[center][img]https://www.sneakandshow.com/images/article_lg/aleksi-briclot.jpg[/img]

[h3][color=steelblue]T A K E  U P  Y O U R  T H R O N E[/color][/h3]

[img]http://orig11.deviantart.net/48f3/f/2011/208/a/b/divider_by_canzeda-d41w92p.png[/img]

Erebus stood, stunned, twitching slightly, as he took in his surroundings. A village. He was... in front of a village. Maybe. He wasn't entirely sure, to be honest. One moment, he'd been wandering the now-starless plains of the after life, and the next... light. Lightning. A storm clashing about him, even in that dead realm, and then... he was here. Dramatically.

Then again, this could still be the land of the dead- some sort of illusion, perhaps, afforded by death's embrace. He raised a hand to the level of his eyes, turning it, scrutinizing it. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, feeling his draconic blood surge in response, the storms burning in his blood. He felt... alive. So therefore... yes, he was. He was alive again. Somehow. The thought distressed him for some reason. The boundary of death was supposed to be absolute- even a mighty dragon such as he could not cross back of his own volition. So... who sent him back, or called him? And why?

Such thoughts would have to wait for now, however. An older man was emerging from the village, heading a group of excited, somewhat scared or nervous villagers. The man walked with confidence up to him, and the village bowed before him, calling him "liege." In spite of himself, Erebus chuckled. That old lark again? People truly would give respect to anything, given something powerful enough. Even a beast. He then frowned, both at the man's words of chaos, but mostly at something he'd noted before the man bowed.

[color=steelblue]"Your eyes, sir,"[/color] said Erebus, his voice surprisingly smooth and calm for someone of his reputation.

"My liege?"

[color=steelblue]"Your eyes. Meet them to mine."[/color] The man kneeling before him looked confused for a moment, before following the instructions of his king. The elder's eyes were a startling blue- almost luminescent. Erebus raised an eyebrow, before casting a gaze across the congregated villagers. Over half of them shared the same eyes. Some also possessed of deep black hair, usually coinciding with the strangely-colored eyes. Understanding came upon Erebus gradually.

[color=steelblue]"Who are you, elder? And where am I?"[/color]

The elder nodded, a proud smile stretching across his face as he prepared what was likely a speech he'd given before under different circumstances. "I am Ronan, my liege, one of the elders of Thorn, the village in which you now stand. We are the descendants of the Uncrowned, watching and waiting for the day of his- er, your return, my liege. And now... here you are. Yes."

[color=steelblue][i]Descendants?[/i][/color] In spite of his troubling return to life, Erebus sighed in relief. [color=steelblue][i]So Sythan failed after all. My blood continues. That is... good news.[/i][/color] Erebus smiled, and nodded.

[color=steelblue]"Clearly there is much that I have missed. But first things first."[/color] He looked down at his naked form, feeling somewhat awkward, given the adulation he was being treated with. He looked back up, and continued. [color=steelblue]"I shall require clothes. Food and drink, as well. And then, Ronan, you and I shall sit, and talk, and you will tell me of my absence, and how things have changed during such."[/color][/center]