Land of Arrogath

There is a land called Arrogath. A beautiful land, where everything… well, almost everything is good. In this land there stood two tremendous castles. The first was constructed of white marble. This castle housed the mighty king of Arrogath. He was named Melcrion (Mel- cri- on) and his wife was Bellis(bell-iss). They had one daughter named Cerias (seer-aus). The other castle was constructed of pitch black marble. In this castle there lived an evil magician. His name was Kalcaus(cal-caus). Each of the two castles ruled over different areas of land, and along with it, the residents of the lands. In the land of the white castle the people lived in a pleasant environment, Green grass, nice trees, and a free society. However in the land of the black castle, the people were slaves which lived in a dark and barren land. The minerals of the land were being harvested day by day. The worst part was that at dawn the residents of this twisted land had to bow down and worship Kalcaus. There was tension between the two castles, the king wanted to save all the slaves, and the mage wanted to enslave the free population. This started a horrific war, in fact, the biggest war that had ever taken place’ in Arrogath…

CH 1 Cerias

“Lady Cerias, it is time for you to get up. Your father awaits you in the throne room.” “Thank you Mary, I shall see him soon.” Cerias was a very beautiful woman, she was 19 years old, and had long brown hair. She was slender, and had the manners of royalty. She smoothly walked into the throne room to see her father in a frightened state, staring at a map of Arrogath. “Father, whatever is the matter?” Oh Cerias! The battle front has, once again, gotten closer! Our army’s are being crushed… I fear we may lose this war.” “Father all is not lost. The people of our land need you to save them from slavery! You just can’t give up…”“But darling, we have no hope. Our army is doomed! Our enemies have a Tyrant named Malgor who is an oger, but this is not just any oger. He’s twice as big as a regular ogre and is actually intelligent. Not even 20 men could take him down.” “Father, there are greater forces in Arrogath than ogers. We simply have to ask for their aid.” “Sweetheart you can’t mean…” “But I do. They will help us if we ask. We are the side with the lush green lands.” “Yes but the dragons are a stubborn race; they would never agree to help us. We don’t even have any messengers to ask them with. They are all out either dead or captured.” “We mustn’t lose hope! Send me. I ensure you that when I return I will have the dragons fighting for us!” “That is out of the question! You’re too young.” “Father it will grant us victory, or at the least it will restore our borders to what they once were” said Cerias “you are not going, and that is final! I shall not send my daughter to go recruit man eating beasts!” he replied “They will help us even if you’re too stubborn to ask them. If you don’t ask then how are you any better than them?” Cerias said as she stormed out of the room. Later that night Cerias gathered her equipment and left the castle to seek the aid of the dragons on horseback.

CH 2 Gulvert

The grasslands of Arrogath are home to many horrible creatures. It is a normally dangerous place in the day, but in the night is when the most deadly creatures come out. Cerias had no clue that her horse would not protect her from the danger that she was about to face. Nothing could save her, now that she had galloped into the very depths of the 4 foot grass. Cerias was doomed for death, and she had just started her journey. “HALT” Screamed a small and high pitched voice. Cerias’s horse stood up on two feet, nearly knocking her off. Once the horse and settled down, Cerias looked around for the person… or thing that had called halt. “Who goes there?” she said. Nothing could be seen but the tall grass. “Down here you oblivious fool!” the voice said. “Hey! You should not call royalty such names.” Cerias said, looking down. “Oh my, well hello there little one.” She said looking upon a small man dressed in green. “What? Is that a short joke or something?” said the man. “Well I certainly didn’t mean it like that. You’re just smaller then the normal people I see.” “Well, just be careful. My people don’t take short jokes well” he said “I truly am sorry. I will do my best to remember.” “My name is Gulvert; I live here in the underground regions of these grasslands.” “You mean there’s a bunch of tunnels under us? Oh sorry… My name is Cerias. I live in that big white castle over there.” “WOW! Your princess Cerias? My, oh my! You have to meet my family! I have to show you around theses tunnels! Want to have dinner at my place?” “Woah! Slow down Gulvert. As much as I want to, I’m afraid I can’t take a visit to your village. I’m on a very important mission, and if I stop for too long we may all become slaves!” “Slaves? You mean the Kalcaus is winning? And just how do you plan to prevent us from being slaves?” Gulvert questioned “I’m seeking aid from the dragons!” “Are you crazy! The dragons are a blood thirsty race! What makes you think they will help you?” “That is not important, all that matters is that I am making a last stand. If I fail the free population of Arrogath fails with me. If I succeed, all of Arrogath succeeds with me. I don’t want to face defeat so I must be on my way before it is too late. Arrogath is depending on me. Arrogath depends on the dragons. Step aside Gulvert, let me save our people.” “Let me come with! Perhaps I can help you down the road.” Gulvert pleaded. “You may come with, but don’t slow me down. Hop on and lets go!” Cerias replied grabbing the reigns preparing to move once more.

The horse ride threw the rest of the grass lands was fairly quiet. Gulvert had asked Cerias how her father felt about her going on the mission. Cerias said nothing. After a while Cerias and Gulvert had made it to the swamp. This area actually did have monsters that could harm the princess. “We’re just about halfway there Gulvert. After we pass threw these swamps, we will just have to pass the mountain climb, then we will arrive at dragon’s roost.” “Lady Cerias, Aren’t there goblins in this swamp?” “Yes… that is why I’m going to have you take the reigns.” The horse stopped, and Cerias and Gulvert quickly switched places. Once they had gained there normal speed Cerias pulled out a bow from a bag on the side of the horse. “There!” She drew an arrow, pulled back the bow string. The arrow zipped past Gulvert’s shoulder and hit a goblin that was hiding in some grass. “That was kinda close!” Gulvert said in surprise. “Well… it was past your shoulder or risk attack” After several more close calls whizzing past Gulvert, they had finally made it to the mountain climb. “We have to get off the horse now Gulvert, this climb cannot be done on top of a horse” The almost vertical climb up the stone Cliffside was a difficult one. “This really makes me wonder how the dragons get up here” Gulvert said. “The dragons don’t climb up the mount Gulvert, they have wings. They fly to there roost. The dragons are not a friendly race… they chose this point because it is difficult for any man to get up. They don’t tend to like visitors.” Cerias replied. “Shouldn’t that just give us more of a reason NOT to go? We can just go down right now… I can show you my home, feed you a decent meal, what do you say?” he said “Gulvert, I say don’t look down.” “AHHHHHHH! I didn’t realize how far we climbed…” “Still want to go back?” Cerias Smirked. “Dragon’s roost isn’t too far we should just go there” Gulvert replied, still frightened. “Come on, just a few more steps!” When they reached the top they were left in complete awe.

CH 3 Princess plight

There was nothing! Nothing but empty nests … Gulvert and Cerias stared in aw as they gazed upon the vast emptiness. “I thought I would find at least one dragon up here…” Cerias said in disappointment. “Well this just means that the dragons can’t help us. Let’s find a safe way down shall we?” Gulvert said looking down. “NO! They can’t be… maybe they are all using the bathroom… all at once… we better keep looking!” Cerias said half confused, half determined. Cerias and Gulvert carefully navigated the roost until they finally figured out what was happening. “are those… tails?” Gulvert exclaimed staring at a cave opening. “Oh my, there has to be at least 50 tails there… common lets sneak up on them… They might rip us apart before we get to their leader. He’s probably giving them all a lecture” Cerias said, examining the best suicide root. “well I guess we are going to put some excitement in to the lecture” Gulvert smirked. They slowly crept behind the dragons. They could barely see the inside of the cave, and it was fire lit. “3… 2… 1… NOW!” Cerias threw Gulvert on to the back of one of the smaller dragons, and ran up its tail. Then they ran as fast as they could jumping off the backs of other dragons before anyone knew what was happening. With a final jump Cerias and Gulvert landed right in front of the Chief Dragon. “What is the meaning of this!” his deep voice thundered. Cerias Bowed “Sir I am Lady Cerias of the white castle. I desire to speak with thee” “…And who is this runt?” “I am no one of concern sir.” Gulvert said softly. “Sir I need to speak with thee as soon as possible and if possible alone” “very well, something tells me you have something important to say. Leave us faithful dragons, you are dismissed.” “Sir if you haven’t not already heard, the border of the free land has fallen once again. The enemy of free people advances to the castle. If it goes down there will be no more freedom in Arrogath” “Oh but you are wrong Lady Cerias. If the castle falls there will be on free man. Kalcaus will never cease to be free.” “That is why the free people need you! The dragons are our only hope! We must at least restore the borders to what they once were.” “We need not restore the borders Lady Cerias, because the borders are not the most important thing about this war.” “They aren’t?” “No! The only true way to win this war is to take down Kalcaus!” “So then… you’ll help?” “Lady Cerias, your intentions are pure. You now may return home, for the dragons WILL fight! For the free population, FOR ARROGATH!” the chief roared fiercely, filling the sky with that bone chilling sound. “Cerias! Go to your castle and tell your king to gather all of his men together. We will storm the lost city of Elothia. This is the closest city to the free population, and with it will be able to weed out the rest of the slave nations. There defenses are week! With only front line infantry they leave almost no one guarding the already taken cities. We can win this war Cerias. We can take down Kalcaus!” “Yes sir, I shall go quickly. Perhaps it would be quicker if we got a ride?” “Not a problem!” The chief sprinted out of the cave scooping up Gulvert and Cerias with his wings. He placed them on his back then took off the side off the mountain. When they reached the castle Cerias ran in to her father, and told him everything “As disappointed as I am with you, regardless of my fear of dragons. I accept this alliance, and we shall storm Elothia! FOR ARROGATH!”