After returning from Qur'Anther Sunhale had gone into the room they set up the Darkness of Otaper and had remained there for hours well after the moons rise and eventually Yorun knocks on the room door, Sunhale turns to look at the door and as he reaches out to use normal magic to open it some of the shadows within the room reach out and open it themselves for him. Yorun walks in unaware of that as he sees the darkness retreat from the doorway due to the light from the hallway creeping in.
"So Sunhale, when you and Golanier came back you immediately came in here, what'd you find out?" Yorun asked
"Well turns out we have to find a dragon" Sunhale said
"What?" Yorun said now completely confused
"Turns out your predecessor was of a race that seemed draconic in nature and they have a good relationship with actual dragons, as a result there is one and only one dragon that'll be able to help give us information" Sunhale said
"I'm admittedly wary of dragons I've only ever heard of them being violent monsters" Yorun said
"While they can be, they are intelligent yet those in charge in your Fiernian empire only make them out to be monsters to justify hunting them" Sunhale said
"Ok so why is there only one dragon that can tell us?" Yorun asked
"This one called Ghairlakriar lived according to them for 100 million years prior to the time in which this last chosen lived which is still weird to hear since as far as I know that shouldn't be possible" Sunhale said
"How so?" Yorun asked
"Unless killed dragons typically live at most half of that ones age though maybe there's just a subset of them that can like far longer" Sunhale said
"Or it could be lying" Yorun responded
"No its easy to tell if they are telling the truth about something like that, dragons never stop growing even as their body fails from aging they don't stop growing and the eldest of normal dragons can be the size of giants who are already as big as or bigger than most mountains, if this one is as old as they claim? They tower over even them" Sunhale said
"Gods the mental image of that is horrifying me" Yorun said as he shook slightly
"Yeah I'm really trying not to think about it, anyway I'm asking around on if anyone's seen a dragon that could be old enough and specifically looking for that one, they'd stand out after all" Sunhale said after which Golanier appeared next to them as just a soul
"You can say that again, I've seen them before back when I was alive" Golanier said
"You didn't mention that in the archives" Sunhale said with clear annoyance in his voice
"Whatever, anyway if memory serves she is fucking huge as you guessed but despite that and the fact she was the most powerful thing I've ever seen that WASN'T a god I never had to fear her. Her children? Sure but her no, even as I killed and then raised the bodies of her children she only ever watched, she never once attacked or gave me a reason to think she would, always found it strange but I never wanted to test if that would hold up if I attacked her directly. Despite being a gigantic target I would not win that fight, dragons don't stop growing which also means their means to attack don't stop either, while they do have magic their breath attacks are a biological function that is usually altered with magic, do you realise the horrifying amount of fire or whatever that can come from such a large dragon? It's a lot and I absolutely didn't want to see it" Golanier said
"Then why kill her children in the first place?" Yorun asked
"I didn't see her, she had clearly been there for some time to the point that rocks, dirt and grass had accumulated on her to such a degree that I legitimately hadn't noticed, only reason I did is one of the dragons I had killed roared for her to wake up with their last breath. I could more than tell she was angry at what I had done yet no breath attack was done, no claws unleashed and no impossibly strong wings used to destroy me. Still confuses me to no end" Golanier said with very evident confusion in his voice backing that up
"That is very strange" Sunhale said
"Yeah, we should tread carefully if we end up meeting this one" Yorun said getting a nod from both of them in response
"I agr-" Sunhale said before being cut off by a voice from the darkness he recognises as Reifal
"Sunhale, some of our people in giant territory have cause sight of Ghairlakriar in the skies" Reifal said in the elven language which draws Sunhales attention back to the darkness
"Where?" Sunhale asked
"Within the giants territory lays a town affectionately called 'Little Town' by the giants as its a town they constructed for those living in their territory who are not of giant size, its close to our empire northern border. The spies there reported seeing Ghairlakriar in the skies heading towards a nearby mountain range commonly referred to as 'Demons Folly', if you are looking for Ghairlakriar then head there" Reifal said
"Thank you Reifal" Sunhale said as he took his hand away from the darkness and stepped away
"So what was that?" Yorun asked
"We have Ghairlakriar's last known location and where she was heading, we can't just head there as its in Giant territory, shot in the dark but Golanier you know anyone there that wont immediately attack us?" Sunhale asked
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"Well remember back around the time we took this fortress? The giants that both some of the villagers and I mentioned? One of them was against me a thousand years ago but we have a mutual understanding and respect, he will listen to me as he knows full well what I am capable of" Golanier said
"Sounds like an option at least, what's this ones name I'd prefer that he knows we're good people even if you aren't" Yorun said
"Joolak, he is currently a mercenary but used to be in command of the entirety of the giant army, he is missing an arm much like yourself Yorun" Golanier said
"Ok call on him and well see if things go even remotely well" Yorun said with an unconfidant voice
Golanier disappears entering his body once more before heading out of the fortress's mountain range so that the defences won't activate once Joolak comes, Golanier smirks and his eyes glow as green flames emit from them, across the world Joolak is with the two mercenaries he was with prior and they are still bedridden from what Golanier had done to them yet soon enough they begin to scream in pain as something inside them burns, they claw at their necks trying to get whatever it is and Joolak quickly chains their hands away from their necks with magic as he scans them seeing a an old symbol only a select few would recognise burning inside their necks.
"I see you Golanier, please stop this and I'll speak to you" Joolak said and immediately the pain of the two mercenaries stops
"W-what the hell was that?" One of the mercenaries said
"That necromancer who injured you he left something inside you to call for me as he did a few times before, rest and I'll be back" Joolak said before teleporting across the world to where Golanier is
Golanier looks up at Joolak and motions for Joolak to bring his hand down which is done immediately, Joolak lifts Golanier up and outstretches his arm so that they are eye level despite the fact Golanier is about the size of his eye.
"Why have you called for me? I thought you were pretty clear for me to leave with anyone who'd follow" Joolak said
"Well circumstances change and we need your help, Ghairlakriar is in your peoples homeland and we need to have a chat with her, you can get us there without an alarm being raised even if 'Little Town' is our destination" Golanier said
"You want to go after Ghairlakriar? A thousand years ago you didn't even want her why now?" Joolak asked
"Questioning me Joolak? Brave but foolish, anyway the reason is the one my soul is bound to needs a few questions answered and she has those answers, you'll meet him as soon as you agree" Golanier said
"Better to agree with you than not so yes I will and I pray to the gods it turns out well" Joolak said
"Good" Golanier said
Golanier turns away from Joolaks face and his soul leaves his body disappearing immediately so Joolak doesn't notice, Golanier soon appears next to Yorun and Sunhale.
"Joolak is here just outside the barrier surrounding the mountain range, he has agreed to help but you should talk to him plus hey you might get along" Golanier said eyeing where the bottom half of Yoruns left arm should be
"RIght" Yorun said not noticing the look
Golaniers soul returns to his body as he looks at Joolak once more and he floats off of Joolaks hand flying back down to the ground before using some magic to raise up stairs and a platform from the ground as Yorun hops onto Lykors back riding the undead horse down through the range while Sunhale flies alongside him and as Golanier sees him approaching he changes the stairs into a slope for Lykor to run up. Lykor gallops up the slope onto the platform allowing them to speak with Joolak face to face, Yorun dismounts Lykor and Sunhale lands next to him as does Golanier on his opposite side. Joolak looks at them bringing his head closer to see them properly, he notes the burn scars across Yorun as well as the fact he is missing the opposite arm he has lost himself.
"Been through a lot hm?" Joolak asked and Yoruns head rings with pain due to the booming voice of the giant before him
Yoruns mind and ears are quickly protected with magic by Sunhale who has done the same thing, Yorun puts his hand on his head then looks to Joolak.
"Yeah, looks like you have too though most of which I'll assume came as a result of Golanier" Yorun said his voice altered by Sunhale so that Joolak can hear him properly
"You aren't wrong there, I assume you have my name already so if I may ask what yours is?" Joolak asked
"Let's go with Raeknar" Yorun said
"Human god of death and justice, certainly look the part but do you act the part?" Joolak asked
"I try my best in that regard but given Raeknar hasn't abandoned me as their chosen I'd say I'm doing fine" Yorun said and the words sent a shockwave through Joolaks body and mind
Joolak without thinking quickly dropped to his knees causing an earthquake as a result and bowed his head.
"I'm a fool to not have noticed! I apologise!" Joolak shouted
"I'm almost insulted Joolak now get up you idiot!" Golanier shouted yet for once Joolak doesn't move and Sunhale looks at Yorun motioning for him to speak
"Rise Joolak but please do so carefully" Yorun said
Joolak carefully stands back up and looks at Yorun examining him further and scanning all three of them, he notes no magic from Yorun and a magic unknown to him from Sunhale.
"An elf, a long dead world conquering Kalrin and a heavily injured human. Never had I thought to see that especially since the Kalrin are all gone" Joolak said
"I've no doubt that you have questions and honestly you are entitled to them but I have a need to speak to the dragon called Ghai- whatever the name is honestly it's hard to remember these or even say them sometimes" Yorun said
"Ghairlakriar, Raeknar that's how to say it" Sunhale said
"The elf speaks but may I ask for your name elf?" Joolak asked
"Irankar seems appropriate" Sunhale responded making Yorun look at him and smirk as it had been a while since he heard that
"Seems there's a bit of a theme here, I can take you to Little Town but I will have to accompany you during your time in our lands so that nothing happens" Joolak said warily not knowing how they'll react to that
"Fine, so long as we get there and speak to Ghairlakriar, I know little of you Joolak since Golanier has rarely mentioned you but if there is even a bit of respect from him in regards to you then I know you'll do what is needed. I don't want to cause trouble where its not necessary especially since the Fiernian empire is my goal not anywhere else" Yorun said
"Well if that is the case I have a bit more trust but believe me I find it hard to trust the words of a necromancer after all that Golanier had done" Joolak said giving a small look to Golanier
"Don't forget your place Joolak" Golanier said as his eyes burned with green flames
"Apologies I forgot it for only a moment" Joolak said as he stepped back carefully
"Golanier get rid of this platform as well as the slop leading up to it and Joolak lift us before he does that. We move out immediately" Yorun said
Yorun teleported Lykor to the ground before Joolak lifted the three of them up in his left hand, they watch as the platform and slope disappear back into the ground they had sprung from before seeing Lykor gallop back up to the fortress. Joolak teleports half the world away past the the borders of the Fiernian and even the Woorail empire, they quickly see the town designated as Little Town from the high up vantage point they have in Joolaks hand but they see what look like ancient ruins even further away however soon their eyes lock on to the mountain range in the distance larger than any mountains they've seen before reaching high into the clouds so much so their peaks cannot be seen yet all of them hear what sounds like distant rough roars from the mountains that alone shake the lands around them...