Difference between revisions of "Age Of Dragons: Endless Night"
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[[Age Of Dragons: Main Page]] -> [[Age Of Dragons: Mythology and History]] -> [[Age Of Dragons: Endless Night]] | [[Age Of Dragons: Main Page]] -> [[Age Of Dragons: Mythology and History]] -> [[Age Of Dragons: Endless Night]] | ||
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Dragons of all Breeds report that for many millennia the world knew peace between the Dragonbreeds, but that some time around six thousand years ago, things changed when a being named ''Endless Night'' arrived. ''Endless Night'' would found the ''Ascendancy'' - an Empire that would rapidly come to dominate the northern half of the known world. | Dragons of all Breeds report that for many millennia the world knew peace between the Dragonbreeds, but that some time around six thousand years ago, things changed when a being named ''Endless Night'' arrived. ''Endless Night'' would found the ''Ascendancy'' - an Empire that would rapidly come to dominate the northern half of the known world. | ||
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<br>Many Pure Dragons, who are loathe to admit that anyone has a right to rule other than themselves, believe that ''Endless Night'' was never a dragon at all, but is a demonic entity who has invaded the world from outside it, and has tricked the deluded Sables into believing that he is their progenitor. | <br>Many Pure Dragons, who are loathe to admit that anyone has a right to rule other than themselves, believe that ''Endless Night'' was never a dragon at all, but is a demonic entity who has invaded the world from outside it, and has tricked the deluded Sables into believing that he is their progenitor. | ||
<br>Neutral parties who have less vested political interest in one version of the truth or another have noted that many Sables practice a unique ''Lifepath'' called the ''Path of Apotheosis'', which teaches them to transform portions of their body into living shadow, albeit transiently. They theorise that perhaps ''Endless Night'' is just a Sable Dragon who took this path to its logical conclusion six millennia ago, and in doing so both ceased to be a Dragon and became something altogether different. | <br>Neutral parties who have less vested political interest in one version of the truth or another have noted that many Sables practice a unique ''Lifepath'' called the ''Path of Apotheosis'', which teaches them to transform portions of their body into living shadow, albeit transiently. They theorise that perhaps ''Endless Night'' is just a Sable Dragon who took this path to its logical conclusion six millennia ago, and in doing so both ceased to be a Dragon and became something altogether different. | ||
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| + | ===The Ascendancy=== | ||
| + | When ''Endless Night'' initially climbed out from the earth, he presented himself to a council of local draconic nobles, comprised of two Blood Dragons, three Sable Dragons, a Ghost Dragon and a Velvet Dragon. When he declared that he had arrived to claim his throne, he was met with suitable derision and the Blood Dragons moved forward to destroy him for his presumption. | ||
| + | <br>It is said that ''Endless Night'' spoke a single word of command, and that the shadows themselves moved forward to entangle and paralyse his attackers, and then to do the same to the other dragons present. | ||
| + | <br>He forgave them their disobedience, but demanded that they pledge their obedience to him. | ||
| + | <br>Over the next century, his coterie of dragons expanded, and through their might and his own he threw down the local mortal kingdoms and installed his own rule in place. This Empire he called the ''Ascendancy'', named after the central tenet that he was a dragon ascended to godhood, and that he and his draconic followers were the rightful inheritors of the earth. He would brook no rule besides his own, and so began a period of aggressive conquest. | ||
| + | <br>The Ascendancy was seemingly unstoppable. United behind ''Endless Night'' the draconic and mortal armies swept across the land, crushing all who stood before them. Dragons were given the choice between bending the knee to ''Endless Night'', or being killed. Mortals were given the choice of converting to the worship of ''Endless Night'', or being burnt for heresy. Mortal monarchies and republics were conquered, and in their place the Theocracy of the Ascendancy was installed. Endless Night ruled over the dragons of the Ascendancy, who in turn directed the Priesthood of Night, who in turn ruled conquered peoples through fear and force of arms. | ||
Revision as of 09:20, 31 August 2007
Age Of Dragons: Main Page -> Age Of Dragons: Mythology and History -> Age Of Dragons: Endless Night
Dragons of all Breeds report that for many millennia the world knew peace between the Dragonbreeds, but that some time around six thousand years ago, things changed when a being named Endless Night arrived. Endless Night would found the Ascendancy - an Empire that would rapidly come to dominate the northern half of the known world.
Who is Endless Night?
The dragons (and mortals) of the Ascendancy believe that Endless Night is none other than the first Sable Dragon. They say that he was the twelfth and final Dragon created by the Mother Goddess, and that when he was born he was strong enough to wrest away the last of her lifeforce, essentially taking more breath than she intended to give him. In doing so he also stole her divinity, and became as a god himself.
The Ascendancy claim that Endless Night spent the first six millennia of his existence deep beneath the earth, exploring the world below and during this time he conquered the entirety of the afterlife. He returned six millennia ago to present himself to the Dragons of the living world, and to claim his rightful place as their Emperor.
Dragons outside of the Ascendancy do not know whether they should give credence to this story or not. It is well known that no dragon can exist for more than a thousand years or so before falling to the Sleep of Stone. It is also disputed by many whether there is such a place as an afterlife - most believe that a dragon's breath (and therefore its soul) is either passed on to its offspring, or released into the sky in his final moments.
Many Pure Dragons, who are loathe to admit that anyone has a right to rule other than themselves, believe that Endless Night was never a dragon at all, but is a demonic entity who has invaded the world from outside it, and has tricked the deluded Sables into believing that he is their progenitor.
Neutral parties who have less vested political interest in one version of the truth or another have noted that many Sables practice a unique Lifepath called the Path of Apotheosis, which teaches them to transform portions of their body into living shadow, albeit transiently. They theorise that perhaps Endless Night is just a Sable Dragon who took this path to its logical conclusion six millennia ago, and in doing so both ceased to be a Dragon and became something altogether different.
The Ascendancy
When Endless Night initially climbed out from the earth, he presented himself to a council of local draconic nobles, comprised of two Blood Dragons, three Sable Dragons, a Ghost Dragon and a Velvet Dragon. When he declared that he had arrived to claim his throne, he was met with suitable derision and the Blood Dragons moved forward to destroy him for his presumption.
It is said that Endless Night spoke a single word of command, and that the shadows themselves moved forward to entangle and paralyse his attackers, and then to do the same to the other dragons present.
He forgave them their disobedience, but demanded that they pledge their obedience to him.
Over the next century, his coterie of dragons expanded, and through their might and his own he threw down the local mortal kingdoms and installed his own rule in place. This Empire he called the Ascendancy, named after the central tenet that he was a dragon ascended to godhood, and that he and his draconic followers were the rightful inheritors of the earth. He would brook no rule besides his own, and so began a period of aggressive conquest.
The Ascendancy was seemingly unstoppable. United behind Endless Night the draconic and mortal armies swept across the land, crushing all who stood before them. Dragons were given the choice between bending the knee to Endless Night, or being killed. Mortals were given the choice of converting to the worship of Endless Night, or being burnt for heresy. Mortal monarchies and republics were conquered, and in their place the Theocracy of the Ascendancy was installed. Endless Night ruled over the dragons of the Ascendancy, who in turn directed the Priesthood of Night, who in turn ruled conquered peoples through fear and force of arms.
