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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User





I want to write an Age of Sigmar story from a Dragon's point of view; I was thinking it should be about a dragon that served the high elves during the end times of the old world, and has since been reborn in the Age of Sigmar; though I am feeling an itch to write something more unique and perhaps a bit of an edge: Have the story be from the perspective of a black dragon that was once enslaved by the dark elves, but since has been freed via being reborn in the age of sigmar and has since only wanted to disassociate himself from the dark elves and swore his loyalty to Sigmar.

What are some good books/sources I can find some good dragon related lore? Especially regarding Age of Sigmar, though I would accept Warhammer Fantasy stuff as well.

In addition, do you guys have any ideas on what I should add/improve or anything?
   
Made in gb
Spawn of Chaos




Dorset, UK

An intriguing idea! As far as I know, there's nothing too explicit in the Warhammer lore regarding the perspective of dragons, so that gives you some artistic freedom. For AoS lore, if you haven't been there, Shinros' thread will be handy: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/710601.page
To be honest, I can't claim to be knowledgeable about fantasy fiction, but the Eragon books by Christopher Paolini might be worth a quick flick through, even if that means finding out what you don't want to write. What's really interesting about your idea to me is how you could represent the draconic language, i.e. whether your dragon communicates through speech or magic, perhaps requiring a vessel to speak through, and it would be interesting to find out why it feels the need to communicate a story at all, being a powerful dragon. Maybe dragons aren't so powerful in the nine realms as they once were in the old world? Since the Dark Elves are a part of Sigmar's Order Alliance (Darkling Covens are the Aelf faction that have the Black Dragons, but there is also the Scourge Privateers and Daughters of Khaine that were formerly known as Dark Elves), and Sigmar is great buddies with Dracothion, so does this dragon represent a dissenting voice or even a rogue element? Another fascinating aspect to this story would be the representation of timespan. It may be worth noting that it is only the new pantheon of gods that survived the destruction of the old world, so Sigmar, Nagash, Archaon, Alarielle, etc. That should not deter you from representing the old world, but might require some exposition, which could itself unlock some interesting storytelling opportunities.

I hope this is useful. Good luck!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/04/23 10:59:26


 
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






When writing keep in mind that this is an old character. He will not perceive time the same way a human would, even an old human. Having survived the death of an entire world and the near-death of the mortal realms from the age of chaos, something that may seem significant to us (like an entire city burned to the ground) will be something he's seen thousands of times before. The life of a single mortal or even an entire kingdom of them will be utterly insignificant without long-term impact. The valiant king to rallies a nation against chaos and leads them to prosperity is still barely notable if said kingdom is obliterated by chaos a hundred years later. Beings like Archaeon, Alarielle, Nagash, these are individuals who shape fate rather than being bound in it. Individuals like Gordrakk may perhaps be worth noticing, because there is a chance of making a meaningful difference in the grand scheme of things. Anything less will be transient, someone that will inevitably be ground to nothingness by time and the realms unchanged for them having existed.

Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page

I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.

I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User





Funbug No.1 wrote:An intriguing idea! As far as I know, there's nothing too explicit in the Warhammer lore regarding the perspective of dragons, so that gives you some artistic freedom. For AoS lore, if you haven't been there, Shinros' thread will be handy: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/710601.page
To be honest, I can't claim to be knowledgeable about fantasy fiction, but the Eragon books by Christopher Paolini might be worth a quick flick through, even if that means finding out what you don't want to write. What's really interesting about your idea to me is how you could represent the draconic language, i.e. whether your dragon communicates through speech or magic, perhaps requiring a vessel to speak through, and it would be interesting to find out why it feels the need to communicate a story at all, being a powerful dragon. Maybe dragons aren't so powerful in the nine realms as they once were in the old world? Since the Dark Elves are a part of Sigmar's Order Alliance (Darkling Covens are the Aelf faction that have the Black Dragons, but there is also the Scourge Privateers and Daughters of Khaine that were formerly known as Dark Elves), and Sigmar is great buddies with Dracothion, so does this dragon represent a dissenting voice or even a rogue element? Another fascinating aspect to this story would be the representation of timespan. It may be worth noting that it is only the new pantheon of gods that survived the destruction of the old world, so Sigmar, Nagash, Archaon, Alarielle, etc. That should not deter you from representing the old world, but might require some exposition, which could itself unlock some interesting storytelling opportunities.

I hope this is useful. Good luck!


Thanks,
I've read some of the Inheritance boosk, but a lot of my inspiration comes from EE Knight's Age of Fire series, which features dragons as the main pov(a very interesting read, the author was also inspired by game of thrones/ASOFAI). I would think that dragons would be able to speak through magic, because, they inherently magical(and I hear that in Cathay, they can take human form)

Also, most of the original pantheon is dead? No Myrmidia? None of the other gods? That sucks


NinthMusketeer wrote:When writing keep in mind that this is an old character. He will not perceive time the same way a human would, even an old human. Having survived the death of an entire world and the near-death of the mortal realms from the age of chaos, something that may seem significant to us (like an entire city burned to the ground) will be something he's seen thousands of times before. The life of a single mortal or even an entire kingdom of them will be utterly insignificant without long-term impact. The valiant king to rallies a nation against chaos and leads them to prosperity is still barely notable if said kingdom is obliterated by chaos a hundred years later. Beings like Archaeon, Alarielle, Nagash, these are individuals who shape fate rather than being bound in it. Individuals like Gordrakk may perhaps be worth noticing, because there is a chance of making a meaningful difference in the grand scheme of things. Anything less will be transient, someone that will inevitably be ground to nothingness by time and the realms unchanged for them having existed.


What I was thinking is that he isn't exactly old, more like he's reborn but still has memories from his experiences in the old war. Also, he is now free of the corruption of the dark elves magic, though not completely, but nonetheless resents the dark elves for the things they made him and his kind do and the conditions they were kept in

One of his goals is of find other dragons throughout the realms and convince them to serve the Dracothian(whom he views as his patron god), and in proxy, serve Sigmar (and thus, when they die, their souls can be saved by Sigmar, rather then serve Nagash)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/04/27 05:10:52


 
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






As the fluff stands now all dragons and dragon-kin (save the chaos variety) view Dracothian as a patron god. Those on the Order/Stormcast side work as allies to the forces of Sigmar but are just that. They still owe their original allegiance to Dracothian.

Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page

I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.

I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User





 NinthMusketeer wrote:
As the fluff stands now all dragons and dragon-kin (save the chaos variety) view Dracothian as a patron god. Those on the Order/Stormcast side work as allies to the forces of Sigmar but are just that. They still owe their original allegiance to Dracothian.


awesome, which book was that mentioned in though?
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






The new Stormcast Battletome is by far the best source. Additionally after checking I realize there is actually a two-paragraph entry explicitly written from a Stardrake's perspective.

Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page

I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.

I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Isnt the fundamental feature of the dragon psyche Greed? I mean traditionally. Not sure if a dragon can really operate through altruistic allegiance to Sigmar beyond his need for more treasure.
A dragon is a symbol of a bad king, one who is both powerful and sharp witted but uses his power and wiles to accumulate needless wealth that does neither his subjects nor his kingdom any good and only series to desolate the land and breed evil.
This is why Thorin in "The Hobbit" turns nasty when the curse of the dragon's hoard lays a dragon sickness on him. Its all about a kings responsibility to distribute wealth for the good of the people.
At least that's how I've always understood dragons.

   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






Like most mythology there is no 'cannon' for what a dragon is or isn't. Certainly the interpretations in the modern era are varied, but they have done so historically as well.

Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page

I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.

I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
Like most mythology there is no 'cannon' for what a dragon is or isn't. Certainly the interpretations in the modern era are varied, but they have done so historically as well.


Yeah, that's true. Its up to each storyteller how they want to tell their own story. What ingredients they will chose and how they will mix them.
I honestly wouldnt know where to start on a story like this myself.

   
Made in es
Brutal Black Orc




Barcelona, Spain

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
The new Stormcast Battletome is by far the best source. Additionally after checking I realize there is actually a two-paragraph entry explicitly written from a Stardrake's perspective.


What page?
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






54

Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page

I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.

I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. 
   
 
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