Andomir had grown up in the southern region of the continent as a normal man. He was raised by loving parents who were farmers and learned the trade to take over when they passed. He had been helping to plow one of the family fields when he had run into something in the field he didn't expect to see, an egg. Now in this time, the world had never known or seen a dragon. So reading the prompts that let him know it was a dragon meant nothing to him. He kept the egg and raised it until it hatched. When the small reptile hatched he and his family were scared at first. Then it looked into his eyes and the bond was formed. It was then that he realized that this creature was to be his familiar.
He found that the little dragon was great at killing rats on the farm. Far better than the cats they had kept around before. He named the dragon Aeomir and they grew very close. The dragon grew and grew from the kills and began to protect the farm from much larger creatures as well. Eventually, it hunted wolves and other game and grew in strength. Soon enough the Aeomir was large enough to carry Andomir. They flew around the farm and the lands surrounding it until one day they found an entrance set in the ground. Curious, the pair decided to see what it was. They followed the tunnel down into the ground and it led deeper and deeper. Eventually, they found the bottom of the tunnel and found themselves in total darkness. Andomir pulled a torch from his bag and lit it. What he saw disturbed him greatly.
There were some kind of black vats set in intervals around the room. They seemed empty at the moment, but when he got closer to them he found they had old rotting body parts in them. A black fluid was spilled all over the floor as well, making it slick where it was wet still. Andomir stared around the room in horror. Why was this here? What caused it? What kind of creature could be so depraved in its disregard for life? As he turned around the room shining his light into all the dark places, it shone on a corner that didn't light up. As he looked closer, the shadow moved and then red eyes lit up and lunged at him. He fell back from the creature jumping toward him and tripped over a rock in his fear. He landed on his back and saw the creature in the air above him, dark jaws open with jagged teeth protruding from its jaws and a viscous black liquid dripping from its maw.
Just before it landed on him Aeomir tackled it from the side and the two creatures landed in a heap on the ground, snarling and biting at each other. They rolled around on the around on the ground, each one fighting to be on top. They clawed and snapped at each other's necks trying to get a grip on the other and dealing significant wounds in the process. Furrows were dug into their hides from the claws of the other creature. The shadow finally was able to toss its weight on top of Aeomir and pinned it to the ground. Just as it was about to bite into the dragon's neck Andomir cried out and leaped to his feet.
"NOOOOOO!!!" He screamed and pointed his right hand at the beast.
As he did this, a light erupted from his hand and shot toward the shadow. It was hit squarely in the side and sent tumbling off of Aeomir. Andomir looked at his hand in awe and wonder. Had he just done magic? He had never done it before, but he felt a power now coursing through him that he had not felt before. He looked over at the shadow and jumped in front of Aeomir extending his hand again. The light shot out and hit the shadow again. Each time it hit the creature it left a smoking hole in its body.
The shadow creature mewled and cried as the lights hit it again and again. It couldn't seem to get away no matter where it went. There was almost nothing to hide behind and the continuous barrage of light caused it to stumble each time it was hit. Aeomir finally got to his feet and pounced on the shadow, he opened his mouth and let loose a beam of light so bright that Andomir had to shield his eyes. Once the spots dancing in his vision cleared the shadow was gone and nothing was left but an ashen smear on the ground that still smoked slightly. Aeomir stood over the spot looking victorious and threw his head back letting out a roar of triumph. Andomir let his shoulders slump and as the adrenaline rushed out of him, he passed out.
Aeomir gathered him up and left the cave, heading back to the farm. When Andomir awoke hours later he noticed he had notifications to attend to. One of them was letting him know that he had created a new class. How could that be possible? No one had ever just created a new class. What would this mean? Being a farmer didn't bring a lot of options for leveling, other than the occasional monster that would wander into the fields, but recently Aeomir had been killing those, so he was still only at level five. He had leveled up many of his farming skills from using them every day, but now he had a whole new class. He would need to figure out what this meant.
He spoke to his parents and they agreed he needed to go to the city to see if he could find someone to talk to about what all of these changes meant. So he loaded up with supplies and he and Aeomir went to the closest city to find out if anyone might be able to help them. The closest city to him was Dalmarth which was a major hub of trade. It was a giant city with over a hundred thousand people calling it home. When he and Aeomir arrived they were greeted with hostility, for in those times no one had seen a dragon before, and they didn't know what to make of such a large and unusual creature. Andomir was able to convince the guards to not attack them and that Aeomir meant no harm, but Aeomir was not allowed in the city. Andomir reluctantly talked Aeomir into waiting outside the city for him while he went to see the researchers at the academy. The academy was where anyone looking for training in a class would go. Surely they would have answers about new classes.
Andomir went to the academy and asked who he might speak to about a new class. He was laughed at upon first asking this question, but was directed to the researchers in the library where they might have some knowledge of this. When he got to the researchers' wing off of the library they were immediately fascinated by his claim and asked questions about it. He told them it was called Dragonrider and what he knew so far, which was admittedly little. They directed him to one individual who had some theories about and had been experimenting with the possibility of creating new classes. The researcher's name was Armond Stalwither, and he was considered a bit mad with his beliefs that new classes might be possible by crossing certain skills with others to make a form of hybrid classes. Nothing had ever come of his research, but the others assured him that if anyone would have any ideas, Armond would.
Armond was a mousy-looking man with a bit of a hunched back from leaning over a desk looking at books for so many years, but when Andomir visited him and told him he had a new class, the man was immediately interested in every word he was saying. After Andomir described what had happened to get his class the man sat there thinking for a long time. He came to the conclusion that it had to do with the dragon more than anything else. There must have been some other forces at work because he didn't understand how else it could have happened since Andomire was just a farmer, not someone that was experimenting with specialty class skills. He offered to help Andomir, though, in learning all he could about this class.
They set up some time to meet in one of the training grounds and Armond even arranged for Aeomir to be allowed into the city. When Aeomir first arrived Armond was again struck in awe of the creature. He had never seen anything like it before, and several other researchers had apparently seen him from their research stations and came to look as well. A giant flying lizard some said, while others described him as the most beautiful and majestic creature they had ever seen. Armond had some of the other class trainers come to help with teaching him things he could use with his class as well as what to do to be able to make the most of what he had. Andomire took studious notes and kept a journal of all of his findings.
The journal was always a closely guarded secret of Andomir for some reason and many have wanted to see it, but none were able to. Andomir went on to become a powerful Dragonrider, with skills and abilities that put him above all other adventurers on the continent. He continued to grow in strength until his death hundreds of years later. The journal, though, was never found even after his death. Some believe it was destroyed, while others believe it was hidden somewhere on the isle of Cathar. Wherever it might be, it has yet to be found. Maybe someday another will find it and reveal the secrets it holds.
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I was struck by what I had found in these books. The last one in particular. A journal existed that might hold the secret to the original Dragonrider's power. I searched through more books that had similar information. Some had more details, but not a lot more. There was even a book about the journal and where people had searched for it, but nothing showed where it might be or what might be in it. I also noticed that there was nothing on how the next Dragonrider came to be. If a dragon was part of the process, where did it come from? Were more created after by mating of dragons? Who would decide who became a Dragonrider? Could the class be obtained or was it only ordained by the gods? So many unanswered questions, but I had something to try now. I needed to find that journal.
"Tristan, Vokin, Aeolith, I think I have something we can try. Meet me at the tables on the first level." I sent mentally to the others.
When they arrived I laid out what I had found in the books. I told them about all the things they said in the texts and about the journal.
"I think the key to our success here is going to be finding the journal of Adnomir, the first rider. I've done a lot of reading now and all of these texts mention it, but no one has ever found it. If we could find that, it may have some clues about what gave Andomir his power and maybe some secrets that we could use." I said.
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"But no one has ever found it. People have been looking all over for it. How are we supposed to find it?" Tristan asked.
"I'm not sure, but I feel like it is likely on this island somewhere."
"We can try looking, but where do we start? This island be huge!" Vokin added
"I know, but we can try to think of some of the most logical places it would be. Why don't you and Tristan go see about looking in some of the other buildings? Aeolith, can you go look where the dragons would have been? Maybe he left it in a place the only dragons were. I will see if there is anything here in the library. Maybe more information or possibly a clue."
They agreed and we set out to look for any clues that might lead us to the journal. It wasn't until that moment that I realized that I really had no idea where to even begin looking. I looked through the book that talked about where people had searched before and in reading the details again I became even more convinced he would have left it here on the island. I was sitting there thinking about where the book might be when I idly began to play with the crystal on my neck. Just rubbing the sides deep in thought, when I felt it pull slightly. I stopped and looked at the crystal. It stopped moving. Then I thought about the Journal again and I could feel a very faint tugging. I stood up so fast that I knocked over the chair behind me and began to move to follow the pulling of the crystal.
It led me back down to the bottom level where a statue of a rider was laid in the middle of the room. There was a plaque on the statue and when I wiped the dust off of it I could see that the statue was of Andomir. I felt it pulling me in the direction of the statue so I walked around the back of the statue. The pull continued on behind the statue toward the back of the room.
"So it's not in the statue I guess. that would be too easy," I said aloud quietly.
I continued to follow the pull until I got to a set of shelves at the back of the room. I put the crystal as close to the shelf as I could and moved around to see if there was a book that it wanted me to pick up, but none of the books seemed to have anything to do with the journal. I eventually found a book that it seemed to be pointing directly at. Whalesquids and their migratory behaviors. What would that have to do with the journal? I grabbed the book to pull it off of the shelf when it only came out about a quarter of the way and I heard a click. Something released and the shelf swung forward a bit. I pulled it out further and found a secret door placed into the wall at about chest height. It was a vault door of some kind, only about a foot tall and across.
"Hello. I wish I had safe-cracking as a skill now. That would have been too convenient though wouldn't it?" I said out loud again.
I reached out mentally to Aeolith, who was fortunately in a building within range, and let her know I had found something and to let the others know to come back here. I looked the small fault over and stared at it for a long moment. Then I leaned in closer to it and the dial began to glow faintly. I felt something on my chest and removed my armor to again find my sigil glowing. I got closer to the vault and the dial turned slightly. Then I put my chest almost on the door of the vault and the dial turned first one way, then the other, then back again and I heard a small click.
The door swung open to reveal an almost empty vault. The only things inside were a medallion, a small book, and a note written and left on top of both.
To whoever finds this,
I, Andomir, do leave this journal and medallion, to be found when the time is right. To the very best of us. To the hope for the future, and the one who needs it most. I have spent a lifetime trying to find the answers to unsolvable questions. I have raised up a generation of riders to be a light in the darkness and hope for those in need. I have made mistakes, and have failed to correct some, but I hope that this will find the one worthy of it and help to end the Shadow's reign. The lock on this vault has no combination that can unlock it, so if you have found and are reading this, then you are likely the last. You are the final hope to make a change that no others could before. Take my journal and use its secrets to do what I could not. End the darkness, and banish the shadows. Be the light that this world needs to usher in the age of peace that this world deserves.
Inside you will find all of my research into the Dragonrider class. The things I found that worked, and those that failed. Many secrets to our strength that I found over the years are detailed here as well. Once you know the secrets, burn this book lest it falls into the wrong hands. This information should never be shared with any who are not completely trustworthy and with any who are not riders. Use it well and guard it with your life. I pray it comes as an aid to you in your time of need.
Always follow the light,
Andomir, first of the Dragonriders
I couldn't believe my eyes. This note had been written by Andomir himself. I took his journal and the medallion out and went back up to the tables with the books. Vokin, Tristan, and Aeolith came in not long after and I showed them the journal and the medallion. I kept the note for now but mentally told Aeolith about it.
"You did it! You found it when no one else could. What is inside of it?" Tristan asked.
"I'm not sure, I haven't opened it yet. But I don't think I can tell you right now even after I do read it. This is likely really sensitive information about the Dragonriders. Things that no one else is supposed to know." I said, somberly.
"We understand, lad. We are just excited for ye. Hopefully, this will have the answers that ye are looking for." Vokin said.
"Thank you for understanding. While I'm reading this do you think that the two of you could go look for books that you think would help yourselves and Rutherford and Randal? We should use this chance to get as much info as we can on things that you may never see again. This library should be the most extensive in the world since it was created by the riders."
The others agreed and went to see what kind of books they could find. I sat down at the desk and untied the leather strap that bound the boon closed and opened it to begin reading the first of Andomir's Journal. I poured over the pages as the first few seemed to have just basic information about what he had been learning at the academy about various options for class skills and how they worked. The more I read the more I began to realize some of the things that Andomir had found in his time and research. I read some passages over and over until I felt I understood what he meant and then moved on to other sections. In some places, he made reference to notes that he separated in the back of the journal as almost a glossary of sorts. He had made so many notes over the years and added to what he wrote that even the margins were written in, making it hard to follow at times.
I was only about a quarter of the way through the journal when the others came back to the table with stacks of books in their hands.
"I think we should call it a night, Callan. We can come back tomorrow and do more research." Tristan offered.
I looked up at him and rubbed my eyes. He had a point. No use in running myself ragged right now. I was supposed to also rest since I had not been up to this point so far. We left the library, my companions leaving the books on the tables for now. I took the journal with me though and put it along with the medallion in my back of holding just in case. We went to the dormitories we had stayed in before and showered and went to the rooms we had picked before and laid down to sleep. Aeolith barely fit in the room this time. The room had expanded again to have a place for her, but if she grew again she would likely have to stay where Al'Droan had stayed before. I lay there unable to sleep for a long time, going over what I had read and trying desperately to parse the information into something useful for myself. So far not too many secrets had been revealed, but more would come with reading the journal. And putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together was my only goal right now. I had to find something that would lead me to answers. I needed to know how to become more than I was now. I finally fell asleep my eyelids no longer able to hold themselves open.
The next three days passed in almost a blur as I did almost nothing but pour over the pages of the journal. I read and reread passages to get a better understanding and even took to taking my own notes on the journal on paper separate from the journal to try to better understand what he was saying in places. Vokin and Tristan found more and more information they could use and even managed to get a few spell scrolls from the magic section that they could use to learn new spells. Vokin couldn't make use of them as a non-magical class, but both Rutherford and Randal should be able to learn a couple of them.
What Andomir learned became more and more clear as I put the pieces together. It was amazing the things he had done in his lifetime. Some of the things that a Dragonrider should be able to do were almost a matter of instinct, while others had to be honed to a razor's edge. I set up on the third day to test a theory Andomir expressed in his writings about the light bolts he shot from his hands. After about an hour of practicing, I found that I could do the same thing. It was not a spell that was used, but rather just a manifestation of the light that a Dragonrider could use his mana to create. It wasn't as strong as a sunbeam, but it could be used in rapid succession without waiting for a cooldown like a spell had. I found that the second dragon egg had been found by someone as well, similar to how Andomir had found his, but that then the dragons did mate to have more dragon eggs.
Andomir set up a breeding program where he would cultivate the eggs and give them to those he found worthy of the class. During the first experiment though, the second Dragonrider died in a terrible accident. It was then that Andomir found one of the greatest secrets of all about the Dragonriders. Apparently the power that they had came from some unknown source and had to be shared. He was at his most powerful when he was the only rider. Somehow this increased his abilities and allowed him to do things he normally could not. When he found another rider worthy of the name and class, he found his power diminished slightly again and knew this had to be some form of truth.
I was the only one now. Was this why Al'Doran had to die? Was this the balance that Erot spoke of? I kept reading and rereading to find every secret I could. At the end of the fifth day, we decided we could no longer stay and needed to return to the mainland to see how everyone else was doing. We packed up all the books that we had found of use in my bags of holding and went to the landing pad to begin our journey back to Jewelston. We only hoped we had enough information to make a difference in the fight to come.