presenting another part of 'Magical places of Dragon Pass'.
Dragonblood Lake
In the Ormsgone Valley, where hills look like dragons one can hear often a particular tale. It deals with a mysterious place called Dragonblood Lake. Many tales are told of its origin. One is very popular and believed by most people. It says that when the Dragonkill War was raging an unknown hero, pure and innocent, managed to reach through the scales of the Red Dragon with his magical weapon giving him a wound like no other man ever had before. And though the hero whose name now is forgotten was killed, for this was the fate of the Invincible Golden Horde, he is remembered still as a hero. He is an example of bravery until today in this region. The blood which came from the dragons wound was like a stream, red, hot and rich in magic. And the wound was so great that even a dragon could not close it instantly. For this, blood fell to the ground and it was so much that the red steam created a lake, a lake full of a dragons blood. Now the magical blood changed like it is with dead dragons. It didnt fade away leaving nothing behind but just the colour went away. The blood became colourless, just like ordinary water is. Well, no one knows why this happened and how but it is wiedly accepted that blood that leaves a dragons body does this though no one could prove it of course for obvious reasons.
And because not even animals could tell it apart from water they drank it. And the dragons seed started to grow in them changing them more and more to a draconic form with every drop they drank. And for this even a proof exists. Go and ask old hunters in that area for it and they will admit that once in many seasons they catch prey with scales like that of a dragon and with abilities that are hardly to believe. I know what I tell you, I have seen parts of an armour made of a dragonboar". It looked so magnificent that I wanted to touch and feal it but the man showing me it didnt let me. It is also believed that plants are changed by this blood but no proof was ever found.
But there is more to this tale. Somehow the whole lake can disappear leaving no trace of itself behind. Or how can it else still be undiscovered ? It is said that only people whose hearts are free of anger and fear, full of bravery can find it in the Ormsgone Valley. Those who are not will wander endlessly always looking it the wrong place for it. Thus perhaps a Chalana Arroy could find it but why should she search for it ?
While people do nearly agree what Dragonblood Lake is, the stories of what is near or even under its surface are many and strange. Here nearly all speculations can be found, some serious and some ridiculous at best. To mention just a few pupular : It is told that when the hero died his body fell into this lake, and with him his weapon. This weapon must be created by the highest magic. It could be something like a second Death or like Yelms own spear. Some even say it was invented by dwarfs and made of a metal even stronger then steel. Even if none of the stories is right it is certain that it can awake the hero inside any ordinairy warrior and that with it one can face a dragon alone.
A second one tells that the blood itself is the stongest magic. If one could drink all of it one would change to a dragon and would be able to do all the magics dragonkind is capable of. And many would sell kingdoms for just a sip of it. It shall grant immortality, omnipotence, godhood and more. From time to time one can see travelers inside the Ormsgone Valley in search of this place, some even have maps. These are folk who are greedy and it is best to leave them alone and not argue with them.
Another one says that it is a holy place for the Dragonewts but since no Dragonewts were ever seen there it is not believed by too many. And yet some warn stangers not to go and search for it because the Dragonewst are only waiting for fresh victims which they could sacrifice.
A tale which does not believe in the draconic origin of this place
tells us that when Gbaji saw that he would have no chance and would die
he ordered some of his troops and some of his highest priest to keep a
place for him where he could be summoned once again after his death.
This place Gbaji hid from the rest of the world by giving all his power
he had to enchant it. Then much of his blood formed a lake. This was
needed for a summoning after Gbajis death. After it was done Gbaji
faced Arkat and died as was planned. Now the priests of Gbaji wait for
the right time and the right conditions and then the Deceiver will once
again enslave the world. And everyone who comes too near of their secret
will become one of them, for the Deceiver can still mislead all who
dont listed to the priests.
And thus I end my tale of Dragonblood Lake : may Lhankor Mhy preserve
us all from the knowledge which was never ment for man nor beast.
Email : Bloodtooth_at_gmx.net
Homepage Telmori's Forest :
(it hasn't moved, it's just a shortcut)
http://home.pages.de/~Telmori's.Forest/
"And by the seventh day all Telmori knew that they should have no home in Sartar. Again man betrayed them. Not for the first time and certainly not for the last time..."
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #160
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