Avni and Ida

For nearly two centuries, the people of Madglen set aside their differences, placed the needs of the whole above all, and, most importantly, secured peace. These years have been a challenging task. War was almost waged due to misunderstandings, land, money, and greed; but the conflict was not settled on the battlefield, but around a table. The city of Bridgemire, known for its ill-temper and conceded mindset leaders, successfully built a community of structure and law; these were genuinely fantastic times in Madglen. That was true until two sought to hold a power that had not been summoned for almost a millennia. Agis Erris, an elf from the city of Ebonwall, and Yagen, a half-demon from Darkguard. They sought The Crown of King Saward the Silencer and his Scepter of Immortality.

Forged and enchanted with forbidden and outlawed magics, these two artifacts were on the path to the complete annihilation of Madglen and other significant landmasses within the world of Cantarcia.

Then, the great and ancient council of dragons needed to intervene. The dragons were powerful as gods. They nearly destroyed their world with their own transgressions, which led to the decision long ago to never take part in the quarrels of non-dragons. These ancient and majestic creatures could quickly rule and dominate over the lands, but they held their tongues, stayed their actions, and watched. They watched as the cities began to crumble. They watched as the mighty towers fell. They watched as the powerful became the weak. They watched as the people burned. All except one young daughter of a tradesman within the city of Bridgemire. His station was not of fame or wealth but of kindness and community. A girl of just three years of age, Mujaahida el-Sader, lay in a forest clearing outside the city walls. Her father, Sharaf el-Sader, lay motionless five feet from her.

War within Bridgemire waged on as the sun began to set. The fires from the structures created a mocking glow to the sun’s departing pink haze. Avni, the strong-minded sky serpent, circled the clouds far above the city's rage, high enough to see the carnage and far enough to not be directly noticed.

A clue to the location of The Crown of King Saward had been uncovered by the city’s underbelly and was sold to Yagen, the half-demon. Yagen wasted no time for demands and took his loyal and faithful elites to Bridgemire.

Mujaahida, or Ida as her mother called her, stared at the dimming blue sky and tracked her eyes to many stars that began to shine through. Her precious and innocent eyes did not notice a piece of the tallest tower separating from its structure. She was too busy admiring the sky. An article from the once mighty structure slipped and curved its trajectory towards Mujaahida. The concrete slab slammed ten feet from her position, but she still did not move but looked at the sky. She raised her finger and pointed to a thick cloud, gently crossing the sunsetting sky.

Pieces of the structure fell, and closer and closer, the dropping objects came to Mujaahida, still gazing at a single spot. Protesting structural walls gave way, and the largest piece of the tower came loose and began to fall upon Mujaahida. Whistling past the top of the city walls, the large tower piece continued to fall upon the lower forest clearing. Mujaahida did not move. A thunderous clap came from the clouds high above the fighting. Avni tucked in her massive legs and rode the summoned lighting down towards the forest floor. The sky serpent coiled, bringing her mane above the little girl’s head. An arm shot out from the top of Avni’s head.

Out from the hand led a magical protective barrier above Avni, young Mujaahida, and her father. The tower piece crashed, hitting the fluorescent blue magic, and forcefully settled safely outside the wall with a solid and heavy thud. The force shook the ground and flew a wave of heavy dust around them. Avni breathed heavily as she lifted her head to take notice of the little girl who was once pointing at the clouds, now pointed to the hulking green and red-scaled flying serpent. A stoic man stood from Avni’s neck, his leather armor fit perfectly to his frame, and his half cape sat neatly to his side. He twirled his hands and a disc of light appeared at his feet. He glided down to Mujaahida and examined her suspiciously.

“Where you the one I was hearing?” The dragon servant asked. “What is your name, little one?” He asked again. His long gray hair and jet-black beard played deceitful games when guessing the man’s age. Suddenly a deep feminine voice entered his mind.

“Her name is Mujaahida or Ida as her mother would call her.”

The little girl nodded. “Yes.”

“Can you hear Avni, young Ida?” He asked, kneeling to her level, all the while the magical barrier deflecting large pieces of debris.

The little girl nodded once more. “Yes.”

The deep voice entered his mind again. “We must not intervene, but we also must spare this one’s life. She is special.”

The man stood and spoke directly to Avni. “I am your servant Avni.”

He extended his arms. Ida rose hers. In a comforting embrace, they floated to the back of Avni. “Let us leave this place at once, young Ida.” The magical barrier shielding them from falling debris began to diminish as they swiftly elevated and glided away from the devastation.

Ida was able to peek into the forest clearing where her father still lay. “Bye, daddy,” whispered from her lips.

Ida sat at the edges of her home, resting near a cliff seems to blend perfectly with the clouds. She rested her back against a wooden chair and sipped her freshly brewed dragon leaf tea. For the past fourteen years, she has lived amongst the dragons. Dragons of every variant would come to this sanctuary to find peace and camaraderie amongst their own. Many of these dragons would pass on their knowledge, wisdom, and on occasion, their power to the high altar, a robust library of information and artifacts.

Clerics, wizards, and sorcerers devoted themselves to the archiving, whereas the mightiest of paladins and fighters vowed to protect it. Secrets could be found beneath thousands of years of the written word, even the location of The Crown of King Saward the Silencer, which has still eluded the ever-growing powerful Agis Erris and Yagan. The two have managed to form armies and alliances with many of the cities of Madglen.

Ida’s, once the home of Bridgemire, had never fully recovered from the invasion those fourteen years ago. Other cities like Greenwick and Ebonwall stood tall and fought against Agis Erris and Yagan and managed to keep their safety, but others like Darkguard and even the lands of Pondhall fell and were forced to join the two power-hungry foes or meet their deaths.

Ida continued to sit and gaze at the glorious sight of clouds and mountaintops. Footsteps atop loose rocks began to make their way to Ida’s personal sanctuary.

“Ida, it is time we visit Avni and the others at the hall.”

Huan calmly suggested as he met Ida at her side. His features barely changed these fourteen years when he saved young Ida from the attacks on Bridgemire.

“Today is a very special day, young Ida. Avni and the others await your arrival,” Huan said while admiring the scenic view.

“I know, Huan, I was simply caught in the moment.

Let us be on our way.” Ida said, placing her cup of tea on an elegantly carved table next to her.

For fourteen years, Ida had been a student of the dragons. Avni took her under her supervision and began to mold the young, gifted girl into an influential member of the community. It was rare for one to hear the dragons speak as a born trait. Those who could be known as Dragon Walkers. It was believed that in a past life, they were once a mighty dragon slayed unjustly; the dragon’s soul, too eager to and restless, would find a worthy soul to inhabit in the hopes of one day reuniting with their kin.

It would appear that Ida was one of those touched souls. Her ability to communicate with the dragons came as quickly and naturally to her as breathing. She took to the sword as quickly as well. Under the training and responsibility of Huan, she gained favor with the high dragon council, and on this day, she was to be named Speaker of the Dragon Order.

Only a few were able to reach this honored position amongst the dragons. She would be trusted as an ambassador of the dragons and speak on their behalf in matters outside of their sanctuary. Since the fall of the cities of Bridgemire, Darkguard, and Pondhall; and the attacks on Ebonwall and Greenwick, many people had asked when the dragons, these dragons of many types and powers, were going to step in and help.

The responsibility of telling the people that the dragons were not going to interfere rested now on Ida.

The halls were colored with vibrant banners of each dragon represented. Wyverns, Quetzalcoatls, Cockatrice, Hydras, Chromatics, and many others brought with them this day something new to offer the high altar and their blessing to Ida to be their voice. This was set to be an exceptional celebration, as Ida would be the youngest Speaker of the Dragon Order since Wiermund Singer a mere hundred years prior.

A single representative of each dragon made their way to the entrance of the high altar and stood, sat, or spiraled in front of their respected banners in two columns, forming a pathway for Ida to parade past.

This tradition was, perhaps, outdated and slightly embarrassing for the newly appointed Speaker of the Dragon Order, but she wanted to make Avni and Huan proud. Avni was placed at the end. Avni was set to speak. It was rare for anyone other than other dragons to hear one talk. Even at a whisper, most dragon's natural voices boom with intensity and force, often causing significant damage to those who are not prepared. Using their natural magics, dragons use different spells and cantrips to alter their voice both in pitch and intensity. Avni was going to let her authentic voice set free.

A pleasant wind blew by Ida as she stood in front of the high altar’s door and beside Avni, her hero.

The sun’s rays bounced and played on various beautiful dragon scales and off the freshly polished armor of the sworn protectors of this home for dragons. The smiles coming from the roaming guards, the grounds caretakers, the clerics, and the hundreds of non-dragons who call this too their home, meant a promising future for these realms, and that made Anvi boast with pride. Avni uncoiled her body and stood on all four legs. She brought her head up. Her exquisite, delicate features shined as the wind blew small waves of cool air onto her face. Avni inhaled a massive breath. Her eyes gently gazed at all in attendance, and before her words left her mouth, her eyes narrowed far off in the distance, past the edges of their lands and onto an oncoming hoard of intruders riding Wyverns.

Ida drew her sword, looked up at her friend and mentor and drew her eyes forward. Her heart began to pound. She calmed her mind. She eased her breathing. She prepared for whatever dangers were coming her's and the dragon's way. At all cost, she felt she must protect it all.