The time has come for our next meeting of the Sentry Council. It will be a few hours before my guest arrive so I will take this time to write a personal anecdote of each of the Sentries. The transcripts need to be kept in order so that if ever anything happened to me, someone can be there to take up the helm. These accounts of the Sentries are so the records can show who they are and what they stand for. It is my job to help the Sentries to keep this world safe, and these records will show that to everyone. Each Sentry will have their own record.
Dukard Barshear is probably the best person to start with as he is the most out spoken of the council. Dukard is a dwarf and a very strong one at that. His people highly respect him and follow him pride fully. Dukard himself is very prideful, but is laid back as well. This allows for him to be very personable and highly respected on this council. Though, you can tell life has been hard for him as well as the dwarf race as well. Very rugged and rough looking, Dukard has the face that shows his life story on it, however life has never brought him down and he will dive head first into battle for his fellow dwarfs or allies.
The race of dwarfs live in the northern region of the known world among the Highland Mountain Range. Their land is filled with sharp, tall, and steep mountains. The base of which are covered in a thick forest and broad valleys. Dukard’s home city is Dwelldor and it is built into the base of a mountain. Dwarfs are known for their building skills and they are second to none. Their home is evidence of that as no army has ever taken it. Their defensive capabilities are the best in the land. Once long before the taking of this castle, I saw the city and to this day I am still finding myself looking upon the entry way to it.
Early in the days of the first Darkness appearing, many of armies of evil attacked and went to take this mighty city, but it was never taken not once did it fall. The dwarfs were the only ones of the race that never fully fell under the darkness once it had taken over, but due to this there lands and homes were surrounded and locked into never being able to be truly free. They were not under the Darkness’s rule but were in all sight prisoners for a lifetime. Their farm lands burnet to a crisp and out laying homes destroyed. If the Darkness couldn’t enslave them, then it would eradicate them from the world, but it didn’t know the might of the dwarves. It seriously underestimated them and they stuck together and bunkered down like none other do. Together they found a way to survive and out last the Darkness till the right moment. Their lands are just now starting to come back, and the dwarves are starting to once more move out and reestablish their homes of old.
When you live in the area that they live in, having a strong fortified structure is the way of life. The land is filled with danger and enemies. Dragons live in the most northern parts of the mountains. Nesting and slumbering among the many caves and hidden areas. To venture into their lairs is near suicide as dragons are cleaver and mean beast. They communicate with each other for purposes of dominion and food sources. They do war among themselves on occasion which can spill over into the dwarf’s lands. Dukard himself has seen action of this type and tells a many tales on the subject. There outlaying homes that have been built back, are far away from these areas, but it doesn’t stop the beast from showing their ferocity on the lands. Free from any one controlling them, they are themselves their own race. Left alone and looking to be left alone, they stay to their skies and peaks, but all battle and this is where conflict starts.
One such story, was many years ago and how Dukard himself became the Sentry of his province. A troop of dwarfs led by Baylore, then the Sentry, were on the move north to reinforce a fort that had been built to keep watch over the north east area. Dukard was among the troop and second in command to Baylore. Baylore himself was a wise and surprisingly quite Dwarf. He helped in the war that took down the darkness that was. This tales place right after the taking of the dark castle. Things were somewhat chaotic then, and structure needed to be made or remade. The dwarfs had the ability to once more push out and grow their lands back, but what was once theirs had been taken over by nature and by fiery beast. The job of taking back all these areas was going to be a hard fought battle. Areas that had not seen Dragons before were now active for them. Without the presence of dwarfs the dragon’s range of territory had grown. Conflict was sure to happen, but the dwarfs needed to gain back what they had lost. The areas that they sought to take back were rich in minerals and metals vital to life for the dwarfs, as well for all of Nelbring. Their lines of supply stretch to all corners and assist in many of the fine weapons of all the races here. On such supply was needed, but it was the farthest north and hardest to currently supply as it in a heavily active dragon zone.
While on the move towards the fort his troop was suddenly engulfed in a dragon death match. Baylore and his men were marching along a make shift path among the mountains when suddenly they heard a roar like no other. The wind picked up like a huge storm had happened upon them suddenly. Soon from the left rocks began to fall and there they were. The dragons were in the air twisting and turning. There was a furry of claws, teeth, and fire breath being sown everywhere. The dragons beat each other against the mountains and then would gain air and hurl themselves at each other again. Baylore and the dwarfs formed a battle line of shields to try and protect themselves from the debris cascading all about them. This was hell on earth and fire was all upon them. They moved to cover when they could and sought out areas to escape. Reports had flooded in that this had been going on and why reinforcements were needed. A plan was to take action later in the seasons to muster an army to move through and push them back, but supplies had been limited to the area. The terrain was hard to move through as well. The years of neglect abandonment let nature take back that which was once its property.
Suddenly one of the beast swiftly went for the other’s throat and bit hard causing the beast to let out an amazingly horrifying roar. The dragon that had bit pushed hard and forced the other to dive down wards. Both dragons where approaching the ground near the troop and there was nowhere to go. Suddenly the dragons collided with the ground sending out a huge shock wave and cloud of smoke in every direction. The dwarfs started to try and regather their troop as fast as possible, but as the smoke cleared they found themselves face to face with the winning dragon standing upon the corpse of the defeated dragon.
Letting out and tremendous roar for victory the dragon paused to catch his breath. Throughout the fight the dragon had never noticed the dwarf troop below, but since the fight was over and his senses cleared he smelt them right away and looked about at them. This was a truly terrifying moment for the dwarfs as fighting a dragon was not something one seeks to do and they were underprepared for such an endeavor. The dragon started to raise its head and started breathing in heavy readying his fire for a quick broil of the dwarfs. Suddenly a spear flew through the air and connected with the dragon’s throat spewing fire outwards. Baylore had perched himself among a rocky out cropping high enough to get a clean shot, and as the dragon started to breath in his scales exposed the less dense skin underneath as it stretched to ready the fire breath. Baylore struck cleanly and true. This caused the dragon to fling about widely. Many dwarfs ran for cover, but some could not make it from being stomped on and whip lashed by its might tail as now the beast was furious.
Baylore knew he had but one chance to stop this massacre. He sought out the perfect opportunity and yelled to the dragon to gain his attention. The beast looked his way and stared towards him with gleaming eyes of hate its neck leaking a orange glowing liquid that also drooled out of its mouth. The dragon started towards Baylore and unknown to the beast was that Dukard was hidden just below ready to strike when the moment was right. Baylore had gained the monsters attention and it raced towards him. Baylore moved back to a small hole set back a bit to wear the dragon had to stretch his neck to reach for Baylore, and this was the moment Dukard was waiting for. As the beast stretched its neck Dukard struck and cut the neck at the spot the spear had punctured. The beast flung itself back falling against the stone wall of the mountain flinging orange liquid heat all about.
Struggling to breath and fighting death the beast still sought to kill, and with one last effort struck out at Dukard now exposed after attacking. As the dragon raced forward from upon high Baylore jumped off the out cropping and landed on the head of the beast. Wrestling to hold on and striking with his mighty ax Baylore was able to hold the beast at bay till it fell, but as it did Baylore fell underneath the head of the beast. One of the many horns was strewn through Baylore. The remaining dwarfs and Dukard gathered and lifted the head of the dragon and pulled Baylore out. He did not stay among this world much longer, but looked to Dukard to gather the remaining dwarfs and march on. Their journeys and battles brought forth a race of beings that are stronger together and tougher than the mountains around them. Their people have built mighty fortresses and their structures will stand longer than any. The test of time will look back and see them as the great builders of the world.
Since the great darkness has been banished the dwarfs have been in their lands living in these harsh environments, but for them it is home and it is far better than what is was. Freedom is now available to all, but it cost a hefty price to maintain. Dukard is one of the youngest of the Sentries and therefore brings a youthfulness to the group. However, he has seen much in battle throughout his life and as such is still well maintained in the way of being a leader. His people look up to him for guidance and he has not let them down. That day he became the new Sentry, and soon met here among the others. Dukard has seen his fair share of battles, but has experienced loss as have all the Sentries. Dukard himself is prideful and looks to not dwell on the losses, but celebrate who they were and how they lived. He is a member of this council that is needed indeed. Soon he and the council will convene, and Dukard will enlighten us with another of his tales, and I look forward to it when the time comes. Maybe one day a tale or two can be told about this council.