death of a god 1

Before the time of man, when the ancestors of the elves and the dwarves were but newly come into the world, there was strife between the gods (for so men have since called them). The chief rebel at this time was Colubra - who had long questioned the wisdom of her peers, deeming the mortal races too weak to warrant such freedom as was gifted to them, and should instead be governed more directly (forcibly if need be) by their creators.

Indeed, from the beginning Colubra had often been at odds with the other 'powers' - marring or hindering in some way that which they created - and so in time, she and a few others of a similar mind departed from the land of the gods, to dwell as living, breathing beings within the confines of the mortal realm. Here Colubra took the form of tall elf queen, or occasionally that of a gigantic winged serpent, and in the far eastern lands she and her allies began to carve out a great kingdom for themselves. Then for the first time the world knew true fear, for the elves and dwarves could not be fooled, convinced, or even threatened under pain of death, into accepting Colubra as their master (as they themselves had grown mighty and had kings and lords of their own), and so the great war began.

At first her attention was given more to the elves, for they were more alike to the gods themselves than the bearded dwarves, and she deemed them the greater threat. And though many fled as her empire grew, more were enslaved and dragged down to the bowels of her ever-expanding fortress-city. Yet even in captivity all but a few would still reject her despite their torments, and so she determined to create a mighty host - one more numerous than that of the entire elven kingdoms combined - one to crush her rebellious enemies into dust. And so it began…

It is said that from those poor unfortunate souls that were incarcerated in the dungeons of Atrox Ferrum (the chief citadel of her dark realm) came the race of orcs - for it is believed that these captives were utterly broken in time, both in body and in mind, becoming little more than evil perversions of their former selves. These twisted creatures, imbued with a hatred of all living things, would eventually comprise the rank and file troops of her vast armies - for there, deep underground, amidst the heats and slimes of the world, they multiplied.

Soon the orc hosts issued forth, in small companies at first - probing the land and defences of their enemies, though it was not long before her great army was revealed as it marched out of the great iron gates of Atrox Ferrum.

At the head of the column were Colubra's most trusted lieutenants and captains - those other godlike beings that had accompanied her into exile - and they were terrible to look upon. Some took the form of giant demons with huge bat-like wings and bestial visages, others appeared as dark lords with many weapon bearing limbs, and yet more were too despicable to mention.

And with them came Colubra's own offspring - the dragons.