Meeting Lan

Hello there. My name is Lan. I'd like to take a few minutes to tell you a little about the people who raised me, if you have some time. You might find it interesting, since I was raised by dragons. Shall I go on? Very well.

I was raised, as I mentioned, by dragons in a place called Colosum by the few non-dragons who live there. I doubt you'd find it on a map. Certainly it's not on any map I've ever seen. Colosum is a beautiful land completely surrounded by towering mountains. There are only a few passes through the mountains that anyone without wings could ever hope to navigate, but that's hardly a problem for dragons. In the center of this land lies a huge lake called The Pool of Life, and in the center of the lake is an island. The island's name has no translation in the common tongue that would even come close to properly describing it. Perhaps a master poet or bard might have some hope of an accurate translation, but it's a task that is beyond me.

Perhaps a bit of explanation is in order there. You see, the language that the scholars at the University teach in their Draconic Language courses is a language that was created by dragon kind only when it became apparent to them that the vast majority of people of other races were incapable of speaking on the Link. That happened so long ago that even dragon historians aren't sure of exactly when it was. In any event, the island in the middle of The Pool of Life is only ever referred to by it's True Draconic name, which can only be spoken on the Link.

The island is the most sacred place in all of Colosum. It was there that the first dragons were given form and life by the Great One. It was on the island that the first Grand Dragons, Bahamut and Tiamat, came to understand their Purpose, and it was the island they returned to when their Purpose was fulfilled and they returned to the Great One's side to await rebirth.

I'm sorry. As a priest, I sometimes forget that others don't necessarily share my passion for holy places. I'll try to keep myself on track.

As an infant I was given by my birth mother into the care of the only mother I can remember, Nephralia. Her daughter, Nanala, is only a few years older than myself and has been the most wonderful sister I could have ever hoped for. She's as beautiful as she is intelligent, and her patient willingness to act as a subject for my early scale painting attempts was a true blessing. My life has been filled with love and acceptance, not just by Nephralia and Nala, but by all the people of Colosum.

Doesn't sound much like the tales about dragons that you normally hear, does it? In those stories, the dragon's would have only kept me around to fatten me up for dinner! Truth is, dragons eat fish far more often than red meat of any kind, and I've never met a dragon who even considered eating a human, elf, or dwarf. Oh, I have no doubt that there are a few rogue dragons in the world that are crazy enough to do it, but it's hardly the favorite pastime of the stories.

Oh. You have to go? Well, come again sometime, and we'll talk more. I certainly wouldn't want to keep you from anything important. It's been wonderful talking with you.