From: Thomas Gottschall (Bloodtooth@gmx.net)
Date: Mon 22 Sep 1997 - 22:09:56 EEST
Hi everyone,
presenting another part of 'Magical places of Dragon Pass'.
Dragonblood Lake
In the Ormsgone Valley, where hills look like dragons one can hear often
a particular tale. It deals with a mysterious place called Dragonblood
Lake. Many tales are told of its origin. One is very popular and
believed by most people. It says that when the Dragonkill War was raging
an unknown hero, pure and innocent, managed to reach through the scales
of the Red Dragon with his magical weapon giving him a wound like no
other man ever had before. And though the hero whose name now is
forgotten was killed, for this was the fate of the Invincible Golden
Horde, he is remembered still as a hero. He is an example of bravery
until today in this region. The blood which came from the dragons wound
was like a stream, red, hot and rich in magic. And the wound was so
great that even a dragon could not close it instantly. For this, blood
fell to the ground and it was so much that the red steam created a lake,
a lake full of a dragons blood. Now the magical blood changed like it
is with dead dragons. It didnt fade away leaving nothing behind but
just the colour went away. The blood became colourless, just like
ordinary water is. Well, no one knows why this happened and how but it
is wiedly accepted that blood that leaves a dragons body does this
though no one could prove it of course for obvious reasons.
And because not even animals could tell it apart from water they
drank it. And the dragons seed started to grow in them changing them
more and more to a draconic form with every drop they drank. And for
this even a proof exists. Go and ask old hunters in that area for it and
they will admit that once in many seasons they catch prey with scales
like that of a dragon and with abilities that are hardly to believe. I
know what I tell you, I have seen parts of an armour made of a
dragonboar". It looked so magnificent that I wanted to touch and feal
it but the man showing me it didnt let me. It is also believed that
plants are changed by this blood but no proof was ever found.
But there is more to this tale. Somehow the whole lake can disappear
leaving no trace of itself behind. Or how can it else still be
undiscovered ? It is said that only people whose hearts are free of
anger and fear, full of bravery can find it in the Ormsgone Valley.
Those who are not will wander endlessly always looking it the wrong
place for it. Thus perhaps a Chalana Arroy could find it but why should
she search for it ?
While people do nearly agree what Dragonblood Lake is, the stories of
what is near or even under its surface are many and strange. Here nearly
all speculations can be found, some serious and some ridiculous at best.
To mention just a few pupular : It is told that when the hero died his
body fell into this lake, and with him his weapon. This weapon must be
created by the highest magic. It could be something like a second Death
or like Yelms own spear. Some even say it was invented by dwarfs and
made of a metal even stronger then steel. Even if none of the stories is
right it is certain that it can awake the hero inside any ordinairy
warrior and that with it one can face a dragon alone.
A second one tells that the blood itself is the stongest magic. If
one could drink all of it one would change to a dragon and would be able
to do all the magics dragonkind is capable of. And many would sell
kingdoms for just a sip of it. It shall grant immortality, omnipotence,
godhood and more. From time to time one can see travelers inside the
Ormsgone Valley in search of this place, some even have maps. These are
folk who are greedy and it is best to leave them alone and not argue
with them.
Another one says that it is a holy place for the Dragonewts but since
no Dragonewts were ever seen there it is not believed by too many. And
yet some warn stangers not to go and search for it because the
Dragonewst are only waiting for fresh victims which they could
sacrifice.
A tale which does not believe in the draconic origin of this place
tells us that when Gbaji saw that he would have no chance and would die
he ordered some of his troops and some of his highest priest to keep a
place for him where he could be summoned once again after his death.
This place Gbaji hid from the rest of the world by giving all his power
he had to enchant it. Then much of his blood formed a lake. This was
needed for a summoning after Gbajis death. After it was done Gbaji
faced Arkat and died as was planned. Now the priests of Gbaji wait for
the right time and the right conditions and then the Deceiver will once
again enslave the world. And everyone who comes too near of their secret
will become one of them, for the Deceiver can still mislead all who
dont listed to the priests.
And thus I end my tale of Dragonblood Lake : may Lhankor Mhy preserve
us all from the knowledge which was never ment for man nor beast.
- --
bye, Thomas
Email : Bloodtooth@gmx.net
Homepage Telmori's Forest :
(it hasn't moved, it's just a shortcut)
http://home.pages.de/~Telmori's.Forest/
"And by the seventh day all Telmori knew that they should have no home
in Sartar. Again man betrayed them. Not for the first time and certainly
not for the last time..."
------------------------------
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #160
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