The Draksin are said to be related to a race that even predate the Predorn age. Larger than any normal race of beings now. Draksin stand eight feet tall or taller. There immense size intimidates even the mightiest of warriors. However, Draksin have a quiet demeanor about them, and do not seek conflict, but are very skilled in the art of war wielding there preferred choices of large hammers and axes. They are devoted to their own kind and seek to live a solitude lifestyle. Compared to the other races of Nelbring the Draksin number far less, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in size, strength, and sheer will. Led by Dragus Dogun their province is one of the harshest environments and hardest to reach. Winters are long and hard, but the Draksin are built for such things. The majority of their land is rocky, rolling hills with grass, and treeless. Jutting rocks lay across the lands forming mazes and terrain that is hard to navigate.
The province of the Draksin lies in the far northwest where their home of Therador is built in The Dagone Mountains. Sharp, sheer, peeks extended to the heavens like columns, and at the top lies the nests of the mighty Griffins. These majestic and mighty creatures sore the heavens and live among the clouds of Nelbring. The Draksin have been allied to these creatures for as long as transcripts have been in writing. The bond they share is magical in and of itself. It is said that the Draksin can even understand the Griffins, and the Griffins them. Such things seem possible as the Draksin can ride the Griffins. Easily patrolling the harsh environment from above, the Draksin are the masters of the sky. Therador itself is built to accommodate the Griffins as it has steep towers that reach to the heavens for the Griffins to roost and land on.
Though their lands are hard to venture into, The Dark One’s reach still was felt even there. At the time of The Dark One the Draksin were led by Katon Bare. He was a mighty Draksin and had been fighting The Dark One all his life. His second in command was Dragus, and together it was their will that freed their people and started the movement to end The Dark One. The war was long and hard for all of Nelbring, but through it the Draksin made many allies, friends, and found a strength in their people that they did not know they had. Throughout the war all of Nelbring came together and helped fight back the evil that was. Victories were had, but not all victories end with celebration and happiness as these transcripts have shown, and none more than this.
At the end of the war The Dark One’s forces were being driving back to the Dark Lands, and all other forces that were being controlled by him were severed. These forces were scattered and had retreated back to their holes. The war was turning and the Armies of Light were starting to see their hope come to fruition, but one thing still stood in their way. They still needed to destroy The Dark One, whom lurked in his immense dark fortress.
The Dark One would not be easily defeated and almost harder to reach. For the dark fortress was and is so large it can be seen by all the province’s castles. The enormity of the fortress can been seen from a distance as if it were a mountain range and takes a day just to cross from one side to the other. The Fortress is said to have been built in the Predorn Age by the elves, but the transcripts have long been loss. The Dark One knew for the Armies of Light to besiege the fortress would be like using a pebble to dam up a river. A plan had to be made and it was Katon who devised a way that would allow them to cross the vast fortress and bypass most of the forces that stood in their way of reaching The Dark One.
A small force lead by Katon of the Draksin, Andromeda LaSheen of mankind, Baylore Prox of the Dwarfs, Angelica Kareem of the Mystics, Asprion Colchat of the Vangors, and some of their strongest warriors would attack the fortress and destroy The Dark One. Among the other warriors were Dragus Dogun, Dukard Barshears, and a warrior of which little is called Mathis. Their numbers would only be close to fifty, but if everything went as it was supposed to that would be all they would need. The Dark One had almost an unstoppable force guarding the fortress. Asprion knew of the force that was there and knew the fortresses layout and how things worked. Using Griffins to ferry themselves across the great structure Katon and the others would be able to reach the center of the fortress hopefully undetected.
All the Sentries gathered and discussed what would need to happen. There were to be two large armies amassing in the west. One would keep the orcs back and keep pushing them to the dark lands. While the other would strike out against the dark fortress itself. Its main goal was to distract The Dark One and the forces to the west and allow the smaller force of the Sentries called the Legion of Fifty to gain entrance from above. The Griffins they rode on would gather in the clouds high above the fortress’ main tower, and when the time was right swoop down and land on it. Angelica and her warriors with her would use their magic to call in a fog that would conceal their movements. Once in Asprion would lead the forces towards The Dark One’s chamber.
It is known that the force guarding the fortress were once Vangors. Turned by dark magic and now The Dark One’s personal guard. They patrolled all the fortress never resting never hungry. Embodying the armor of the dead these beings were immortal and could not be killed. Obeying the will of The Dark One was their only goal. They could however be beaten by other means. Asprion new of magical properties that could disable the beings for a short while, but it would eventually wear off and they would once again be on the attack. Asprion combined his magically knowledge with that of the power wielded by the Mystics to endow the weapons and armor of the small force to battle the Accursed Sentinels.
The evening grew close and the time for battle had come. The Legion of Fifty set forth giving the call for the armies to attack. Flying high above the Griffins soared till they were above the clouds. Led by Katon they flew across the vastness of the dark fortress every once in a while catching a glimpse of the structures below. At first the battle at the wall could be heard, but soon they had flown to high and too far to hear anything. The fog Angelica had called upon was encompassing the main tower and soon they could see the crest of the main tower. Its crowning points slightly protruding through the clouds. The Legion landed on top and started their quest down the tower to The Dark One’s chamber.
At first, they went unnoticed as they made their way down. Through a dark tunnel that seemed endless, but finally entering into the main chambers hallway. There they found guards posted at the ready. Their numbers in around ten the Legion of Fifty charged forth. Gaining the upper hand and dispatching the guards the time had now come to enter into the Chamber and deal with The Dark One. The Sentries, Dragus, Dukard, Mathis and only a few others entered into the chamber leaving the rest to hold off any who attempted to stop them. They had to be quick as the Accursed Sentinels would soon be coming and would eventually over running them.
Walking up the stairs finally there before the Sentries and others stood The Dark One. A vile creature who was adorned with black armor inlaid with red rune markings glowing faintly, and surrounding him was a black aura with a hint of green. He towered above most of the Sentries except that of Katon and Dragus. The time had come and all attacked striking out with all the hate and vengeance they had. The Dark One was tough and took hit after hit and his armor was riddled with arrows, but he to struck a few of the mighty warriors down and wounded several of the Sentries. At the end it was Katon, Dragus, and Mathis that stood alone against The Dark One. Both Draksin wielding their large ax and hammer and Mathis his two swords. Attacking together they were eventually able to take him to the ground unable to get up. The battle was over and The Dark One had been beaten, but there was a price to this victory as The Dark One knew.
As The Dark One lay there beaten and bloodied, he spoke in his tongue telling the Sentries that if he was going to die then Nelbring would go with him. The Sentries were confused as to how this was possible, but from his time there Asprion knew of what he spoke. This dark fortress is the magical conduit of Nelbring and it is what all magical forces flow through. The Dark One was going to unleash the power that the fortress had and destroy Nelbring and everyone in it. Asprion told this to all the Sentries and explained how it was going to happen. They had to do something, but what could they do. Going into battle Asprion knew that this was a possible outcome, but thought maybe the magical forces of Nelbring would flow freely without a conduit. He learned however from The Dark One that ever since this fortress was built that if it were to ever be destroyed it would destroy all of Nelbring with it.
Asprion then saw what needed to be done. The Dark One was the anchor of the magic, or Keeper as later found through the transcripts of old. It was why he was so powerful. He fed off of it and because the fortress was the main conduit he had an endless supply. Without him here the magic would flow freely without order and create chaos and then eventually destroy Nelbring. The fortress needed a Keeper to control the flow of magic, and with the influence of good not evil. Asprion saw however there would be a sacrifice that needed to be made. Whomever decided to be the Keeper would forever from then on be the Keeper. They would never again be able to leave and the person that was would never be once again.
The Sentries did not have long to think on this. The Dark One might have been beaten, but his Accursed Sentinels were still coming and the Armies of Light could not hold on forever. There was a short quiet about them but then Katon spoke up. “I will become the Keeper”, he said aloud. All the Sentries looked around at each other and lowered their heads. Saddened to be losing a great friend, but at the same time proud to be one too. Katon then looked to Dragus and told him he was ready to lead his people. Dragus with tears forming stood there hammer in one hand knelled down on one knee with the hammer facing down. Katon placed his right hand on his left shoulder and bestowed upon him his Ax. He then turned to Asprion to find out what was next.
With the help of Angelica, Asprion called upon the magical properties of the fortress. He had been at the fortress for a long time and knew of the workings. Transferring the power of the Keeper from The Dark One to Katon was going to require a lot of power. The Dark One was far from gone and knew what the Sentries were doing before his powers started to leave him he yelled out in his tongue words no one knew and then in a terrible cry fell apart in a black aura his hand reaching out and leaving only his armor behind. The fortress had stripped him of his powers and The Dark One was absorbed into the fortress itself.
While everyone stood back Asprion and Angelica performed the required spell. The floor started to glow around Katon and soon the light itself was glowing through him. The light spread sending out beams in all directions through windows that stretched across Nelbring. Soon the fortress started to shake as the magical forces gathered transforming Katon. At the cusp of the gathering a large explosion of light spewed forth sending a shock wave of light throughout all the fortress. As the light faded where Katon once stood, I now stood before the Sentries. The Keeper I am now and the Keeper I will always be. Dragus was saddened by Katon’s choice, but was very proud in knowing of what Katon thought of him being ready to lead his people. Dragus returned home carrying Katon’s ax with pride to tell the tale that was. The people stood with Dragus and he has lead them well. If anything Dragus has set forth to prove himself worthy of the title Sentry. He has done just that and more. He now makes his way here for another meeting of the Sentry Council which is soon to begin.