Legends of Belariath

Drak Sen Religion

The Drak Sen follow quite simply, the Elder Dragons. Once a month the Drak Sen offer up their dreams to the Elder Dragons in thanks for their continued existence. They view themselves the protectors of the lands, viewing the Sithians as poor little children, whom they are to help whenever they can.

Special Times:

The Drak Sen do not have a concept of time, they are the memory of all that is, so there is little difference between Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. However, the Drak Sen do acknowledge the changing of the seasons, and each season has a Scale Associated with it.

Spring/Earthen Scale:The first day of spring heralds in the Earthen Scale, a great festival is brought to fore where the Earthen Scales gather. A time of joy, anyone is invited to join in the festivities as long as they don't seek to disrupt everyone else’s enjoyment. Those whom do, generally get tied to the April Pole and used in various rituals.

Summer/Mineral Scale:The first day of summer is a generally blistering hot day, which suits the Mineral Scales just fine. A more solemn occasion in which Organized Chaos ensues, letting those involved run rampant in very particular areas for destruction, rapes and the like. The thought behind this is, that from the fires of chaos, Order will spring up, the weak will be burned away to let the strong grow, a renewal of sorts.

Autumn/Metallic Scale: The changing of colors, chilling of winds, the autumn months usher forth the Metallic Scales. Those who Guide and Rule the other scales, they bring forth a great banquet for their kin to share in. A time of plenty, this is when stories are shared, knowledge is learned and the announcing of new Drak Sen is made. Only during this time will a Drak Sen be given his True Name, for only the Metallic Scales have the authority to do so.

Winter/Bejeweled Scale: The Coming Winter means the time of the Jeweled Scale, those who wander the world with the grace and elegance of the Metallic, without the arrogance. The first day of winter is a special time for the Jeweled Scales, and during this time they meet up and hold a festival for the completion of the year. During this time, they let themselves loose and simply relax, as the World completes another cycle and the path is renewed, then they too start back on the paths that lead them on.

The Elder Dragons

Interpreted by Archaon, Arch Lich of Nanthalion, the Soulkeeper.

It has been widely known that there are Dragons amongst us. Many call them beasts. Dragons have been known to ravage villages, steal livestock, treasures, and even culling the mortal population. Dragons have existed long before the rise of human and dwarven civilizations, and even before the Elven. Many human, dwarven, and elven records dictate that the Dragons were cruel, malicious, unforgiving, very powerful entities of the land. Not only are they powerful, they are intelligent.

The Dragons are very sentient, and very wise beings of Nanthalion. They have helped, whether covertly, or overtly, shape countless civilizations by any means to keep the world in balance. It is they, after all, that has given this world to those lesser mortal beings. Of all the Dragons that exist, none are as powerful or wise as Those Who Slumber Eternally.. the Elder Dragons.

The Elder Dragons are the wisest and oldest of the Dragons, so powerful, that they do not act upon the world on a personal scale. They are revered by all dragons as those whom have birthed them upon the world, to ensure that this world remains balanced at all costs. To this end, the Elder Dragons would remain in their slumber, while their kin governed the world.

As the times passed by.. decades, centuries.. the Elder Dragons began to realize that those lesser mortal beings were rising up, killing their kin out of fear and defense of what they deemed as their own. The numbers began to thin, dragonslayers revered as heroes to the mortals. To solve this quandary, the Elder Dragons then created their so called children of dreams and nightmares.. the Drak Sen.

The Drak Sen are akin physically to the mortals, with a few noticeable differences. Wings similar to a dragon sprouted from their backs, tails also draconic in appearance, and two tiny horns protruding from their forehead. They are the physical presence of the Elder Dragons themselves; their eyes and ears while they slept.

The Elder Dragons themselves, as noted previously, are the wisest and greatest of the Dragons. Their only link to the physical world is shared through their great children of dreams and nightmares, the Drak Sen. Below you will find the names of the Elder Dragons themselves, and any associated lore for each.

Valenaxstraza, the Elder Dragon of the Spring is sometimes depicted as a very Earthbound being. His scales are said to mimic the very colors of the lands themselves.. from the most lush green of grass, to the darkest brown of soil, and even at times lustrous white, resembling a pearl. Very ancient fables tell that Valenaxstraza’s scales bring life. Grass, trees, mountains, and even wildlife spring from his scales each year. When the time comes, his scales begin to molt, creating the Autumn illusion.

Glytthx, the Elder Dragon of the Summer is perhaps the most malevolent of the Elder Dragons. She is believed to be slumbering far below the earth, and has been depicted as a sinister Dragon with scales of fiery lava, glittering amethyst and the darkest black. It is mentioned in some lore that when the earth quakes, volcanoes erupt, fires spread wildly.. it is the anger of Glytthx, the coming of chaos. Lava pours from below the earth, a sign of Glytthx’s mighty breath reaching towards the surface.

Bhalantyr, the Elder Dragon of the Autumn has been depicted as an arrogant Elder Dragon, wearing what seems to be a crown upon his head.. suggesting that he is the Eldest of the Elder Dragons. With scales glittering of every shade of gold, copper and silver, Bhalantyr has been depicted as the foremost of the Elder Dragons. It is through Bhalantyr that the world prepares itself for the coming winters, as he spreads the molt of his younger brother, Valenaxstraza, into the ground to ensure that life begins anew each year.

Szylandrial, the Elder Dragon of the Winter is also known simply as The Wandering Winter. She has been shown as a very musical, wanderlust Elder Dragon, never staying in one place to slumber. It is said that her scales of emerald green, ruby red, and sapphire blue are so extraordinary, that they glitter like the freshest of snowflakes, tumbling effortlessly through bright sunlight. She is the youngest of the four Elder Dragons, sister to Glytthx, but they do not always see eye to eye. Her pillowy breath of ice and snow blankets the world, placing it in a calm suspension until it is time to begin a new year.

Each Elder Dragon is praised at the beginning of each season, thanked for their gifts, their knowledge, and their mercy. The first day of every season heralds a time of celebration for each associated caste, while the very last day of the turning year is celebrated in honor of all Elder Dragons, thanked and praised for another year of balance upon the world as the next year is prepared for. Listed below are these well known festivals, and what they mean to each scale of Drak Sen.

The Festival of Lifegiving – The first day of Spring is a very joyous time for those of the Spring, the Earthen Scale. The world reawakens from its winter slumber; leaves once again grow, and life gives birth to a new generation. This special time is welcome to all who desire to celebrate such a moment; however the Earthen Scale will not take kindly to those who seek to disrupt their festival. Whoever does seek to disrupt the celebration is usually caught and tied upon the April Pole, before being subjected to mysterious rituals.

The Time of Chaos – The first day of Summer is usually a very hot day. Heat heralds the coming of the more malevolent of the Drak Sen, the Mineral Scale. During this loose celebration of sweltering heat, chaos and disorder are praised. Rapings, fires, and all manner of organized chaos and destruction ensues. Order springs from the chaos; the weak are removed so that the strong can prosper and grow even more. It is usually hard to disrupt such a festival as it may seem disruptive in nature.

The Great Banquet – The first day of Autumn, the most bountiful of times for all life as the world prepares itself for the coming winter. The Metallic Scale, seen as the ruling caste of all Drak Sen, prepare a lavish and unsurpassed banquet for all their kin and guests to indulge upon. It is also during this festival, that those Drak Sen who are new upon the world are given their True Name; the name they will be known by from this day hence. It is a wonderful time of reflection as stories are shared, memories, and other form of reminiscence are passed about.

The Festival of the Wandering Winter – The first day of Winter, Szylandrial’s breath blanketing the world once more with snow and ice. This is the time of the Bejeweled Scale. Known at times to be the most soothing of the Festivals, the Jeweled Ones use this time to let themselves loose and relax as another year has passed by. Those who join them share in the moment, contemplating what the coming new year may bring to them.

The Grand Beginning – This Festival is perhaps the shortest of them all, however it is also the most wonderful. Held on the very last day of each year, all Drak Sen gather together for a time of celebration and spirits. This particular festival goes well into the evening and beyond into the beginning of the first moments of the newly turned year. Everyone in attendance lets themselves go, indulging in all manner of spirits and anything else that may be desirable to do once the new year has come.

(Written by Archaon)