Galun

Galun
Title(s):	Dominant of the Flight of Galun
Gender:	Male
Race:	Drake
Unit type(s):	Drake Burner (level 1) Fire Drake (level 2) Inferno Drake (level 3) Armageddon Drake (level 4)

Galun was a dominant responsible for establishing a drake presence on the Great Continent. Concerned with Morogor's overpopulation, he learned of land in the east from a group of orcs. Selected for the Contention, he defeated another drake to become a dominant, then set his sights on taking his new flight over the Great Ocean to settle in the land there.

After a long flight, he first arrived with his flight at the Three Sisters, but chose to progress further east to the mainland. He made enemies of the humans and elves, even sacking the new settlement of Elensefar. He was, however, able to establish an alliance with the saurians. He settled his flight in a region of the Heart Mountains controlled by Thurdakor of Knalga, preying upon the gryphons and trolls there. Some months after settling, he was attacked by the Flight of Kerath, who sought to claim the region for their own. Nonetheless, Galun defeated the invasion and set in place the Ways of Morogor.

Biography

Early life

Indeed, but game is getting hard to find on the ranges, even though we usually spare the females and young. Too many hunters, not enough game.

—Galun remarks on Morogor's overpopulation crisis.

Galun was originally born into the Flight of Verkon, situated in the islands of Morogor. By the time of the 14th breeding cycle of the 5th Vulcaniad, Galun was an fledgling and a close friend to Vank, a drake glider. During this time, he became increasingly distant, focused on the problem of his home's overpopulation. To complicate matters, most drakes were under the impression that Morogor was the only major landmass in Irdya, although Galun had come to doubt this, due to ships passing by their islands.

As prey grew scarcer, Galun confided in Vank his belief that the drakes should immigrate, although Vank attempted to discourage Galun's ambitions, due to their lowly status. At this moment, they spotted some humans on a nearby island. They collectively slew the human men, sparing however the women and children. Over the course of the fight, Galun underwent a hormonal metamorphosis, becoming an Aspirant, capable of breeding. Having completed the hunt, Vank proposed they return to their eyrie.

Though he had become an ascendant, Galun recognized that he still was unprepared for the Contention. Some time later, a ship of orcs landed on Morogor's northernmost island. Verkon charged Galun with leading the attack against the unfamiliar creatures, and also with interrogating their leader in the hopes of discovering lands outside of Morogor. Galun's hunters came to the island under the cover of night, attempting the attack without aid from Galun. Battle ensued, and the orcish leader, Viragar, was captured. Galun demanded that the orc tell him the destination of their ships, but Viragar refused to speak. Taken to the pens and interrogated, Galun learnt of lands to the east. Like his previous hunt, Galun became stronger yet again.

The day of the Contention finally arrived, and Galun was selected to lead Verkon's team. Galun in turn chose Vank to be his chief intendant. They faced tactical challenges, eventually emerging as one of the two top teams. Galun was made to fight in a battle against Gribbel from the Flight of Kerath. The two teams fought against each other, and Galun's team eventually subdued Gribbel. At last a dominant, Galun was rewarded with breeders and fledglings from each of the other flights.

Leaving Morogor

I have learned of a Great Continent to the east beyond the Great Ocean; I intend to take my new flight to it.

—Galun tells Reshan'lo of his plan to leave Morogor.

Reshan'lo, the Recorder of the Contention, was entrusted with giving Galun his reward, and spoke with him privately. Galun told him of the Great Continent in the east, along with his intention to migrate there, although Reshan'lo doubted Galun would succeed. Nonetheless, Galun insisted it would be worth the danger. Reshan'lo revealed his knowledge that the drakes had once come from a land to the west as refugees, and that the world was in fact round and "in the shape of a drake's egg". Reshan'lo warned that migrating could not permanently solve the problem of overpopulation while there still remained a finite area of land. Having informally initiated Galun into the Spiral Path and given him his reward, Reshan'lo wished Galun luck.

Pressed for time, due to a lack of food for their hatchlings and the impending breeding cycle, Galun swiftly prepared for the journey over the Great Ocean. Knowing that the journey would be too difficult with the clahsers' armour, they resorted to bringing only their lighter weapons. For rations, they carried bags of dried meat with them, hoping to find additional prey along their journey. Galun's plans offered hope to the other drakes, and both Verkon and Kerath sent sky drakes to accompany the Flight of Galun and return with news of the mission's outcome.

Galun and his flight set off east, flying for many wearying days. Along with some of his scouts, he sighted an archipelago suitable for his flight to rest. Discovering it to be inhabited by hostile nagas, Galun reminded his drakes that they had no option but to fight. They engaged with the nagas, led by Sariss, Naulakh, and Shussek, defeating the three of them and allowing them to rest at last. Vank reported that he had spotted smoke on the horizon, suggesting land further east. After resting for some time, some of their accompanying messengers returned to Morogor to report the news back.

Days after their arrival at the archipelago, once they had recovered, Galun's flight advanced eastwards once more. As Vank had predicted, they sighted the shores of the Great Continent, but due to its distance and a warm southerly, they landed first at the Three Sisters that fall. Finding the islands inhabited with ogres and scorpions, as well as the weakened Midnight Queen, they decided to take the land for themselves. Resisting the lure of the Midnight Queen, they scoured the island of enemies. Vank suggested that they settle in the islands, but Galun insisted in scouting the mainland in case there was a better place to establish their eyrie.

Arriving at the Great Continent

No being of the lesser races may rule a drake.

—Galun dismisses Naemir's threats to dominate the drakes.

Those of the messengers remaining with Galun returned on their way to Morogor, while Galun's drakes started to forge weapons suitable for use by their clashers. Sighting mountains appropriate for building an eyrie on the Great Continent, Galun's flight prepared to continue east. On the way, they came across the settlement of Elensefar, inhabited by humans. With more difficulty than they usually had against runners, they killed Elensefar's leader, General Vorlyan, and devoured its populace. Galun worried, however, that it would be infeasible to continue safely hunting the humans.

They continued northeast, venturing into Wesmere Forest some days later. Seeing both elves and woses for the first time, Galun took Vank's advice and called a hunt. They slew Daepia, the elvish enchantress, and Gulladrumm, the ancient wose, inciting more elves to prepare for battle. Galun decided that he would hold that part of the woods until the following day. At that moment, the saurians Xirtrezyx and Krenix flattered Galun and offered to establish an alliance with the drakes. Galun agreed to their offer, allowing a few saurians to accompany them on the remainder of their journey.

Galun then led his drakes over the Heart Mountains, but were forced to land and take shelter in a cave when a great storm arose. Inside, they were confronted by the lich Naemir, who threatened to enslave the drakes as his undead servants, although Galun scorned Naemir's threats. Naemir summoned his forces against the drakes, and Galun chose to remain and fight rather than weather the storm outside, due to the risk to his breeders. They defeated Naemir's forces, slew the lich, and in doing so dispelled the storm, allowing them to leave.

Continuing north, Galun finally reached a part of the Heart Mountains that appeared fit for a new eyrie. In the surrounding region, they found trolls, gryphons, and even a yeti. Galun's forces hunted the different creatures as game, finding that they were edible. Vank noted that their new eyrie was colder than Morogor, but Galun assured him that they would be fine so long as they were careful with their hunting.

Settlement

You would fight to take what is mine when you have breeders of your own and unclaimed lands are in abundance? Such an attack is a violation of the Ways of Morogor!

—Galun accuses Kerath of treachery.

Over the remainder of the fall, Galun began to construct his eyrie, fitted with watchposts, breeding chambers, and sleeping quarters. Sure enough, the fall gave way to winter, and the drakes started their hibernation. During this time, one of Galun's sky drakes left the eyrie altogether. Galun reasoned that he had returned back to Morogor. The hibernation was eventually interrupted, however, by a group of dwarves led by Thurdakor of Knalga. Vank awoke Galun from his hibernation and alerted him to the dwarves' presence. Thurdakor demanded to know why the drakes had settled in his land, and the dialogue between Thurdakor and Galun escalated out of control. The dwarves attacked the eyrie, and despite fighting well, they were defeated. Despite Vank's concerns that the dwarves would continue to pose a threat in the future, Galun insisted on remaining.

The remainder of the winter was uneventful, and the drakes ended their hibernation in the spring. As the flight hunted and prepared for their first hatchlings, they were approached by the Flight of Kerath, who had been led to the Great Continent by the sky drake who had formerly left. Kerath threatened to seize all Galun's breeders and land, an act in violation of the Ways of Morogor. At this moment, the saurians arrived to help fight alongside Galun's drakes. The ensuing battle turned against Kerath, who was eventually slain. The breeders of the Flight of Kerath were taken, while the males were all executed, save for Reshan'lo, who was of that flight.

Galun spoke with Reshan'lo, and inquired as to whether he knew why his life was being spared. Galun informed him that the real reason he was letting him live was due to his status as a recorder. Reshan'lo in turn told Galun of his concerns about the strength of the inhabitants of the Great Continent, as well as the threat that might follow them if more ambitious drakes from Morogor followed Galun. Reshan'lo was inducted into the Flight of Galun, while Galun himself contemplated the fate of his flight and proclaimed three edicts. Firstly, he set in place the Ways of Morogor. Secondly, he commanded his drakes to avoid the Green Isle's greater races. Thirdly, he enforced longer periods of hibernation to conserve food supplies.

Personality

That is difficult to hear.

—Galun reels from Reshan'lo's revelation that the drakes arrived in Morogor as refugees.

Galun was highly ambitious, and when faced with a decision, he would consider the long-term effects of his actions. For example, upon becoming the dominant of his own flight, he chose to address the problem of overpopulation by taking a daring journey over the Great Ocean. Likewise, once he had found an island suitable for settlement in the Three Sisters, he was still determined to settle in the more attractive Heart Mountains.

Galun also had a strong pride in his heritage as a drake, and was motivated by his hopes for the drake race at large. Even as he became a Dominant, he spoke of it as a way to increase the pride and power of the drakes. Though so far from the jurisdiction of Morogor, he justified his claim to the land by the Ways of Morogor, implementing their laws amongst his flight. His pride motivated some of his aggression towards his vanquished foes, such as when beings he saw as "lesser" threatened the drakes.