Let's try something new. · 12:03pm May 8th, 2020
I've decided to write a blog, it seems like something people do these days, might be amusing. As to something to talk about, well, let's talk about world-building. World-building is thinking, when you get right down to it, thinking about the hows and the whys and the wherefores and all of an entire world or anything else you care to contemplate. I do enjoy thinking, more or less constantly really, working in a warehouse is good for that kind of thing.
Honestly, moving heavy boxes around does not require 100% of your mental focus.
So! Having been thinking and considering for quite some time, telling myself that "someday" I'll write that great Equestrian novel, I thought I'd get some ideas down on paper, as it were. Having decided to do that, I thought I'd put some down where others could see them, just to get some feedback. In a general, "hey how bad is this?", kind of way you understand.
Therefore, as an introductory experiment, I present this rough conceptual thought.
Long ago in the Age of Exploration, it came to pass that luna was summoned to council with Dragonlord Acheron.
Since time immemorial Acheron had ruled over all dragons, a power none had ever before claimed, and it seemed, none ever would again. He held no title but Dragonlord, for the dragons were the greatest of all creatures on Equus, and he was the greatest of all dragons. He was Lord, and to deny him was unthinkable.
But even dragons grow weary, and Acheron slowly tired without ever finding a successor worthy of his immeasurable pride. For a dragon's pride is his everything, and the pride of Acheron was the draconic species he ruled, a species that knew no equal. In his twilight years Acheron secretly feared that future generations would betray that pride, their short-sighted greed and arrogance reducing them to an unworthy shadow.
So, Acheron determined that if he could not continue to rule in person, he would find a way to ensure the worthiness of his successors. And to do this, he turned to one of the very few creatures he respected, the alicorn of the moon, Luna.
In times past the younger sister had dared his terrible shadow at the very edge of Equestrian territory, and treated with him to spare her peoples the dragonfire. Neither threat nor bribery stayed him, but the burning resolve of the mare impressed him. If he pressed his claim she would fight him, without hesitation. She would die, without any doubt, but she would fight regardless. Dragons admire courage, and Acheron determined that such great courage was too magnificent a thing to casually destroy.
Now, centuries later, Acheron came once again to their old meeting place.
Gazing down upon the mare, Acheron saw that his investment was well-made. a young mare on the cusp of power had blossomed into a force in her own right. though still no match for him, (none could ever be) she was more than capable of standing against any other power in the world. And that, was the crux of his dilemma.
Acheron had the gift of foresight, as all elder dragons do, and he foresaw generations of future, foolhardy drakes throwing themselves at the lush, seemingly defenseless lands of the ponies. He also foresaw those same drakes dying in their scores, upon the magic, lance, and steel-shod hooves of the mare before him.
To prevent this future, he would treat with the mare that would be his children's doom, and instead make her their savior. Pony artifice, to shape and direct draconic magic, would compel and direct the future of dragon-kind in keeping with Acheron's wisdom.
Obsidian from the greatest of volcanoes, fire of Acheron's own breath, the very stuff of dreams made real by Luna's power, and a single drop of the Dragonlord's blood, crystalized into a burning gemstone. With these materials Luna and Acheron forged the Bloodstone Scepter. Within it resided the power and will of Acheron, to direct and command all of dragon-kind.
But that power comes at a price. The Scepter constantly rebels against it's owner's will, testing them at every turn, straining to break free. If and when it does it compels the holder to cast it aside, offering it up to the next prospective Dragonlord. To be Dragonlord is to fight, first by main strength to claim the scepter, and then by will to keep it. Neither brute force nor sly cunning alone could hold the title, the Dragonlord must posses both in equal measure.
This was the design of Acheron, only the greatest of each generation would rule, for as long as they were able and no longer. The Scepter would ensure that there would be no backsliding, the echoes of the first Dragonlord's will would impel each successive generation to new heights.
With the work at last completed, Acheron lay down to rest, his duty done, to partake in the final slumber that dragons substitute for death. The scepter, Luna bore to its resting place as directed by Acheron, preparatory to the first of many contests for its power. And, in bearing it, and issuing the Dragonlord's challenge, Luna was, for a passing moment, Dragonlord herself.
Acheron could grant no higher honor, as final thanks for the security of his race.
Hopefully that wasn't too purple, though I fear inexperience makes fools of us all. It should be noted that this wasn't really meant to be a story or even really a part of any larger story, just a bit of backstory lore for a bit of obscure history.
Comments? Thoughts? Concerns or indignation over jostling some bit of canon and/or overuse of italics?
Honestly that sounds pretty great, and honestly sounds like it could be part of the actual canon. The only thing that I would double chek would be Luna's actual age at the time, since if I remember correctly she was still a foal when Equestria was already founded and Starswill raised and mentored her and Celestia.
That sounds like a great story, one that I myself would gladly read.
This is really good!
There's a lot of room to build off of from here. I particularly enjoyed the way you justified Luna's inclusion. No major gripes from my side of things.
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Well I'm glad you enjoyed it!
5258255
Well that's one of the (many) ways that I've broken with canon I'm afraid, I've extended the timeline quite a bit to fit everything in without crowding stuff together at the "one thousand years ago" mark. The first time she met Acheron she was somewhere between 30-80 or so, and then several hundred years old the second time.
I'm thinking that the next blog I do I'll see about explaining my timeline and the reasoning behind it in more detail.
Not bad. I'd read it. Got that kind of Rhapsody of Fire vibe to it.
It does seem an interesting concept, and the writing not too bad, aye. :)
Thanks for sharing, and good luck!
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Well thankee kindly! It's nice to see that this has garnered a little bit of support, hopefully I can manage to keep doing these.
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No problem, boyo.