With the death of the Emperor Esterosa felt throughout the planes, dragons across the material plane in open civil war for the first time in unknown millennia, and the Empire falling across the lands...The Age of Dragons draws to an explosive close. Shared dreams fill the minds of mortals of the material plane as well as realms beyond with even gods and Primordials having cryptic visions of much the same thing. A bridge being built. Whether it be stones falling into place across a chasm, roots growing to lick the two sides of a river, the hands of unseen craftsman working wood into shape to cross a gentle creek, all visions convey the same meaning. Connection. With the connection made mortals are awoken to violent sounds of nature in uproar: wood creaks, fire crackles, rivers roar, wind howls, and animals bellow. Gods are momentarily stunned with powers and forces unknown to many of them and forgotten to many others coming into the light. Primordials are left speechless as powers and beings long thought gone suddenly come alive in the darkness.
You've upset the balance.
The stars unspin!
You've laid low the chaos.
Let silence begin!
You've awoke the fair.
The path bleeds light!
You've ebbed your gods.
Their names take flight!
You've lost your mystery.
We walk the night.
After darkness death, the fey return with grace,
Their twisted screams recall the ancient dreams,
While gods once crowned diminish without grace,
Their thrones collapse under loss of face.
Empires fall like stones in ocean's water,
Proud walls crumble 'neath Pelor’s dying hand;
The wars of dragons roar on every hill—
Breaths of fury betray all the countries still.
Yet still warm ashes birth a mystic light,
Those that return dance wild in shadows delight;
Though gods may perish in eternal night,
A fresh rise across realms to challange old blight.
So midst new ruins and traitor dragon’s fire,
Death takes anew—eldest tale will soon expire.
Assigned to travel North with the Watch Battalion by House Thul the house of her upbringing Edelweiss joined with the company in the days it was hundreds of men strong and set out as a simple foot soldier of quite high birth.
An ancient warforge of unknown age and origin Proxees was brough into a state of consciousness by Alastar Blackmen and became a temporary steward of him and his brother Agil. With the war reaching a climax and the brothers wanting Proxees to get experiences for himself he was sent out. However, with the sudden fall and climax of the war for imperial control he seeks to travel south back to the Blackmen brothers in Gemini for guidance. When he stumbled upon the now much smaller Watch Company, he joined them in traveling south.
A quite prolifically indebted cat Morrick was incredibly motivated to travel as quickly and far from his homeland as possible. When a force near the border that had engaged in no small number of skirmishes with the country of Britania began to travel back south, he joined their ranks seamlessly and began his journey away with the Watch Company.
Following the death of her father Gale was found by Edelweiss and decided to travel with the Watch Company until some greater opportunity came along or when she finds a place to settle.
With his people devastated years ago by the Empire of Esterosa Thorne lived a secluded life far from society in order to study magics and eventually by sheer will gain the aptitude to control them. Once he was ready, he used an ancient rune he found in order to teleport home, but it failed quite spectacularly sending him to the far corner of the continent. He eventually bumped into the Watch Company who were heading back to thier own homelands which happened to be just a bit north of his own and he was invited to travel with them.
The Lord turned Commander, Mydin Watchmieser head of the Watch Company and its remaining 60 men, over 20 of which belong to his personal household and slightly over half being of his general area, assembles his command. Under his leadership the military column travels south to the twin cities of Gemini in order to book passage down the river back to their homelands. He leads with a stoic and determined attitude quite motivated to return to his castle and lands in short order. His attitude is backed up by Sir Alcibiades Ro who is of the heroic family of the same region and has a few of his own household with him. As they are traveling the lands are riddled with earthquakes, the sky turns an unnatural pink color and flower petals of no known type fly about on the wind in impossible numbers. Proxees is struck by the memory of the poem that affected many of the oldest and greatest beings across all known realities. Taking all this as ill omens Lord Mydin has the Watch stop their march south early in the small quaint town of Three Point.
Inquiries are made by some of the company, and it is learned that the town is rather simple with all the shops but one being quite average and stereotypical. The townsfolk do however quite fondly and excitedly recommend to those that ask a visit to the Yarn Store of Ol Gran. While traveling to the store the group hears the first iterations of the song. It strikes them as an odd thing to hear children singing but they move on. A few streets over they hear another group of children perfectly reciting the exact song. It is commented that it is likely a local custom and they decide to move on and soon find themselves at the store front of Ol Gran. It is there that the party meets the Elderly woman beloved by the town sitting in the middle of a cozy store full of soft colorful wonders such as travel rugs, fancy tent covers, weapon sheath socks, and all sorts of other interesting yarn items. She greets her little babies and makes many sales to the group as well as welcomes them to the little town of Three Point. A few of the individuals even buy custom orders from her which she works on throughout the night. This includes socks specially made for Gale, an Axe warmer for Proxees, a cloak for Thorne, and horn covers for Alcibiades who also buys a large back of purple gloves that he later hands out to the children of the town. She tells of her story and how her husband Ol Paw was taken by the Champion of the Emperor Esterosa, Reno the Bard and forced into the army. He was later to her discovery found to be a casualty of the gruesome Battle of Minnous. With orders placed most everyone heads to the nicer inn of the town and retires for the night. It learned at the inn that the song heard being sung by the children came out of nowhere and happened a village over as well. Once everyone takes to sleep the dream infects the minds of everyone.
Not a soul sleeps well across the material realm as nearly all are awoken restlessly throughout the night. Many of the company congregate in the common area of the Inn before even the suns rise. Sitting in her rocking chair in the inn with the special orders on a table nearby is Ol Gran. Around her many men and women of both the company and the town gather to discuss what is going on. She is given the respect and attention her age and experience in life demands and she speaks her thoughts on the matter. It is a lost realm she wagers with confidence. Much like the return of the forgotten plane of Zaratros some decades past. With a long-disconnected plane reconnecting into its proper place in existences that is an event powerful and important enough to even affect the gods and their own realms. With all that being said Lord Mydin calls for ranks and order soon to be made so that the company can set out. A final piece of advice is given by Ol Gran to buy no ceramic.
The force sets off with the Lord Mydin at the head flanked by Captain Sellathrace and Sir Ekky with the rear of the march kept by Sir Alcibiades. Morrick plays a jaunty marching tune, and the company sets off. It is even hilariously noted to some that the mysterious grey demon Lomback is seen to be wearing a belt of bright yellow yarn. As they all travel, he introduces himself to Proxees and Gale asking about their origin points and offering help should ever need it. He further talks to Proxees about the Blackmen brothers and expresses great interest in meeting with the Great Craftsman Agil. As conversations are being had a dragon appears overhead that is soon identified as a bronze dragon. Mydin inquires with Edelweiss and Alcibiades if it might be kin of either of them and both make the comment that there is a difference between being bronze and being gold. The Dragon lands and a few individuals gather before it to see what it may want. Scrazass introduces himself and asks who may still be loyal to the emperor. None answer. Morrick picks up a more dramatic tune of music. Scrazass asks again and Proxees corrects that the emperor is dead and if any were loyal, they would be to the empress. Scrazass asks again and is again met with silence. Scrazass attacks.
With a mighty breath of lightening Scrazass lays low a handful of the company including Edelweiss before turning to attack all present. In an unexpected display of honor and might Lord Mydin screams out. "I am Mydin Watchmieser, Commander of the Watch Company, Son of Balethadon, Son of Agoria, Lord of the River Alliance, and your soul is mine! " He then charges at the dragon not doing much initial damage. Inspired by his action not a single individual backs away from the fight and the war call screams out "For the River!" as every person present joins the battle. The dragon Scrazass is horrified by the display of the war veterans and before he is able to do much about it, he is surrounded, pummeled, slashed with swords, shot with arrows, and under the effects of Morrick's spells of distraction. In a panic Scrazass attempts to fly away but not even a dragon could withstand the might of the united company and he hardly makes it a few feet off the ground before falling to his death.
Lord Mydin works fast to pull free from his pack an ornate leather spell scroll case and produce from within a scroll which he soon uses alongside a fist of platinum to resurrect Edelweiss from the lighting breath attack. He tells her that someone of her station is much too important to let slip to a simple scuffle. He then honorably mourns and helps to have the dead buried following the customs of wartime in having their relevant supplies redistributed to the men most needing of them. All told six men died including one of his own distant kin. The company is left with 54 men under his command each of which takes at least a scale or two from the fallen dragon to commorate the battle. Some take it even farther and begin to fully harvest the dragon following the petition to do so by Alcibiades. Ten pounds of meat, twenty-one teeth, four fangs, eleven claws, and ten liters of blood are harvested in total. Some attempt to harvest the finer organs to no avail. With all said and done ranks are formed and the march south continues.