Elais Narelle Amaratharr by
her father, Estarl, Loremaster of Uvaeren
Long ago, before our people came to the forests of Arcorar, even before the five Crown Wars�
�Crown Wars, poppa?
Yes, the terrible wars between early elven kingdoms. Before even then, thousands of years ago, dragons ruled this world. And they ruled it harshly. The other races, even elves, were but slaves to them, often slaughtered to feed their voracious appetites; at best, our people lived in constant fear of the terrible wyrms.
�Even the shiny ones, poppa?
Yes, little flower, even the metallic dragons were tyrants in those days. Their descendants, like the one your uncle rides, like to think that they were less brutal than the reds or greens and their ilk, but it is not so. Your uncle�s dragon is not the same kind of creature as the ancient dragon lords; they were neither merciful nor gentle.
�What about Dydd?
Ah, so you remember that story, do you, my dear Elais? Yes, Dydd and the avariel defeated Ashardalon, the greatest of the dragon kings. But in that battle the avariel were forever destroyed, and there remained great empires of dragons that stretched from one corner of Faerun to the other.
�So what happened, poppa?
The High Mages gathered together in a great circle, the greatest wizards our people have even known, to find a way to defeat the dragon lords. So they crafted the Orbs of Dragonkind.
�Oooohh.
Yes, indeed, for such was the power of the great orbs that they allowed the mages and kings of old to take control of their scaled enemies, to weaken their defenses and infiltrate their minds. There were many great battles that were fought between the bearers of the orbs and the emperor wyrms. But we could not break the dragons� power, and it is believed that most�if not all�of the orbs were destroyed in our defeat.
�Oh no!!
Oh yes, little one. The High Mages knew that they could not defeat the dragons simply by controlling them, even with very powerful magic. So, in desperation, they did something that we shall ever after regret, even though it granted all the peoples of Faer�n their freedom.
�What�s that, daddy?
They came together in a great ritual to craft in item of great and dangerous power, magic so monumental it dwarfed the killing storms of the Crown Wars. They made the Prismatic Orb, and bound the essences of all dragonkind into it, so that they would forever after become a slave to its power. The aim of the Prismatic Orb, however, was not to control, but to destroy; not to influence, but to drive mad. The Prismatic Orb held a sliver of pure chaos in its heart, and thereafter the dragons periodically flew into random flights of destructive rage.
�But, poppa! If they were so afraid of the dragons, why did they want to make them meanner?
Because, little Elais, it was the only way they could strike at the entire race at once. At first, our people and the other vassal races paid a terrible price. But the frenzy made the dragons reckless and vulnerable to attack. Sometimes they would go mad, attacking their own mates and devouring their eggs. Many tyrants lashed out at their own armies, creating great wars between the dragon lords. Eventually their numbers diminished, their kingdoms toppled, and they lost their absolute dominion over Faer�n. The Prismatic Orb is one of the greatest secrets of our people, its location guarded by the grace of the Seldarine against any enemy.
�Poppa?
Yes, my child?
�What happens if someone steals the Orb? What if a someone takes control of it?
We can only pray that it doesn�t happen, Elais. Pray that it doesn�t happen.
