Random Lore #1

There's a rift in the far North. A rift in the world, in space, time and reality. That is where the demonic beasts hail from.

Some say the rift leads to humanity's nightmares, and that's where the creatures form. Others claim that nightmares were brought along by the monsters when they first spilled into the world, inspired by their terrifying forms.

Auror laughs at both.

Whenever Boreas is willing to listen – which isn't often – Auror whispers of the Era of Gods. Of the time Theia walked this earth, all her power still within only her own hands, warring with her siblings Typhon and Echidna, as their creations were at odds with each other.

Theia's humans, elves and dwarves, Typhon's demons, Echidna's monsters… they all lived within the same realm in Alyon. But both demons and monsters preyed on the humans, elves and dwarves.

“Because Theia, in her foolishness, made them weak and soft!” Auror snarled disdainfully.

“Her creations were born as weak wretches incapable of even walking or speaking, and never grew claws or sharp teeth. Prey!” He scoffed.

“But she did not accept the law of power that Typhon and Echidna acted on. Even less so once she laid with humans.”

That's when she gave birth to her sons: Taos and Lykos.

As demigods, her sons chose to defend the creations of Theia. Taos, with his radiance and brilliant magic, united the humans, elves and dwarves against Typhon and his demons. The war waged for a long time, but finally, Typhon was defeated. He loved his creation despite it all, so in his last moments, the dying God swallowed all his demons and turned himself into a realm of their own: Typhon, the Demon Realm.

Meanwhile Lykos gathered only the strongest of Theia's creatures and hunted Echidna. He drank the blood of his slain enemies and feasted on their flesh, and when his armies pushed the demonic beasts far enough North that no plant life could sustain them, he fed the blood and flesh to his followers as well.

Echidna, fearing for her creations, did as Theia did – and gave birth to Auror.

Auror was the North, the Wind, the Cold. His Howl commanded all beasts. He led them in battle, a white wolf grand as a castle, as the King of Monsters. Once the monsters fought as a pack, just like Lykos’ people did, the hunt turned into a war.

“And then Lykos managed to seal me into his blood and now your bloodline is cursed to carry me forever, the end,” Auror finished gruffly. Boreas blinked, then frowned up at the ceiling he had been staring at while listening. He shoved his blanket and furs down a little.

“What?” He finally asked when Auror remained silent. The spirit-curse in his mind growled.

“That's where it ends. Read your history books for the rest,” he replied.

“No, I mean – how did Lykos seal you? How'd he defeat you in the first place?!” Boreas sat up in bed, upset.

“You made me listen to all of that rambling just to leave out the one part most vital and interesting to me?!”

“Does that make you angry?” Auror replied, the predatory grin audible in his rumbly voice. Boreas’ heart skipped a beat as he glanced down at his hands, his nails looking longer. Sharper.

“No,” he said, breathing as his father had taught him to. Calming his heartbeat. His fingers went back to normal.

“Pity,” Auror replied with a little huff.

“But I still want to know how Lykos won.” Boreas’ mind went silent. For just a moment, he felt like he was seeing a vague memory in his mind. A woman, wide eyes trained on him with fascination instead of fear. A soft voice reaching through the howl of a snowstorm. A hand, reaching, a tender touch. Boreas’ heart skipped a beat.

Then Auror cut the moment off with a growl, flooding Boreas’ mind instead with the usual torrent of horrendous imagery. Corpses, blood, gore, battle – Boreas withdrew from their connection, shut the false memories out as fast as he could, just like he learned to do.

“Go to bed, whelp.” There was a strange undertone to the voice in Boreas’ head. But for once, Auror retreated fully after that, curling up in the recesses of Boreas’ mind and leaving him with a merciful moment of respite. So the young Duke did not question it. He just closed his eyes and seized the opportunity for rest while he still could.

For once, he slept without nightmares.