The Dragon's Tome, An Original Fantasy Story Options

[Zalphon]

Prologue

They called me the Prince of All that is wrong in this world. In Mathoc. The land of magick and wonder. The frozen north known as the Frostblood Tundra. The southern deserts of Sunskar. The eastern jungles of Sythariss. The western mountains of Star-Reach. The Ocean of Souls and the Sea of Arcana... The Northeastern bogs and swamps of the Black Marsh. The Northwestern Forests of Dragonwood. The Southeastern plains of Shadow's Meadow. The Southwestern Deadlands of the Dread Plains...

They say I am all that is foul in the world... They called me a being of the Abyss itself. They called me the Lord of Unlife, the Master of Necromancy, the King of the Undead... They were right... My name is Zalphon Shadowheart Broodikus, Emperor of Mathoc... I am the Arch-Lich and the God of Necromancy and Unlife. I rule over the lands with an iron fist.

My empire is strong and built of the dead. Unlike previous liches and necromancers, those ressurected by me or students of the New Ways of Necromancy retain their intelligence if we so-choose. Mathoc is ruled by the living dead, for the living dead. Our foes are the paladins of Lightius Star, the Arch-Angel and Queen of Skyhaven, Realm of the Angels...

We constantly fight to conquer all who oppose us. The only threat to us, was the dragons... The Guardians of Mathoc, they called themselves. And their immortal followers (ageless), the Order of the Dragon. I once was a member, but after I learned the truth about what power they hid from us, it began...

If you've picked up this tome, you must be expecting a story... My story... My name is Emperor Zalphon Broodikus, and it begins thousands of years ago, during the Era of the Everlight Kingdom. My father's kingdom...

[Zalphon]

Chapter Three: Lord Ravenblood

I wondered the dark corridors of the lower-castle. This is where the menagerie, the dungeon, and various other rooms were. Suddenly a blade was to my throat and I heard a hoarse voice, "Surrender, Magick-Born," it commanded.

Suddenly the blade shifted from my throat to my stomach and it was the flat side that hit me. My eyes watered in agony. Then I felt a bolt of red-hot flame crash into my back. "A little slow to be my student, don't you think?" he asked.

I pulled out my sword and hissed, "We'll see about that." He appeared from the shadows in a suit of Drako-Steel Full-Plate. He ripped the sword out of his scabbard and charged at me. I barely managed to parry the mighty warrior.

My sword took a swing at him, but he pushed me against the wall with a spell. Suddenly his armor changed into black regal clothes. He shifted into the shadows and I moved towards the wall. I felt a kick in the back of my skull. "There's a reason I am the Champion, Zalphon," He sighed. "I guess with time you'll learn."

I growled, "Learn or kill you." Rage clouded my mind, but it was soon released. The Champion bowed deeply and took off his full-plate helmet. His skin was as dark as mine, but his was grey, not azure. His eyes were blue, much like mine.

"A Darkal?" I thought. "Really?"

"A dragon actually. I am an Ancient Wyrm, before the Cataclysm," he psychically said. "You're probably wondering what the Cataclysm was. It wasn't the destruction of the world, but millions of dragons were destroyed. We are but of a shadow of our past glory. We still defend the realms from the wicked, but many of us had succumb to corruption."
"You can read my thoughts?" I asked.

"Child, I am older than the Order itself. I could destroy kingdoms with a thought," he stated sternly. "The Cataclysm was when King Alu'kar sent out his forces to kill us. We lived openly amongst the people, defending them from threats. But the King viewed us as a threat. He assembled the greatest force of mortals we'd ever seen. They called themselves the Chosen Ones of Everlight. We eventually killed them off, but at great cost to ourselves. Now dragons are feared and hated, but we still defend them."

"I see, Lord Ravenblood," I calmly said. "Why was the Order of the Dragon started?"

"Young Zalphon, that is a long story that can be told in the many tomes of the Library of the Dragon. We have almost every book ever written. The only we don't is the Spell-Book of Arcanikus and the Spell-Book of our own deity, Drakos," he grumbled. "There is word of an attack to a settlement called Grayshire. As your mentor, I command you to handle it."

"Milord, how will I?" I questoned. "I have no weapons and I barely know any spells."

The Dragon commanded, "Close your eyes, Magick-Born." Obediently, I closed them. He then told me to let my mind clear. Once again, I obeyed.

Suddenly spell formulas filled my mind. And on me was a suit of steel half-plate and a steel longsword. "I have taught you many spells learned by our Apprentices in the Order of the Dragon's Wizards. Use them wisely. These will help you fight small threats, but to learn more important spells study in the Library."

I nodded and Ravenblood cast a spell. I was in Grayshire. Blood went through the air, fires consumed buildings. Battle-cries of orcs could be heard from all around. Grayshire would fall if I didn't save them. I ripped my sword out of the scabbard and walked towards the orcish warlord. "Stand down, Orc and call off your men," I ordered.

"Or else what?" he asked. "You'll hurt me?"

I nodded and he barked. "Men, kill this fool." They charged at me and I muttered a spell. A nova of frost emitted from my body into them. They were frozen in blocks of ice. Not permenantly, but long enough to keep them from disturbing me during the battle.

"Now you die," the Orcish Warlord screamed.

"I don't think so," I goaded. "You'll be the one begging for mercy at my blade. And I'll give you death."

"We shall see," he grunted. "We shall see." The huge, armored, gray-skinned humanoid pulled out a greataxe and smiled with a dark delight. I knew this wouldn't end well, but I was prepared to fight for anything and everything to save these people. Even if it meant death...