War of the Brothers
A World of Draconica short story
By Dan Wright
By Dan Wright
The dragon Baala (known The Four Horned Warlord) was associated with warfare and discipline. By far one of the most powerful dragons, his thick scales were said to be immune even the strongest dracconhide blade. Like many of his kin, Baala travelled to many different worlds with the intention of forging Draconica. Baala had always had an interest in warfare, having fought in a terrible battle before the birth of Draconica – but he wanted to find armies so that he could teach Draconica how to fight.
One particular world he visited was (at the time) governed by a vast empire. Baala had discovered that this empire had ruled for thousands of years – and he was particularly interested in their battle tactics and strict discipline. Impressed by this, he stayed on this world for a while, watching this empire win many decisive battles against their enemies. This empire was known by the humans of that world as “The Roman Empire.”
Baala decided to teach the people of Draconica this style of fighting, and thus he imparted this knowledge this his followers – the seeds for the Baalarian Empire were first sown.
Some scholars and groups have argued that violence would never have existed if not for Baala. However, contrary to what some tomes will have you believe, Baala was not a ruthless tyrant that reveled in the joy of battle. In fact, he despised those whom slaughtered in cold blood or fought just for the sake of it. His teachings were based on honour, with a strict code of conduct so that no innocents could be harmed, restricting the fights to only to the field of battle. Any who did not follow these teachings were punished severely. Baala only taught the mortals how to fight because he knew that they needed a way to defend themselves, given all the dangers that had been brought about during The Age of Sorcery.
So as to control the amount of fighting on the planet, Baala appointed himself (with the other dragon’s blessings) an ambassador of war. No country went to war with another without his say so and it would have to be with just cause. As he was highly respected, no one dared opposed Baala, so for the longest time there was mostly peace.
However, around 286 OE, Baala was opposed by his brother Leoni, The Bloodthirsty Lion, Leoni had been following Baala’s lessons of warfare closely, but having also travelled to other worlds, Leoni had visited one planet that was ruled by a totalitarian society. This brought him to the conclusion that honour was for the weak and that only the strong survive. He set out teaching his own code of warfare, heavily perverting Baala’s original teachings. He taught that weakness of any kind was unacceptable and the only true meaning of fighting was winning by any means necessary. A small cult started to build, which grew over the years until it was large enough to match the Baalarian Empire.
With such different opinions of warfare, it was only a matter of time before the two dragons came to blows. No one knows for sure who made the first attack, some writings said it was Baala that made the first strike for fear that Leoni might disrupt the peace of the world. Others say that Leoni made the first attack to gain the upper hand. All that is known for certain was that the war between the two was bloody – and a civil war broke out in the northern lands.
With Baala and Leoni locked in fierce battle with each other, other countries went unchecked, going to war with others without asking permission first. Dronor and some of the other dragons tried to control this situation as best they could. Baala himself was too caught up in his fight with Leoni to notice the world fall to pieces.
After nearly seven years of war, the fight between Baala and Leoni had reached a stalemate, with neither army showing any signs of giving up despite their heavy loss of numbers. By now, the whole planet was plunged into chaos and even the dragons could no longer contain it. In a last ditch attempt to rectify this problem, Isiah (The Dragon of Love and wife to Baala) intervened asked for a truce between Baala and Leoni. During this time, it was discovered that Leoni had secretly had an affair with Isiah during their marriage – which he hoped would enrage Baala to fight further.
However, Baala was not angry with Isiah for this – he was angry with himself. Finally understanding how much damage had been done to the world of Draconica without him being there to guide it – and also the lives he had sacrificed to defeat his brother – Baala was filled with remorse. Not wanting any more bloodshed, he agreed to a truce between him and Leoni.
But Leoni did not want a truce – he wanted an outright victory and nothing less would satisfy him. However, Baala was not interested anymore in his petty struggles, even going so far as to concede defeat. This did nothing more than enrage Leoni even more, so he lashed out and attacked him. Isiah tried to break the two dragons apart, but she was killed in the process when Leoni ripped out her neck.
Isiah died before Baala’s eyes. Leoni’s plan worked – maybe too well. Baala, in an enraged state, viciously attacked Leoni with a fury that surprised even his brother. Baala betrayed his own moral code and attempted to destroy Leoni whatever the cost. Both dragons fought continuously for four months, causing great destruction to the northern lands, until both dragons died from their wounds.
Baala and Leoni’s rivalry and the aftermath of their war would live on in Draconican legend. The furthest part of Baalaria was left in ruins, with dust clouds so thick that they blotted out the sun. Though these lands were eventually rebuilt, they would forever become known as the Dark Lands as sunlight would never again shine there. The bones of Baala and Leoni still remain where they fell, becoming a mass bone yard that the locals would call The Final Stand. This place served as a threshold that separated the Baalarian Empire and the Leonidan Kingdom, who were descended from the followers of Baala and Leoni respectively. These two factions continued the rivalry of the mighty beasts and have been doing so for many years.
One particular world he visited was (at the time) governed by a vast empire. Baala had discovered that this empire had ruled for thousands of years – and he was particularly interested in their battle tactics and strict discipline. Impressed by this, he stayed on this world for a while, watching this empire win many decisive battles against their enemies. This empire was known by the humans of that world as “The Roman Empire.”
Baala decided to teach the people of Draconica this style of fighting, and thus he imparted this knowledge this his followers – the seeds for the Baalarian Empire were first sown.
Some scholars and groups have argued that violence would never have existed if not for Baala. However, contrary to what some tomes will have you believe, Baala was not a ruthless tyrant that reveled in the joy of battle. In fact, he despised those whom slaughtered in cold blood or fought just for the sake of it. His teachings were based on honour, with a strict code of conduct so that no innocents could be harmed, restricting the fights to only to the field of battle. Any who did not follow these teachings were punished severely. Baala only taught the mortals how to fight because he knew that they needed a way to defend themselves, given all the dangers that had been brought about during The Age of Sorcery.
So as to control the amount of fighting on the planet, Baala appointed himself (with the other dragon’s blessings) an ambassador of war. No country went to war with another without his say so and it would have to be with just cause. As he was highly respected, no one dared opposed Baala, so for the longest time there was mostly peace.
However, around 286 OE, Baala was opposed by his brother Leoni, The Bloodthirsty Lion, Leoni had been following Baala’s lessons of warfare closely, but having also travelled to other worlds, Leoni had visited one planet that was ruled by a totalitarian society. This brought him to the conclusion that honour was for the weak and that only the strong survive. He set out teaching his own code of warfare, heavily perverting Baala’s original teachings. He taught that weakness of any kind was unacceptable and the only true meaning of fighting was winning by any means necessary. A small cult started to build, which grew over the years until it was large enough to match the Baalarian Empire.
With such different opinions of warfare, it was only a matter of time before the two dragons came to blows. No one knows for sure who made the first attack, some writings said it was Baala that made the first strike for fear that Leoni might disrupt the peace of the world. Others say that Leoni made the first attack to gain the upper hand. All that is known for certain was that the war between the two was bloody – and a civil war broke out in the northern lands.
With Baala and Leoni locked in fierce battle with each other, other countries went unchecked, going to war with others without asking permission first. Dronor and some of the other dragons tried to control this situation as best they could. Baala himself was too caught up in his fight with Leoni to notice the world fall to pieces.
After nearly seven years of war, the fight between Baala and Leoni had reached a stalemate, with neither army showing any signs of giving up despite their heavy loss of numbers. By now, the whole planet was plunged into chaos and even the dragons could no longer contain it. In a last ditch attempt to rectify this problem, Isiah (The Dragon of Love and wife to Baala) intervened asked for a truce between Baala and Leoni. During this time, it was discovered that Leoni had secretly had an affair with Isiah during their marriage – which he hoped would enrage Baala to fight further.
However, Baala was not angry with Isiah for this – he was angry with himself. Finally understanding how much damage had been done to the world of Draconica without him being there to guide it – and also the lives he had sacrificed to defeat his brother – Baala was filled with remorse. Not wanting any more bloodshed, he agreed to a truce between him and Leoni.
But Leoni did not want a truce – he wanted an outright victory and nothing less would satisfy him. However, Baala was not interested anymore in his petty struggles, even going so far as to concede defeat. This did nothing more than enrage Leoni even more, so he lashed out and attacked him. Isiah tried to break the two dragons apart, but she was killed in the process when Leoni ripped out her neck.
Isiah died before Baala’s eyes. Leoni’s plan worked – maybe too well. Baala, in an enraged state, viciously attacked Leoni with a fury that surprised even his brother. Baala betrayed his own moral code and attempted to destroy Leoni whatever the cost. Both dragons fought continuously for four months, causing great destruction to the northern lands, until both dragons died from their wounds.
Baala and Leoni’s rivalry and the aftermath of their war would live on in Draconican legend. The furthest part of Baalaria was left in ruins, with dust clouds so thick that they blotted out the sun. Though these lands were eventually rebuilt, they would forever become known as the Dark Lands as sunlight would never again shine there. The bones of Baala and Leoni still remain where they fell, becoming a mass bone yard that the locals would call The Final Stand. This place served as a threshold that separated the Baalarian Empire and the Leonidan Kingdom, who were descended from the followers of Baala and Leoni respectively. These two factions continued the rivalry of the mighty beasts and have been doing so for many years.