I decided against getting into the minutiae of Diana's politics in the end, in part so I wouldn't be writing up the epilogue all night.
Also I may do another FEF set in (or around) the land of Ostcar, but it's unlikely. Also no more PC lords :V
My good friend and confidant, Exsten, First Blade of the Dragon King has bade me keep a journal of our time. He believes me to be an interesting character, and assures me my perspective will be of great value when we are gone. I find myself less sure than him. But perhaps, as one of the dragon king's few human attendants, he knows something that I do not.
I came across this journal again on the eve of battle. The land of Usade has declared war upon us. Lady Ulfijan assures me that Xander is more formidable than he appears, but I know this already. My fear stems from Usade's King, a dragon who is said to rule his people with an iron claw. My dear friend Exsten also tells me not to be afeared. But I cannot help but be anxious.
The deed is done, and Usade has been pacified. Xander has promised amnesty to all those who surrendered. And there were few who did not. I could hardly believe my eyes on the battlefield. Xander is a terror to behold in his fury, it is true... But the four heroes as well- Their weapons are terrifying. Each of them was a match for a batallion, maybe more. I must ask Lord Exsten about his sword...
Exsten tells me his blade is forged from Xander's own power! This is remarkable- and explains the king's lack of vigor back when he presented the sword. Apparently, Lady Ulfijan's Bow and the other two Heroes weapons were made from the same process. Apparently, given time, he could create more... Though Lord Exsten and I agree that it's unneccessary. Xander, prince Kath, and Elaine are the only dragons in the land- There is no foe who could rise against them and the 4 Dragon weapons.
King Xander has married Queen Elaine, the former wife to the King of Usade. It was a joyous day for both kingdoms. Though, perhaps that is not right to say, as now the continent is home only to one country, Ostcar. Usade is no more, as they have wisely bowed to King Xander's rule. She still misses her late former husband, but Lord Exsten has spent much time speaking with Queen Elaine these past few weeks, comforting her.
I have seen something that I wish I could forget... And though it would be my head if this journal were to be discovered, I find I cannot help myself. I must record my thoughts. I stumbled upon my friend Exsten today, as he lay with the queen. That he could betray the King in such a way is unthinkable. I do not yet know what I will do. My duty to the king is to tell him- But what of my dear friend? Xander is not a being without compassion, this is true. But I fear that the King would put Exsten to death with little hesitation.
It has been weeks now. And now I see what I had not. Longing glances between Exsten and Elaine. The pair making excuses to slip away. Their treachory deepens all the while, and with it, my own. My friend is not the man I knew, I fear. But I have hidden what I know from the King for far too long. I must confront Exsten myself.
I nearly died this day. I came to Exsten, told him I knew of his affair. He played innocent at first, but when I revealed that I had seen him in bed with her, he drew the dragon blade. I felt as though time itself had stopped. But he lowered the sword, and pleaded with me as his friend not to go to the King. He claims he is in love. That she already bears his child.
I spoke covertly to Elaine today. She admitted to the affair, and she seemed untroubled by the fact. I suppose I should not be surprised. Elaine's marraige to Xander was not one of choice or love, but of necessity. And it seems passion is every bit of her heart as any human's. She refused my pleas to cease, and told me that even if Xander were to find out, she would not stop.
Exsten and Elaine grow bolder by the day, and their excuses and caution grow thinner. I even had the gall to call out to the King when he nearly stumbled across the pair in embrace! I am committed now. Exsten may be a fool, but he is in love, and he is my friend. I will do what I can for him.
Exsten approached me in his study today and asked the impossible of me- He wants a spell to seal the Dragon King and his sons. It is true that I am a mage of no small merit. But the king is beyond human power. I cannot do this. It is beyond my power. I can think of nothing that would be capable of matching the king. And even if I could, sealing his sons along with him is simply impossible.
My friend Exsten harries me to this day. He begs to be with Elaine at all times, something that he cannot do with King Xander breathing down our collective necks. Normally, this would mean nothing to me, for to banish the king remains beyong my power. But today he proposed an idea that I did not consider. By using the power of the Dragon Weapons as a catalyst, I would be able to use the king's power against him, and as he is weakened, I will be able to draw further power from him. The hitch in the plan however, is the other heroes.
I have finally caved to Exsten's request. I have begun to research the spell, though it is difficult to find time to work with the Dragon Sword. Exsten tells me that he has been asking searching questions of Durhiel and Worus. Nothing that would make them suspiscious (I hope), but that will make us certain of their temperament. The Lady Ulfijan seems to be on our side as well- She interrupted my research yesterday, and presented me with the Dragon Bow to study.
The power of the dragon weapons certainly differ from case to case. But there is a commonality between the two I have found. I am concerned that it is not the true base of the king's power however. I had made certain assumptions based on the Dragon Sword, but with the Dragon Bow, I find that some of my previous assertions were incorrect. I cannot use the spell as it is now. It may be effective. Or, it may destroy all of us. I am not eager to find out.
Xander has discovered his wife's betrayal. Queen Elaine was beaten near to death, and the king and is searching for the culprit. Exsten is away to the south. I cannot imagine that he will stay his hand upon his return. Durhiel came to me. Ulfijan told him of our scheme, and he has decided to join us as co-conspirator. I've precious little time to study the axe. Exsten returns on the morrow. I fear it will come to battle.
It is over. As I feared, Exsten challenged King Xander upon his return. He discarded his humanoid form in favor of the great thundering lizard I've seen only once before. I felt like the Dragon had expected Exsten. But he didn't seem to expect Ulfijan. She blinded him in one eye with her bow. Durhiel came to their aid, as well as Worus near the end. I stayed just in sight of Xander, as I prepared the spell. As the king was injured, more and more power flowed out from him, but he seemed to grow stronger at the last- I feared my friend and our allies would be killed. But I felt the spell reach its potential, and I loosed it. Not a moment too soon, either- the crown prince Kath had appeared at the same moment, already in his lizard form.
Xander was gone, trapped in a void along with his son, but my spell did irrepairable damage. I cannot begin to fathom how many lives I may have taken. Countless, assuredly, for nothing remained of the great northern plains or the capital, or the people who had once lived there. Great mountains instead were thrown up in the wake of my spell, and even pushed out the sea to a point. I hope never to have to wield such magic again.
In the end, the four decided together to carve up the country of Ostcar like a common treasure pile. Exsten and Durhiel have enlisted some less scrupolous men to tell survivors in the outlands a revised history, extolling their actions as the will of some supreme being. I care not for this. But I have told Exsten (he calls himself King now) that I wish to remain and study the aftermath of my spell, in the hope that I can reverse some of the damage I caused. He told me that if I wanted that part of the world to rule, that I should just say so.
Elaine has perished. She never recovered from the injuries laid upon her by Xander. Her child yet lives. Exsten has discarded the boy, though. He is enraptured with his new throne, and knows that the child's heritage could potentially destroy his carefully crafted tale. So he gave the child to me to raise. I am left holding the proverbial bag once again. Perhaps this is for the best? I tore one great kingdom apart, and destroyed the last of a race. Perhaps I can attone in caring for what remains of it.
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