• The Graggan

    Once in a land where mythical creatures known as Cronoks lived in peace and harmony. Until the evil red demon known as aroncarok tore through the land in search of the Cronoks greatest treasure the black crystal. The black crystal contained all the dark and evil in the land of the Cronoks. He used this crystal to unleash unspeakable evil in the world. To seal the evil the Cronoks had to give up their most sacred skill up in order to live peacefully and free from the red demon. This skill was a combat style like no other before the black crystal the Cronoks were violent creatures bent on conquest but one of them was different he sought only peace and tranquility his name was one that would cause mountains to move at the mere mention of it he was called kenpatchi. The others were disgraced that he was a Cronok so he was exiled to live in the banished lands. A desolate and dry place where all who defied the Cronoks were sent to die. It was in this waste land that he found the secret to vanquish the red demon aroncarok for good. Together with his ban of rebels he fought and conquered the kingdom that aroncarok built and sealed him in the black crystal forever. It has been over four hundred years since the demons reign of terror. All believe he was destroyed when he entered the crystal. And all was well. Or so we thought. “Please continue master.” Exclaimed grogen with anticipation eager to hear the rest of the story. “Not to night young one tis’ time to sleep we want u sharp for tomorrow.” Stated aged master grimlon with a pleasant smile. “Good night” the master said quietly as he took the candle that shined into the darkness that crept into grogen’s room and shut the door. The room was ordinary for an apprentice it had a small desk just big enough for only work that the master gave him to use. He had a small drawer for his clothes and a rack filled to the ceiling with many different swords, shields, maces, daggers, darts, and various other combat tools. Grogen was an unusual creature he had a tongue that he could stretch to twice his body length, he could see every direction possible. This came from the four eyes he had on his face. Two were placed on tall stalks that were common to his kind. He had dark beige colored eyes that were the size of a drawer’s doorknob. His skin was rugged and spiked with tiny, unnoticeable teeth like scales they were a defensive mechanism that only worked when he was in danger which never happened. The skin was colored as though it were done by a child he had a dark hickory brown tail, with a blend of sapphire green legs that merged with the dark hunters red that spread to the rest of his body. He had wings like those of a dragonfly’s. The odd part about his wings was that they weren’t like other wings that were solid color or had one normal pattern that the other Graggen’s had. No his were a mishmash of three different colors they were jet black, ruby red, and polar white. Also the pattern that moved over them was like an ancient text that was long forgotten. Many a night he would lay awake and long to be like the other Graggens that scattered around the land wondering “why, why is it I’m not like them.” His master grimlon was a survivor of the great war that plagued the land over four hundred years ago he was a Cronok that looked like many others despite his many colorful robe that he wore depending on the situation. If he heard of a storm he would wear a robe that shared the color of the mesh grey clouds that would roam the skies on that particular day. Many people that came to the blacksmiths shop would take mind of his robes whenever they came to purchase an item for a battle or war or trip to dangerous places he once told grogen that once kenpatchi himself ordered a sword made from rune essence before he rid the world of the red demon. Grimlon was around 515 lunar cycles in age. The years have indeed taken their toll on his body though he did look frail he had the strength of ten Menchi. He had the average colors of any Cronok. He was a deep smoky brown with tinges of tan and beige. His face was extended at the jaw giving a powerful bite, his eyes were spread to the sides of his face making for good vision, his ear were no more than small slits near the crown of his head, his tail was long and gradually went from a thick trunk like tail to a thin needle tipped one. Even though he had given up his skill as a fighter he worked hard every day to teach grogen everything he knew about the ways of blacksmithing and combat. The next morning just before the five suns rose grogen awoke for training. Grimlon was waiting for him by the valley they normally used for combat. Grimlon bellowed that today was a test to see what grogen learned for today would be his last day in his care. Grogen gave a sign of confusion. He thought that he would be in Grimlon’s care for the remaining 4 lunar cycles that were left till he had to take the journey of the renoks where he would live in the woos for 3 lunar cycles surviving on 10 arrows made of bronze a bow a small bronze dagger and a small sack of food that would last only five crescent cycles. But grimlon explained that he would not live past tonight and then grogen realized something grimlon was wearing the robes he wore when someone was going to die and exclaimed that grimlon couldn’t die. Since his parents died when he was very young grimlon was a father to him for as long as he could remember. Grimlon explained that a great time of despair was about to fall upon the world and he was the only one that could stop it but to do so Grogen had to overcome the most difficult part that all warriors had to face and that was to overcome emotion of attachment grimlon said that if he could do that then he could restore the peace that is now about to be robbed from them like that of a thousand kingdoms falling down at once. Grogen understood and the fight began. It went for hours having to fight his closest friends and then his mentor the sound of clanging metal rang throughout the city and was as lively as a breathing Cronok at the age of 35 lunar cycles. When all was said and done grogen had mastered the emotion of attachment and was sent to his room when a dark sense of evil filled the air and a shadowy figure flew across the sky and landed in the market when grimlon saw what had happened he said with dread in his voice “it has begun. Grogen u must get to the cottage behind the shop and don’t stop for anything if you do you have filed me and the world. Now go!” Grogen ran to the cottage and shut the door locked it and locked the shutters as he waited to find out who landed in the market he soon found his answer. The red demon aroncarok had returned.
    20 lunar cycles had passed and Grogen has become a full grown Gragga and still worked in the smith shop in a time of death and despair. He was working on a sword when he threw down the blade and decided he would get rid of this monster and bring back peace to his land. He gathered the strongest weapons ever made and set off to the demons castle. As he ran to the castle he was encountered by five guards Grogen quickly laid waste to them all. He rushed in through the double doors and yelled “ aroncarok! Your rein has come to an end today!” the demon let out a hardy laugh and stated “you’re here to kill me? You a mere Graggan do u know how many of your kind I’ve laid waste to in a single stroke? You’re not even a waste of time.” “I’m different than the rest I’ve been raised by the grandson of the man who imprisoned you in the black crystal in the first place and this time I’ll make sure you stay there” exclaimed Grogen in a bellow. The demon hissed and charged with lightning speed toward Grogen but Grogen has too fast and dodged the attack before the demon could land a blow. “My you’re a fast one you might be somewhat of a challenge to me “ the demon said with a sly hiss. “I’m more than just quick I’m powerful too” grogen replied as he struck a powerful blow to the demons right shoulder cutting it clean off. The demon wailed in pain. “Now it’s time to end this” Grogen bellowed as he swung the final blow the demon was defeated and peace was restored to the land.