The first dragons

And so it was that the Sentients returned to Chaos.  But something remained.  The Great Wyrm had perceived much that would and had transpired while it existed, but it had not perceived the time before it or the time after.  In that place, a spark of Chaos bent the surrounding Order.

The forms that had been were changed.  The lines between forms blurred.   And a new form became.  A form did not adhere to the Rules the Sentients had applied.  A form that was a faint shadow of what the Sentients had been.  A form that had Will.  Only some of the forms of matter were complex enough for this Will to be discernible.  The creations of the Great Wyrm were the first.  Their movement slowed, stopped, faltered.  The force that had propelled them was gone.  They became more complex.  Their forms morphing becoming more like the matter around them.  The idea that was their creation was realized.  Moments passed but in those forms what was of the Sentients coalesced.  These new forms began to perceive. 

They were the Eldest and legends of them are still told among the dragons.  Some believe they still exist and some say that they will return but whether or not these things are true, they were the first dragons.  Beings of matter given Will and for millenia they thought Will was theirs alone.

But that spark had effected other matter.  Much less complex forms but far from simple.  Beyond even the sight of dragons, something else came into being.  Slowly, weakly, new forms were created destroyed, changed until perception found another home.  It would be a very long time until the dragons realized they had neighbors.

The Eldest knew not of their creator.  They knew not of Chaos.  They did know Destruction as they watched it all around them.  The legends will not tell of their early moments.  The nascent movements.  Their first sounds.  For all beings of matter and will stumble.  It would be some time before they would learn to communicate with one another, to fly.  For they did exist within the confines of the Rules and these too they learned over time.

And so it was that the Eldest watched.  They chose domiciles and grew in knowledge.  They gave names to the forms they perceived and came to know their own power and its limits.  They watched Order change around them.  It was one that called itself Water that first noticed something new.  A speck in its vision that did not move as the other matter did. Water attempted to move closer but the speck stopped moving.  Water begin to seek out these specks and found many.  Over time Water learned their movements and learned how close it could approach.  When Water first saw 2 of these strange things move away from the point where one had it been, it chose to seek out Ice and communicate.  Ice had not perceived these things and could not approach them as closely as Water.  This fascinated both and so they sought at many of the others.  Ice chose to carry one of the specks that had stopped moving, for many of the Eldest disdained being in liquid.  The Eldest gathered nearly the home of Earth and listened to the perceptions of Water.

It was then that distrust was first known among the Eldest.  For Fire could not approach the thing that Ice had carried and had not perceived anything similar.  Most of the Eldest had not considered that one would communicate something that was inaccurate.  Some attempted so now as if they were unsure it could be done.  Water could not conceive of a way to verify communication.  It asked Fire to come to where these things had occurred, but found that the specks stopped moving as Fire approached.

Water stayed and observed these things that moved.  Initially trying to conceive of a way to let the others observe them.  But over time as their numbers increased and grow larger Water simply wished to observe them.

And so it was that Ice first observed something moving while well away from Water.  It came to Water and shared its perception.  Some of these things could be closer to ice than others.  It seemed they were changing.  Ice wished to gather the others again and communicate to them, but Water did not wish to.  Something about what had happened caused Water to avoid those that had doubted.

Ice did not gather the others.  However, many years later, Earth observed some movement while moving through the liquid that covered much of Ptera.  It watched as the thing that water had described too place.  Matter moving as it would not expect.  It reached out, and the movement stopped.  It found something else moving and observed from a distance.  It went to Water and spoke to it.  Upon hearing that Water had been avoiding the others, it chose to gather the Eldest so that all was returned.   They gathered in the liquid this time.

The others observed and some were able to observe the movement.  They began to discuss what this form of matter was.  It seemed to enjoy being near Water and none had seen it outside the liquid.  It seemed to be many different forms.  While some would approach Ice, others moved away from it.

But the discussion was not inclusive.  For none of these things would approach Fire or Lava, and neither wished to remain in the liquid for long.  It was Fire however, that became impatient.  It decided to clear the area of liquid.  The others noticed the bubble forming, but those that could see the movement watched as it all ceased.  Water turned on Fire and told it what was happening.  Water told Fire to stop.  Fire simply continued to force the liquid away.  Water pleaded.  It had come to enjoy the movement, to consider the little moving forms as having importance.  Fire simply continued.  The liquid already covered too much of the surface of Ptera, a little less would be good for all.

Water then pushed back.  The liquid around them flooded back.  Fire paused.  Feeling itself surrounded by liquid again.  It looked upon Water.  It felt distrust.  It doubted all that had been said.  Here, Fire could be bent, contained.  It had been brought to the liquid to be chained.   It flashed out, straining to clear all around it.  The others all spoke.  This was pleasant for now, the surroundings changing again and again.   Earth came between Water and Fire.  It perceived anger in both.  It spoke of returning to the discussion.  Surely, knowledge held more joy than the use of power.  But Fire distrusted Earth as well, for Earth had chosen this location.  Fire struck out at Earth pushing it away.

All of the Eldest paused.  Something had changed.  Many of the Eldest backed away wishing to avoid
 whatever transpired next.  Some were considering resolutions.  Before any could speak, Water struck.  It did not aim to return the liquid.  It aimed to strike directly at Fire.  The liquid did return as Fire was knocked back.  Fire seized Water and sprang toward the surface.  But Water freed itself and struck at Fire again.  Fire was knocked back again and lunged toward the surface.  Water chased Fire and they both broke the surface and took to the gas above.  Fire and Water squared off and both poured forth Destruction in their forms.  All around them boiled.  Water watched as the Destruction reached the surface and pushed down.  Water dove beneath the surface and sprang up driving the liquid before it.  The combined force was too much for Fire.  It fled toward land, vowing to strike again if Water ever left its horrid domain.

From that moment on, the Eldest never gathered as one.  Earth sought to mediate but found those closest to it at odds.  Lava and Metal felt that Water was not to be trusted.  Acid had seen Fire strike first and considered it a threat.  Above the surface, Wind and Lightning were also at odds.  And so, the Eldest began speaking of realms and boundaries.  Earth, Metal, and Lava still spoke often, and whatever boundaries may have existed between them were ignored.  Acid spent time both on land and in liquid and spoke to all save Fire.  Water never again walked upon solid but would speak to Acid and Wind and inquire as to Earth.  Wind spoke less to Earth over time feeling that Earth's attempts to remain neutral had made the situation worse.

Water watched as the complex forms around it changed and grew and multiplied.  It watched as the liquid changed.  It watched as many stopped moving.  It watched as some moved to the surface.  It watched as new forms appeared.  It was when the first of these forms were spotted on land that Earth again spoke with Water.  It showed Water what it had found and Water was amazed.  It had changed to live outside the liquid.  Earth was less happy about the new form and wondered if Water did seek dominion.  Water felt again the injury of distrust.  Water turned from Earth.  Earth returned to the land and destroyed those things it saw.

But the small beings continued to grow and change and multiply.  Until one was seen that looked very much like the Eldest.  Wind saw it on the surface of the liquid and tried to communicate with it.  The small being could make noise but that noise did not seem to vary.  Wind went to Water and showed it this new thing.  Water had seen things similar but this was different.  Its surface was nearly that of the Eldest, but much thinner.  Water asked Wind if it may be possible to change this thing to be more like them.  Wind looked upon the small creature and imagined communicating to many.  Wind agreed and together they worked to bend this small thing.  Over time, they made it larger and worked to give it flight.  As they worked, the form seemed to head toward land whenever not contained.  Water did not wish for this being to be known.  It recalled Earth's disdain.  It sought Acid and asked for its assistance.  Acid would allow it to live in its domain in exchange for another like itself.  The 3 began working together to create a pair.  Over time, Lightning wondered on the absence of Wind and sought her out.  At first Lightning looked upon their work with anger, but then Wind spoke to it saying that it was to be in form like them all, but in strength like Lightning, for Wind though Lightning the greatest among them.  Lightning aided them and gave to the one the power to control the energy it loved.

They found however, that unlike the other forms that Water cared for, these 2 could not produce a third.  Water had observed this and thought that only those that were very similar could multiply.  The 4 Eldest again gathered and created mates for the 2 first born.  And so it was that in the realm of Acid these new creatures lived and mated and like the small being that had been spotted by Wind, laid eggs.  It was when those eggs had hatched that Water approached Wind without the knowledge of the others.  Water asked Wind to go to Earth and bring 2 of these that Water had created to let them be filled with Earth's power.  In exchange she would create 2 for Wind.  Wind agreed and so brought to the realm of Earth the offering.  Wind instructed Earth on their design and spoke of how they could be made in Earth's likeness.  Earth followed the instructions and the first Earth dragons took breath.

Earth than sought out Water.  It found Water among the newborns in the realm of Acid.  Water looked upon Earth with dread.  Earth bowed to Water and spoke kindly.  Earth had watched the small creatures.  It said they should be called Children of Water and named these the greatest.  Earth then said that it had watched these creatures and the way they interacted.  It mimicked this interaction rubbing its long neck against Water's.  And so it was that Earth and Water found peace.  Both relinquished their domains and chose to request to stay in the realm of Acid.

Water taught Earth of the shaping of creatures and they prepared 2 to present to Wind.  But Fire had learned of these new beings.  Lava had told Fire of what it had seen in the court of Earth.  Fire stole into the realm of Acid and imbued the fledglings with its own power.  Wind grew furious and would have destroyed the pair if Water and Earth had not intervened.  The judgement would be against Fire not these.  And so it was that Fire was banished from the surface and the gas above.  Lava too was furious and tracked and hunted Fire whenever it came near.  Lava bowed to Wind and asked forgiveness for sharing the knowledge with Fire.  Fire took refuge deep beneath the surface, in the core of Ptera.

Water and Earth again created 2 offering for Wind.  These were accepted and joined their siblings but chose to leave the land often and rest in places where the land pierced the gases above. 

Lave and Metal both approached Earth separately.  Both wished to offer the other a pair of these new creatures.  Earth spoke to Water and Wind.  All agreed that such should be but that the gifts would be public and simultaneous.  In return Lava and Metal would construct a grand court.  The court would be given to Acid in return for its hospitality.  And so the court of Acid was formed and at the first gathering there, Metal and Lava both offered gifts to one another.

The Eldest and their progeny lived in the realm of Acid for some time.  Their progeny were of flesh and so ate and drank and bred.  The Eldest taught their progeny and learned from them.  For although much like the Eldest in appearance they could shift their form to mimic other creatures.