Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Dorian awoke from a deep dream, his mind still reeling from the void. As he sat up, the eerie whispers from the depths of the nightmare still lingered in his ears, like ghostly figures born of flames and ashes, murmuring in his mind.

The moment the bed trembled, he had a vague premonition of something ominous about to befall him; it was an intuition as if his blood had frozen. Before he could even think, he hurriedly got up and steadied himself. In that brief moment, the entire palace suddenly rose and fell violently like ocean waves, as if a giant beast awakening was turning over in the deep earth.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar exploded from beneath his feet, violently throwing him off the ground.

The dull sirens and heart-wrenching cries resounded throughout the city at the same moment, echoing between countless stone walls and arcades, like a never-ending doomsday tolling. He staggered toward the huge window on the terrace that overlooked the entirety of Tal Calradic, forcefully pushed open the heavy door, grabbed the cold stone railing, and looked back with a panicked yet incredulous gaze.

The ancient mountain range loomed over the city like a giant shoulder, seemingly coldly scrutinizing the fragile elven people below.

The next moment, the mountaintop suddenly split open, and flames surged forth, tongues of fire licking the night, the intense light tearing the sky apart. Fiery clouds and smoke enveloped the summit, churning like a tsunami. Burning rocks were ejected into the air, piercing the heavens, and falling with fiery tails, like stars falling from the sky.

What followed was flames and steam erupting from countless fissures in the mountainside, as if the abyss beneath the earth was roaring. Lava streams surged wildly, pouring down from the huge cracks, like burning red dragons winding and crawling under the night sky.

Dorian's horrified gaze lingered on the layers of Tal Calradil's city. He saw the once-prosperous squares and streets now transformed into a vortex of escape, with thousands of elves fleeing their homes. Torches and lamps converged into trembling streams of light in the darkness, like rivers destined to flow into the abyss.

The volcanic eruptions did not stop; instead, they intensified.

The fortifications collapsed one after another in the aftershocks, and the towers once built with magic and stone crumbled one after another, falling like scraps of paper. The magical barrier binding the lava finally reached its limit, and the moat of fire began to surge and roar wildly, like a monster howling with joy at being set free. More than a hundred granite arch bridges spanning the fire river swayed and broke one by one, the heavy stones falling into the crimson abyss along with the spires, splashing up waves of fire.

The densely packed refugees on the bridge had no time to shout before they fell along with the rocks, instantly engulfed by flames and lava, burning and screaming in agony.

That scene horrified Dorian to the point of almost suffocating.

They were trapped and died in the city.

Sweeping in with the wind was not just ash, but also scorching smoke and dust, more swift than death itself. The billowing volcanic ash, carrying deadly toxic smog, engulfed the entire city in an instant.

The air became scorching and stagnant, and breathing felt like drinking fire.

Dorian's chest heaved violently as he struggled between the burning heat and the choking cough. His throat burned, his eyes were bloodshot from the thick smoke, and tears wouldn't fall. He clearly saw thousands of his people, whom he had once protected, screaming in the same calamity. Then, like his people, his clothes and hair were instantly engulfed in flames, his flesh carbonized and peeled away in despair, and he was quickly swallowed up by the volcanic ash.

Pompeii... no.

This is not a human city-state, but the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Caledo—Tal Caled.

Tal Calradic, the former center of power for the descendants of the dragon tamer Caledo, is etched with countless glories and myths. It lies on the edge of a vast ocean, on the precipitous eastern side of the Dragonspine Mountains. This name is also an alternate name for House Caledoan, a lineage founded and passed down through generations by the dragon tamer Caledo himself.

Imrek Calad, or Imrek Caledoan, it doesn't matter; they both point to the same bloodline and heritage.

This magnificent city was once the pride and symbol of the elven civilization.

Built by the dragon tamer Caledo and his followers with magic and an iron will, its towering spires stand like stalagmites atop steep coastal hills, reaching towards the heavens. Black rock walls covered in fiery red patterns meander along the mountains and stretch to the coast, like giant, forged chains guarding the land.

The city's protective lava river surges day and night, with over a hundred granite arch bridges spanning the fiery abyss, each end adorned with twin towers like giants guarding the city. Even more striking are the colossal monoliths inlaid with gold and silver patterns, piercing the river of fire and disappearing into its crimson depths. The runes inscribed on these pillars have shimmered faintly for countless ages, firmly suppressing the earth's fire.

However, on the eve of the city's destruction, the light of those runes had already dimmed, like a dying fire.

During the Great Invasion, this city was an impregnable fortress against the demons.

During those dark years, flames encircled the city, reaching the tops of towers, bridges collapsed, and the walls of noble palaces and mansions were adorned with numerous murals and reliefs depicting epic battles fought between the mountains.

The city's defenses remain as robust as ever after a millennium. Its street layout, imbued with ancient wisdom, winds its way up the mountain, allowing each section to overlook the passageways below, enabling the defenders to unleash a barrage of arrows and magic upon any invading enemy. Raised inner canyons between buildings separate different levels of the city, flanked by walls with spear-pointed protrusions and firing ports, effectively defending against air raids. Each street corner features a massive gate tower capable of sealing off passageways; a total of twenty such fortifications exist from the city walls to the mountaintop.

The lower levels of the city were the commercial hub, with the first three sections of roads lined with vendors' stalls and artisan workshops. The next four levels were the residential area for ordinary people, where even the homes of ordinary residents were magnificent villas with private gardens. Adjacent to the hilltop area were artist studios, which not only produced exquisite artworks for decoration but also served as temples for showcasing artistic creations.

Famous figures from the Kingdom of Caledor, such as Imrek, Dorian, Imradrek, Tessanir, and Lyandra, were either born here or lived here.

As the cataclysmic eruption struck, the once-dormant volcano suddenly spewed forth, its scorching ash, like a black storm, staining the sky a mixture of blood and iron. Thousands of residents were mercilessly buried in that instant, sinking into a sea of ​​fiery ash. The streets and alleys, once filled with songs and the roar of forges, fell silent in the blink of an eye, leaving only molten ash and collapsed ruins. The ancient city was ultimately reduced to solidified ruins, as if frozen in death by the flames.

The survivors, filled with tears and fear, migrated to the neighboring city of Tar Salas, renaming it Tar Calad, calling it the "City of the Dragon King." They attempted to perpetuate its former glory, but no matter how magnificent the title, it could not conceal the fact that it was no longer the splendor it once was.

This Dragon King's City soars atop the southern slopes of the ring-shaped mountain range, resembling an eagle's nest suspended in mid-air. Its north, west, and south sides are fortified by sheer cliffs and precipices, layer upon layer, insurmountable, accessible only to the birds of the sky and giant dragons. Only on the east side lies a perilous pass, lined with towering buildings, where a winding stone path, like a spine, leads to the imposing fortress. The entire fortress is like a sharp, isolated sword embedded in the mountains.

Though called the capital, it was the smallest of all the kingdoms in Ulthuan compared to the other prosperous metropolises. It was more like a towering fortress with wide walls, a refuge built out of necessity. It was a pale, miniature copy of the former Tal Calad, a dream preserved in miniature—both proud and sorrowful.

In a certain game, the place referred to as "Kaledo Rest" is this place. As for Tal Setai, which is also known as Tal Wind Howl City, it is a city in the Kingdom of Tyronlock...

Before setting off to pursue the dragon mage Imralis's army, Aserion sent a messenger to Tal Calradin to tell Querellien, who had returned from the Dragonspine Mountains to mobilize his army, about the dream he had witnessed and the omens he had seen.

Quirrell is a descendant of Dorrian, with the flames and pride of Caledon flowing in his veins.

In another timeline, his fate is even more solitary, ultimately leading him to leave his homeland for the distant colony of the Tower of the Sun. There, he shoulders the heavy responsibility of maintaining the empire's borders until the end.

And so, a new round of refueling began.

Quirrellen led a small army from Tal Calad, traversing rugged and treacherous mountain paths, into the western side of the Dragonspine Mountains, and headed toward the Val's Anvil.

Before setting off, he also sent a team of messengers to deliver all the intelligence he knew to Ellesander, who was located in Tal Sammersan.

Tal Sammersan is one of the most unique cities in the Kingdom of Caledon. It is located in a crater, but unlike the many fortified cities of Caledon, it is a city that stretches out on the hills. Its style is out of place, lacking hardness and coldness, but only vastness and gentleness.

Samersang means "Sahsong Plain" in El Salinese. While it's called a plain, it's actually a plateau, like Ankara, like...

It has a beauty reminiscent of the Anatolian Plateau.

Standing atop the highest spire of Sammersang, one can see rolling hills stretching into the distance like waves, and when the wind blows, it seems as if an invisible melody is flowing between heaven and earth.

And Tal Sammersan—the city of Summer Song—is situated atop a hill in the heart of this Summer Song Plain. Unlike Tal Calad, which rejects the world, it is more like a poem, a song, written at the junction of mountains and land, carrying the unique vastness of the plateau, solidified into the heart of Calad.

This place was once the territory of the sixth Phoenix King, "The Slaughterer" Tethys. After his death, his family line died out, his bloodline was completely severed, and his glory and honor were sealed away.

Ultimately, the territory was placed under the administration of the Calard family. Initially, the dragon princes had reservations about this.

Although the Calard family was undoubtedly the absolute ruler of the Kingdom of Caledo, this land was simply too fertile, with beautiful mountains and rivers, and countless fertile soils, enough to support the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people. In addition, it was once the territory of the Phoenix King, making it extremely symbolic.

Therefore, the dragon princes were naturally extremely unwilling to completely cede the land. Years of disputes and repeated meetings turned the ownership of this land into a protracted struggle.

Ultimately, after lengthy discussions and compromises, this place was established as a unique free city, nominally the common property of all the dragon princes; however, the city and its army remained firmly in the hands of the Calard family. As for taxes, aside from necessary city construction and military expenditures, any surplus would be distributed among the dragon princes according to specific needs.

Because this place was once the territory and palace of the Phoenix King, it already has a thick historical filter; in addition, its geographical location is in the very center of the Kingdom of Caledo, guarding the north-south throat, a strategic location, with abundant water and soil, and almost unparalleled natural conditions.

As a result, a large number of people migrated here, constantly injecting new blood.

Gradually, an economic system centered on handicrafts and trade flourished here, with bustling trade routes, a steady flow of goods, and a prosperity far surpassing that of other cities.

Ultimately, this place became the administrative center of the Kingdom of Caledo.

The dragon princes competed to purchase mansions, establish trading companies, and open guild halls here, their figures and flags intertwining to create a magnificent picture of old and new.

It had no official name, but it was the reality. It was never officially called the "capital," but in fact, it took over many of the functions that should have belonged to Tal Calad.

Currently, the ruler of Tal Sammersan is Elisand, a descendant of Dorian and the cousin of Regent Imrek.

He is the Dragon Prince, a warrior, and a highly responsible administrator. Unlike Imrek, the King of the Photographer who holds only a title, he is the true Regent of the Kingdom of Caledon, despite not having the title of King of the Photographer.

A true weightlifting champion!
He often handled the affairs of the Kingdom of Caledor. When Imrek was away from the land or engrossed in the Dragonspine Mountains, trying to awaken the slumbering dragons, the title of Regent of Caledor would naturally fall to Elisandre.

There was no ceremony, yet no one questioned it.

Upon returning from Lorthen, he did not venture to the Dragonspine Mountains to attempt to awaken the dragons. Instead, he went directly back to Tal Sammersan, taking on the responsibilities of governing the entire Kingdom of Caledor like a silent giant. He ordered the drafting of documents, convened a council, and dispatched messengers. Commands flew from Tal Sammersan to every corner of Caledor, their influence even reaching the villages nestled in the valleys.

In contrast, Quirrellion's advance was exceptionally cautious, even bordering on a slow, drawn-out process.

He was completely different from his brother Elisander.

If Elisande's talents and skill points were invested in administration and governance, then all of Quirrellen's skills were staked on war and military affairs.

He knew perfectly well just how perilous it was to march through the Dragonspine Mountains. The lack of dragons meant the lack of air superiority; without aerial reconnaissance and eyes to survey the terrain, they would be like blind men, cautiously traversing the mountains step by step.

He devoted almost all his energy to deploying scouts and guarding against unknown enemy situations.

He would repeatedly check every mile; he would send out cavalry and knights to scout every valley; only when he was certain that there was no danger ahead would he order the troops to move forward.

There was a sense of impending doom, as if the enemy lurked in the shadows of the mountains ahead, playing an invisible game of chess with him. In reality, however, those enemies might not even exist. Yet, Quirrellen was forced to outwit and outmaneuver this potential threat.

There's nothing we can do about it; the geographical environment is what it is.

Tal Karad is located on the eastern side of the Dragon Ridge Mountains, while Tal Sarnze is located on the western side. The two are separated by towering mountain ridges, forming an insurmountable barrier between them.

Given the geographical environment, he did not attempt to contact the army led by the dragon mage Imralis. Without dragons, it was virtually impossible—crossing the Dragonspine Mountains was tantamount to embracing death and danger.

However, before setting off, in addition to sending messengers to Tal Sammersan, he also dispatched another team of messengers to Tal Moven, which is located east of Tal Calad.

Tal Morven is the territory of the Dragon Prince Rahil Morven, very close to the Kingdom of Itien, facing the vast ocean. Yet, despite the constant sea breezes, it has no real harbor.

The most quintessential part of the city and territory sits on a small plain in a valley, surrounded by towering mountains and natural barriers, with narrow passages acting as choke points. It is difficult for outsiders to invade, easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is why the Mowen family's banner has always stood firm.

When Querreyion's army had covered one-fifth of the distance, a dragon's roar suddenly echoed from the sky. Rahil, riding his dragon, burst forth from the clouds.

After discussing the matter, the army halted its advance and chose to encamp at a strategic pass, patiently awaiting reinforcements from the direction of Tal Morven. He, however, did not stop; he mounted his dragon and flew straight towards the Val's Anvil.

That day marked the tenth day since Imrek sang the Dragon Song.

An indescribable restlessness and unease permeated the air. Two full days had passed since the ambush of the army led by the dragon mage Imralis.

Soon, they spotted a tiny group of people struggling along a narrow path by the coastline. The dragon lowered its altitude, swept across the sea breeze, and descended.

There were more than thirty Asur soldiers, many with scabs and scars on their faces, empty eyes, and unsteady steps. It turned out that they had managed to hide in the cave during their collapse, barely surviving until Duruchi withdrew, after which they crawled out of the cave.

As the two dragon princes spoke with them, the horrific events gradually became clear. The five thousand defenders were completely wiped out; the Val priests vanished without a trace; and the supplies stored in the anvil were looted.

The air was filled with a sense of grief and despair.

Enraged, Querreyen and Rahil gave their last remaining food to the surviving soldiers and ordered them to continue their retreat north. Then, they set off again. But this time, their destination was no longer Vaal Anvil, but the western side of the Dragonspine Mountains. They were going to find the army led by the dragon mage Imralis, even though a sense of foreboding crept into their hearts.

As they followed the clues and discovered what appeared to be a battlefield in a certain area, they landed to investigate. Shortly afterward, the roar of a dragon echoed through the sky once more.

Rielgor arrived with Kelsey Flameheart, while Kagos carried Tynton.

That was the reinforcement that Elisande had dispatched immediately after receiving the message from Querellien. They flew along the western side of the Dragonspine Mountains and eventually rendezvoused with the reinforcements.

But what they witnessed was chilling: Imralis was dead; his troops had been ambushed, and none had survived. The wind howled through the mountains, as if mourning the utter annihilation of this wiped-out army.

After a long silence, they mounted their dragons again and headed towards the Vaal Anvil. After ascertaining the situation on the volcanic island, they parted ways. Kelley and Tynton returned to Tal Sammersan to deliver the devastating news to Elisande; before that, they would search for Aserion's trail. Meanwhile, Querreyion and Rahil each led their armies back to their respective encampments.

On the twelfth day after Imrek sang the Dragon Song, the Kingdom of Caledor trembled!

The tremor was like a mountain collapsing, reverberating through every valley and palace, shaking the entire kingdom in grief and rage. (End of Chapter)