The Dark Guard Rises
What an entrance!
The Dark Guards were now a fully independent clan of assassins and thieves. They had their own code of honour and a growing fearsome reputation. They stood out as an unpredictable clan with the will to achieve any goal they put their minds and hearts to. Even though they were not many, they stood united and dreamt big. A few new members joined their ranks, among them a handsome and cunning bandit with a loyal heart – Arrow was his name and his mind was as sharp as his blades! There was Telenos, whom they knew back from the streets of Plovdiv. Still a kid, he had a formidable knack for combat and battle. He was their little brother now and he was following the footsteps of his idolised older brothers. Together they roamed the lands, taking whatever they liked or any gold they could get their hands on. But what they truly yearned for was to show the world their true character. They were young, with fiery blood and had a point to prove. A few actually. This road took them to Jeleznitsa, near Sofia, where yet again war was raging between different factions, striving for dominance. At the time there was one clan that nobody could single handedly challenge in any possible way. That clan was the first ever created clan in the Dragon world – Dulo. Their ranks outnumbered any other army and no one dared to question their dominant position in the world head on. Dulo was aggressively asserting their power. Their ranks were so martially skilled and numerous that they were able to split their clan and effectively dominate two different frontlines. Slowly but surely everyone bent the knee, willingly or forced to. Everyone but The Dark Guards! They were the only clan that dared to oppose Dulo when they were at their zenith of power.
The Dark Guards have faced Dulo before, in two epic battles. However, they did not have an army by their side now. They stood alone on one side of the field and Dulo’s army was on the other. Fear and doubt closing in on their hearts they remembered who they were and what they wanted, and what they stood for. Drak looked his brothers in the eyes and asked them if they would rather survive and live a life with no value or fight and be true to themselves, free forever and always. Lestat stood in silence, swords out, a grim smile on his face, he looked at Feros. Lord Feros thrust the banner in the middle of the battlefield and The Dark Guards charged the ranks of clan Dulo with a cry that shall be remembered forever. They took a stand for who they were – free spirits, hungry for glory, whatever the cost, be it death. The battle cry that today remained forevermore their iconic “Death, Glory, Freedom!” and has echoed everywhere the Dark Guards set their feet on, reminding themselves who they truly are, deep down in their hearts, but also reminding their enemies who they are about to face. That day The Dark Guards gave it all, but they were up against an army of remarkable warriors, and so they fell. The proud leader of Dulo – Kabar – commended the brave stand of the Dark Guards with a rare honour, reserved only for worthy warriors: Dulo’s mighty battle cry echoed above the bodies of the fallen comrades, the winds carrying it from nine mountains into the tenth. They received a warrior’s honour and respect; The Dark Guard and Dulo have always found themselves on the opposing sides of the battlefield but there was always respect, which had now grown to be mutual. This was an iconic moment for the Dark Guard: their stand for their ideals made them real and the driving force of this brotherhood. They were to take orders from no one and nobody could make them do something they were not willing to do. The only people that could alter the actions of one member were other members of the brotherhood.
All military actions were abruptly halted by the sudden appearance of the Dragon Seer. A mystical figure and a bearer of a title respected among all nations. Some would deem him a priest of the ancient faith, he came from a tradition older than civilisation. Times, when dragons soared the skies, the Dragon Seer was the bridge between mortals and those magical creatures of immense power and wisdom. He pleaded for peace, warning all the present warriors that these ceaseless battles would awaken a dark and forgotten force from beyond.
The Dark Guards have faced Dulo before, in two epic battles. However, they did not have an army by their side now. They stood alone on one side of the field and Dulo’s army was on the other. Fear and doubt closing in on their hearts they remembered who they were and what they wanted, and what they stood for. Drak looked his brothers in the eyes and asked them if they would rather survive and live a life with no value or fight and be true to themselves, free forever and always. Lestat stood in silence, swords out, a grim smile on his face, he looked at Feros. Lord Feros thrust the banner in the middle of the battlefield and The Dark Guards charged the ranks of clan Dulo with a cry that shall be remembered forever. They took a stand for who they were – free spirits, hungry for glory, whatever the cost, be it death. The battle cry that today remained forevermore their iconic “Death, Glory, Freedom!” and has echoed everywhere the Dark Guards set their feet on, reminding themselves who they truly are, deep down in their hearts, but also reminding their enemies who they are about to face. That day The Dark Guards gave it all, but they were up against an army of remarkable warriors, and so they fell. The proud leader of Dulo – Kabar – commended the brave stand of the Dark Guards with a rare honour, reserved only for worthy warriors: Dulo’s mighty battle cry echoed above the bodies of the fallen comrades, the winds carrying it from nine mountains into the tenth. They received a warrior’s honour and respect; The Dark Guard and Dulo have always found themselves on the opposing sides of the battlefield but there was always respect, which had now grown to be mutual. This was an iconic moment for the Dark Guard: their stand for their ideals made them real and the driving force of this brotherhood. They were to take orders from no one and nobody could make them do something they were not willing to do. The only people that could alter the actions of one member were other members of the brotherhood.
All military actions were abruptly halted by the sudden appearance of the Dragon Seer. A mystical figure and a bearer of a title respected among all nations. Some would deem him a priest of the ancient faith, he came from a tradition older than civilisation. Times, when dragons soared the skies, the Dragon Seer was the bridge between mortals and those magical creatures of immense power and wisdom. He pleaded for peace, warning all the present warriors that these ceaseless battles would awaken a dark and forgotten force from beyond.
Politics, Alliances and a New Dawn
Despite the plea of the Dragon Seer for truce, it only lasted a few months. People’s blood was still boiling with the venom of war. Later that year, there was another war campaign that took place in a location, which would later on play a crucial part in the history of The Dark Guards – Kostenets. This was a busy year for the newly founded clan. Here they began to delve into the devious game of politics, recognising that their silver tongues and charm could go a long way. They were learning that the chess game of politics was a game like any other, the rules could be bent in their favour. They were still a small clan and had to strategically unite with the independent Elves of Noldor, in order to have a fighting chance against the full force of clan Dulo. Together they could topple the hegemony of Dulo.
They managed to convince a few clans to gather forces with them and attack the encampment of clan Dulo when night came. The element of surprise together with the huge army of joint forces, they managed to defeat clan Dulo and their allies. Moving like phantoms in the shadows of dawn, The Dark Guards swiftly collected all the banners of their enemies without anybody from their alliance noticing. The brotherhood yearned for these valuable trophies of war. Quickly after that battle, the combined forces of The Dark Guards and the elves started to take control and steer the tides of the war. They were working very well together, but the internal power dynamic and non-centralised leadership in this alliance was starting to confuse their ranks. Nevertheless, they managed to hide their internal problems in the eyes of their opponents and put a strong contention for becoming the strongest power house in the Dragon world.
They managed to convince a few clans to gather forces with them and attack the encampment of clan Dulo when night came. The element of surprise together with the huge army of joint forces, they managed to defeat clan Dulo and their allies. Moving like phantoms in the shadows of dawn, The Dark Guards swiftly collected all the banners of their enemies without anybody from their alliance noticing. The brotherhood yearned for these valuable trophies of war. Quickly after that battle, the combined forces of The Dark Guards and the elves started to take control and steer the tides of the war. They were working very well together, but the internal power dynamic and non-centralised leadership in this alliance was starting to confuse their ranks. Nevertheless, they managed to hide their internal problems in the eyes of their opponents and put a strong contention for becoming the strongest power house in the Dragon world.
The Demons are coming
Winter came bearing dark omens. A small sample of representatives were gathered from each clan high up in the Rhodope mountain range in a place called Varhovrah. There, the Dragon Seer shared his troubling visions. War had summoned something far worse upon the lands. Demons were coming through portals as the balance in the Dragon World was destroyed. All the fighting between the clans made them blind to all the supernatural occurrences and allowed the creatures of the dark to roam freely and spread horrors. All the leaders of the clans were taken by a representative of the Order of the Dragon in order to test their physical and mental capabilities, in order to check if they were ready to work together against a more powerful enemy than all of their forces combined. If a united front was not to be formed to face off against the forces of chaos, the Dragon world’s future was unclear at best.
The clan representatives were thrown into chaos and confusion without their leaders. The Dark Guards, however, were flexible as always. Feros and Lestat came together with a few men. So while Feros was taken by the Seer, Lestat managed to keep a cool head and lead the men. They gathered the information needed, which in turn allowed them to help the unification of the clans towards the higher purpose. Some clans decided to take advantage of the situation and overpower other clans, which made the test for the leaders even harder when they joined their clans after their trials. One could imagine after all the fighting throughout the years between those clans how hard it was to try and find a way to unite them even if it was for a higher purpose. Little did they know they were running low on time, as the forces of chaos were lurking in the shadows, an arm’s length away.
The clan representatives were thrown into chaos and confusion without their leaders. The Dark Guards, however, were flexible as always. Feros and Lestat came together with a few men. So while Feros was taken by the Seer, Lestat managed to keep a cool head and lead the men. They gathered the information needed, which in turn allowed them to help the unification of the clans towards the higher purpose. Some clans decided to take advantage of the situation and overpower other clans, which made the test for the leaders even harder when they joined their clans after their trials. One could imagine after all the fighting throughout the years between those clans how hard it was to try and find a way to unite them even if it was for a higher purpose. Little did they know they were running low on time, as the forces of chaos were lurking in the shadows, an arm’s length away.