NationStates Jolt Archive

On a forgotten world they hid. Just outside Tidani space they avoided their would be masters, biding their time. They ate, and grew, and filled the world. They had become more than they once were, freed from the bonds of animal instinct and behavior. Angels of death, created for war, by beings who dared to play god. They had escaped though, from weapons to stewards of their own fate. But now the time had come to move, their new world could hold no more Hyren.

And so thousands reached out to the stars, seeking minds that would lead them through the void like a beacon in the night. One of them tapped into the minds of the Tidani crew of fleets that had recently gathered far from their territory.

Perhaps the best place to hide is not only where one's master would not expect to find you, but where they have just looked. He thought, and launched off into the void.

The Flights were on the move, seeking new homes. This is one of their stories.

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A long time after the Tidani fleets left, a small being barely noticable, appeared in a busy system. It shot towards a planet and through the atmosphere in a long dark cloud. Sonicbooms spread across the sky and the pillar of fire could be seen for miles. Yet the impending impact never came.

He slowed himself down and finally landed in a mountainous region of Solari Prime.

Among the many, the one may fade out of view.

"The God sends his blessing."

"Indeed he does my son." The two speakers were male, one an elderly man in long black robes, a Voice of the Fire, and the other a teenaged boy. "It is said that if you can find the base of the pillar, you will recieve his blessing, or even a visitation."

"For truth Father?"

"I am old, but I do not know. There has not been a Pillar of the God for years, longer than even I may remember. If you seek out the source, perhaps you may return and tell me if things are true."

"I shall Father. The truth is ever revealed in the light of Vkanda."

"Then go with his blessing."

Several Hours Later

The boy carried a multitool with him, and a pack with food and clothing, as well as shelter, but he would not need either extra clothing or shelter. He would not find much use for his tool. There had been no base to the pillar for a reason. It had never impacted. There was no crater, no destruction, nothing more than a trail left by what appeared tro be a large animal...

"Strange. I smell the incense of the God, but I do not see his Avatar, nor his pillar...."

The great beast pushed his way through the thick mountain wood. Trees bent under his gerth. His massive body, five meters in length, got wedged several times and scortched patches of earth marked the place where he burned his way through.

He continued moving, not in a hurry, but not stopping. He was looking for a home, and this land was strange and unfamiliar to him.

He sniffed the air. There was something new.

"Vkanda marks my way!" He had noted the burns and scorches left by the animals passage. Surely this was a blessing from the Heavens. He pushed on faster, seeking some sign of the beast, a track, a hair, or even the avatar itself. He knew what he sought, and the truth that was before his eyes was unimportant. He knew what he knew, the facts were secondary. He saw the evidence of his God, and followed irt as fast as he could.

Finally the woods broke and he approached a cave in the side of a large cliff. The journey had left him tired, and even though he could sense the being following him getting closer and closer, he needed to stop.

He entered the cave and slept for the first time in weeks. In the darkness his charcoal black hide almost disappeared, a faint blue glow came from his tail and neck where he didn't have armor.

"That light, it is strange. This must be what I'm looking for. Light without heat. Fire that does not burn. Only the Priests can perform such miracles." The boy stepped into the cave. He had n idea what to expect. Whatever it was that he had been expecting, it was certainly not what he had found...

The beast lay asleep in the cave. Infused in his skin under his armor was a bacterium that was capable of absorbing solar energy, they had been given this to assist them when fighting for long battles in space. The bacteria convert the light into energy that can be used to feed muscles. The effect can also work the other way around. Unconsciencly small amounts of energy and heat are leaked to the skin which the bacteria can then convert back into light. The mind controls the color and intensity which helps them communicate and identify each other from a distance in the inky black of space.

As the young man entered the cave he saw the dragonkin asleep, a light blue glow coming from the neck and tail where the thick black armor is absent. The peaceful color indicated the beast's calm state, however, this would quickly change.

Though he slept his nostrils kept watch. The scent of a large mammal so close, sent a surge of adrenaline through his body forcing him violently awake.

The great beast of rock and fire rose to his feet, peaceful blue turning to a bright red who's intensity flooded the cave.

Fortunately for the young man the beast was old and wise, he held his fire when he saw the man alone, unarmed, and cowering. The fire that had built up was vented harmlessly as he lessened his agressive posture. The red light faded to and orange glow, and the voice of the beast awoke in the mind of the man.

Who are you young one, that you so callously risk your life at the control and benevolence of others?

"I am Alberich, sworn to the service of Vkanda. Where the God calls, I must go."

The boy was amazed. The Avatar had spoken to him without sound. What power must he possess to perform such a feat? And more importantly, how could he get that power for himself? The blessing of the Sungod would prvide for certain, but how to recieve that blessing....

The beast relaxed some more, he had hoped to disappear on the busy world but it appeared that had already fallen appart.

Perhaps this plan could still be salvaged, a young man alone in the wilderness could easily be lost without much concern. No, that was not his way. True there were many in the flights who hated sentients for having tried to enslave them, even some who had great influence over the linkmind, but they were becoming fewer and losing power quickly. Most of the flights had begun to move away from the hatred that had spurred them to independence and toward peaceful coexistance with their once masters. Perhaps they would even return to their home in his lifetime.

These influences pressed him toward learning about his hosts, maybe they would be benefitial to his life here.

"And where does your God call you today Alberich?"

"Here. The pillar of Vkanda was seen, and it did not explode. I sought out its impact, but there was none. I followed a path from where it should have left its mark to this place. He has sent you to us."

"I do not know your God. What purpose does your God have to bring me here?"

He had a feeling a pitch for aid was coming.

"No one knows the will of Vkanda. What is there to know? He acts as he sees fit to preserve his people." If this was not an Avatar, perhaps a gaurdian instead... "If you are here, there is a reason. Come with me to my home, and speak to the Voice of the SunGod."

"I will go with you. If you are right I would like to learn what I can."

He didn't really, but this would be a good way to learn about the people here.

They left the cave together and once outside he turned to the man.

"How far is your home from here?" He asked.

The young man looked a little puzzled and worried. Why did that matter? "It is a days walk that way."

"Then climb on my back."

The young man looked skeptical but he oblidged.

The beast stretched out his wings looking more like bones made of rock. There appeared to be no way they would keep him in the air. A glow of light spread out over the wings, and a thin layer of skin stretched out where the wings should be. They were mostly clear and filled with the light.

"Hold on." And with that he launched up into the air, soaring over the treetops on his way to the nearby city.

"I will go with you. If you are right I would like to learn what I can."

He didn't really, but this would be a good way to learn about the people here.

They left the cave together and once outside he turned to the man.

"How far is your home from here?" He asked.

The young man looked a little puzzled and worried. Why did that matter? "It is a days walk that way."

"Then climb on my back."

The young man looked skeptical but he oblidged.

The beast stretched out his wings looking more like bones made of rock. There appeared to be no way they would keep him in the air. A glow of light spread out over the wings, and a thin layer of skin stretched out where the wings should be. They were mostly clear and filled with the light.

"Hold on." And with that he launched up into the air, soaring over the treetops on his way to the nearby city.

"HOLY SHIT!!!! We're FLYING!!! Are you MAD!?" He was terrified. Flight in an aircar was one thing, THIS was something quite different.

"Relax and enjoy the ride. Let me know when we reach your house." He moved a little lower so that the height would not be so dramatic for the young man.

"Do you see the clearing, and the spire up ahead? That is the Tower of the Sun in my village. Land there." The Tower was quite impressive, rising into the sky for nearly a mile, it should have been impossible to miss. Flying buttresses and massive stone arches displayed the worship of the SunLord. Deeply set into the temple's easter and western walls was the Sun-In-Glory, the icon of Vkanda, and the symol of his clergy. If one had keen enough eyesight it would be possible to make out the priests at their work, or the black-robed Voice as he walked to one of the outbuildings.

"I see it. That is a most impressive building for such a small villiage. Your people must be very devout." He came in lower for a landing after circling a few times. His large wings pumped strongly but he slowed down much more gently than what one would have thought possible. It was as if they weighed less.

He stood on all fours and his wings returned to the rocky skeletons they had been before. He leaned slightly to allow the young man to dismount easier.

"What is the name of this villiage? Come to think of it what do you call this world?"

"I see it. That is a most impressive building for such a small villiage. Your people must be very devout." He came in lower for a landing after circling a few times. His large wings pumped strongly but he slowed down much more gently than what one would have thought possible. It was as if they weighed less.

He stood on all fours and his wings returned to the rocky skeletons they had been before. He leaned slightly to allow the young man to dismount easier.

"What is the name of this villiage? Come to think of it what do you call this world?"

Alberch hopped down. "This village is called Karse. The planet is Solarin, and the temple seves an entire region. The farmers and men that work the forst come here for their services as well. Occasionally pilgrims will stop in. This place is thought to be rather holy, for the last three centuries the Son of the Fire has been selected from among the priests of Karse by Vkanda himself."

The priests and townspeople found it hard to miss the appearance of such a large beast in their midst, especially when it was ridden by one of their own. "Alberich! What is that?" The Voice had walked up behind Alberich and the Dragon, and was obviously indicating the creature itself when he spoke.

"I followed the trail to the impact site, then I followed another trail from that site. It led me to him. Vkanda has sent him to us Father. He was the pillar."

He looked at the man. He appeared quite wise.

"I am told you are the spiritual leader here and that I am in some way here to help you. Tell me of your people and the cause of your order. Perhaps you may illuminate my destined purpose."

The man guestured for them to walk and talk. The Hyren (Tidani equivalent of Dragon that includes all the different varieties) turned and followed.

"I am father Heinrich. In time past the pillar of Vkanda was believed to be a portent of the Gods favor, or displeasure. At times such a thing would cause great darkness, at other times crops would be increased, and rare metals were found at the base of the pillar. Today, we found YOU at the base of the pillar. You were there for a reason. Whether you came unknowingly, or at the will of Vkanda I cannot say. On the other hand you are here. And you obviously passed the assembled fleet on your way in. If you avoided their notice, then you must be somehow gifted. I believe that the God has sent you to us to protect us. Our fleet is yet small, our army is limited in number. If there were more of you, I would say that you were the answer to our problems."

"There are many more of my brethren. Too many in fact. We escaped from the labs of the Tidani, perhaps you have heard of them? We were once simple mindless beasts. Our former masters created us into what we are now, but they wanted us to be slaves for their military. The first creations rebelled and escaped to a new world where they could live. Since then we have grown in number and filled our world to its max. I am one of many sent out in search of new lands to call our home.

"I was not aware this land was inhabited until I arrived. There are some of us who still harbor hatred for the sentient races of the galaxy for what they had intended for us, but there are others who have forgiven and learned much of the situation was confused and complicated. The two factions have competed much in the past, but the latter has prevailed much. That is the one of which I am a member, if I were not I'm afraid your son would never have left that cave alive.

"I have many kin of my own, and should this land be suitable I planned to summon my flight here to live also. Having seen your land and your people I feel comfortable calling my kin, and so the choice is yours. If you would be willing to let us share your home, they will come."

"There are many more of my brethren. Too many in fact. We escaped from the labs of the Tidani, perhaps you have heard of them? We were once simple mindless beasts. Our former masters created us into what we are now, but they wanted us to be slaves for their military. The first creations rebelled and escaped to a new world where they could live. Since then we have grown in number and filled our world to its max. I am one of many sent out in search of new lands to call our home.

"I was not aware this land was inhabited until I arrived. There are some of us who still harbor hatred for the sentient races of the galaxy for what they had intended for us, but there are others who have forgiven and learned much of the situation was confused and complicated. The two factions have competed much in the past, but the latter has prevailed much. That is the one of which I am a member, if I were not I'm afraid your son would never have left that cave alive.

"I have many kin of my own, and should this land be suitable I planned to summon my flight here to live also. Having seen your land and your people I feel comfortable calling my kin, and so the choice is yours. If you would be willing to let us share your home, they will come."

"We do not even cover much of this world. If they will come, they may seek out their own dwellings. You may dwell where you wish. There is room within the temple, or you may return to the cave you found, or take up residence within the village. Wherever you choose to dwell, address the Sun Priests first. They will make you known to the populace."