The Legend of Halo Peak.

Now, Child. Come closer. And I'll tell you a story.

This is the story of the tallest of the first mountains. The Halo Peak.

I am close to this story, Child, as it was the story of my Great-Grandfather, Jerold, the explorer.

Now Jerold was a daring man. Not careless, or reckless, just daring. He dared to see what most men shy from.

He decided one summer's day to climb the Halo Peak, so see what makes the halo inside of the clouds around it. We cannot see it from here, but close to it, there is a pale golden light that comes from around the mountain, this is what he wanted to see.

So he set off.

As he climbed, the air was thinning with every inch. In an alcove, he made a prayer to Ilna, goddess of storms, mighty and beautiful, for air to reach him in such a lofty place. He gave unto the wind a portion of his food, from the bag he and my Great-Grandmother, Ninrab, prepared together. And then he slept. 

In his dreams, he saw the heavens themselves open above him, crashing lightning down onto the land below. It broke the mountain below him, stopping him from making his way back, as if to say "Jerod! You commit yourself to a great task, we expect to see you succeed or die trying!"

When he awoke, he felt strong, and rich. The air was thick with mist, a good sign, and an omen from Ilna herself. 

And he began to climb once more.

After a day or so of climbing, he rested in a cave that went deep into the mountain. Upon awakening, he found himself hanging upside down from iron shackles! It was a Trollen den. Trollen are not in the habit of eating humans, unless they are stupid enough to sleep in the mouth of one of their dens. He was alone, in the darkness... Or so he thought.

From in the darkness, two dish-like green eyes shone from the shadows. It was a Trollencub, a mere child. Jerod asked:

"Child, how many of your people are there in this den?"

"Dozen.", it said back.

Jerod was in deep trouble. He had not packed any weapons, not expecting a battle. He talked once more to the cub.

"Child, am I to be eaten?"

"Yes."

"I do not wish to be eaten."

"And I do not wish to eat you. Your kind are bloody, and wet."

"Then, will you let me go?"

"No, my papa would be angry. He is the boss."

The child left. Jerod was once again in darkness. He closed his eyes and began to pray.

"Salk. My lord, Salk. I am not a man of battle, I am a scholar. But I am in trouble. If there is anything I can give you, anything in my power, It is yours. Please, I beg of you, help me."

And the ground shook. The walls rumbled. Then, there was silence.

Jerod fell from the wall, and crawled in the heavy manacles, towards the light of the next room.

In the light of the fire, Jerod was witness to a dozen or so slain Trollen, in a manner of ways, but it seemed they had gone down fighting. By the fire, stood the Trollen Cub, and a man in bronze armour. Jerod knew him, and bowed his head.

The bronze man, walked to him and tore off the iron manacles. He stood Jerod up and said:

"Jerod. You owe me a debt. Since it is in your power, I shall take your first born child, yet unborn. When the child is then born, I shall come to you."

And with that, the bronze man walked away, along with the Trollen cub. Out into the darkness of the night.

And with that, Jerod began to climb again.

A day and night passed hence until he stopped again. The sun was beating down upon him, fierce like the lion. Jerod was too hot to continue.

He slept.

In his dream, the sun grew and grew, turning him to ashes. Then, the night came, clothing him in starlight and darkness. He was cool once more, reborn from fire.

Jerod awoke to sunset. He was cool still. And, leaving a portion of his food under the shade of a rock for the brothers of night and day, he began to climb again.

Now, he was without food, and his water was gone.

For 4 days, he climbed the mountain, before collapsing on a plateau.

He began to weep. He was close to death. One last prayer went out in his tears:

"Mighty Gods! I, your servant have done as you commanded, I have climbed the mountain. Why must you see fit to take me when I have not reached the summit? I beg for mercy!"

And he collapsed, dead.

But mercy came.

In a dream, or at least he thought it to be a dream, he stood before the shadows, in the light. Beside him was a trail of blossom petals, from the trees in his homeland. He followed them.

They lead him to a huge tree, a gargantuan tree! A young girl sat on the lowest branch. Jored, the scholar, the explorer, the blessed, knew her. He bowed to her, and she smiled. She jumped down from the tree, and kissed Jored upon his cheek, then pulling him to the tree. He ate from the tree, it's fruit tender and juicy and refreshing. When he had eaten his fill, the young girl pulled him to the trunk of the tree, showing him a crack in the bark. She ripped at it with unlikely strength, making the hole within bigger and bigger. When it was man sized, she smiled and walked inside. He followed.

Jored awoke on the plateau, sated from hunger and thirst. The once barren rocks were now covered in moss and wild flowers.

With this blessing, he climbed for the last time.

Through and through the blanket clouds he went, not knowing where the top could be, until...

He could climb no more. He stood upon a vast plain of grass, the first grass, grass from the first rain. Above him was the clear sky, hidden by the clouds, the sun bright and vast in front of him.

A wind almost threw him from the top. Above him, flying low, was a dragon. A long, huge, golden dragon. It flew around the top of the mountain, in a circle.

The dragon came down, and spoke to Jerod.

"I knew you would come, Jerod."

"Who are you, dragon?"

"I am one of the Godqueen's children. The first dragon. I am Draise."

At the end of the dragon's tail was a huge gemstone, a dark royal blue in hue.

"Dragons hoard treasure. As I was the first, my task was to seek it out. I am bound to the sky, the only treasure here is the stone in my tail."

"A cruel joke."

"Perhaps, or the answer to your question."

Jerod was overcome with joy. 

"Thank you, Draise."

The dragon took to the air, grabbing Jerod in its talons. It flew down the mountain, at a breakneck pace. As it reached the bottom, it was seemingly pulled back up by some unseen force. It threw Jerod down into Lake Donnby below, the water breaking his fall.

When he arrived back in town, he told his story to the people, happy to see him return alive.

To all but his family, he kept the secret of the halo.

As I now expect you to do.

Promise?