This article details newly-discovered information about Ingolf Dragonfriend (an Orlanthi hero who was also an EWF dragonfriend). Page references are to King of Sartar 1st edition.
“raised within its beliefs” (pg. 93)
Ingolf was a member of the Long Mountain Dragon school, a mystical society that was widespread in the area of his birth, the Rendalian River (modern Isildon R.) Valley in Holay. They lived by a strict regimen of ascetic practices, broken by inhuman annual celebrations called the Seven Burnt Sacrifices. Practices included the Twelve Great Movements and the Twenty Chants of Power. When done properly, these allowed a person to temporarily acquire draconic traits that were to be used only in times of meditation and ritual sheddings. If used otherwise, the person could no longer progress in the order. Ingolf was successful, and never used them.
“Ingolf was never initiated, though the rite was begun for him.” (pp. 186-187)
His initiation was probably similar to the adulthood rites that most boys underwent. The initiation spoken of here is not to the mystic path, but rather to the adult world of responsibility and magic.
“traversed the entire dragon realm” (pp. 187, 189)
This means that Ingolf completed the first part of his mystical path. He learned all the disciplines and magics perfectly, and could use them to concentrate his mind to combat the impossible. Ingolf prepared himself to confront the Ignorance Barrier, and he succeeded. These stops define the mystical steps that must be taken:
- Alkazharst. “Accepting the Way,” wherein pledges are made, knowledge and powers are shed, and power is changed forever. It must be done atop Mount Dragon in Imther, where Long Mountain Dragon is.
- Beanarkadoor. “Instructions on Yes,” a site on the God Plane where teachings about foes are given, and missions against them are begun. The paths take them to the Hero Planes.
- Bonjanasotian. “Instructions on No,” a site on the Sorcery Plane where teachings about foes are given, and missions against them are begun. The paths take them to the Otherworld Planes.
- the many Ongarants. “The Beautiful Temptations” occur here, each finely tooled by destiny to give the mystic the greatest struggle against his weaknesses as well as his strengths. These are in the Otherworlds of the God, Sorcery, and Spirit Planes and the Underworld.
- Vostalakor. “The Ignorance Gateway” is here, which a mystic can attempt to enter and which, if successful, changes him yet even more to be different. It is beyond the Underworld.
- Fantazandar. “Where Absolute” is a soul-blasting realm past the Ignorance Gateway, which is wide open to all who can find it. It is the whole wide realm that lies through Vostalakor. This single place actually includes seven or fourteen quests within it.
- Kapertine (pg. 189) “which no human can ever imagine” is in Fantazandar. It is the Roiling of Errors, where failed members of this path go to be recycled in some other form to serve the world.
- Orvene is not listed in King of Sartar, for Ingolf never achieved it. It is the “Last Glimpse Back Place” where beings enter into the Absolute. Ingolf squandered his powers trying to help others, and so never reached the end of the mystic path.
“when the tides of war turned against him” (pg. 187)
Dragon Powers were Ingolf’s to have, and he followed the Fantazandar Paths to challenge and develop his draconic self (his Arangorf). He acquired the Seven Powers, and spent most of his time working to perfect them for the approach to Orvene that he had to make. Ingolf would have avoided all politics, but he was moved by the plight of the poor in the EWF, and participated in the Third Council for their sake. His land was a refuge for dissidents in the difficult times. When Accelerated Dragon Worship began in 889 S.T., many more people came to Ingolf’s lands, and over the next 30 years he led the Overwatcher Schools. He kept his people from helping raise Drang the Diamond Storm Dragon, and so he and they were less harmed when it fell. He was also a major force resisting Alakoring, who sought to destroy him several times.
The Cosmic Shifting in c. 927 confronted Ingolf with the choice of interrupting his studies or seeing all that he had worked for destroyed. With the best intentions, he took his meditation mat to visit his relatives. He did not wish to use his powers, for that would endanger his approach to Orvene.
Despite himself, however, Ingolf used his dragon powers and thus violated his principles and discipline. He used his Fire Breathers power in 931 to save the son of Prince Arastakos, who was being taken into hiding after his uncle slew everyone in New Jardan. It was for a good reason, but was nonetheless an error. Ingolf withdrew in shame and underwent purification, and entered into absolution rites.
The Vindori Struggles (pg. 187)
Government under the Third Council was irregular. Powerful leader groups collected clans, cities, guilds, and temples to them in a web of draconic pledges and loyalties. Tribal organization was largely ignored in favor of these types of collections, called denkral. The Vindori were one of the successful denkrals of the era. Prideful stories relate their esteemed origins, their rise to power among the dragonkind and the empowerment of great wyrms and dragons among them. The Garanazar clan (from which Ingolf came) was associated with them.
Arastakos was the Prince of the Dell, a people in largely centered on northern Kordros Island, in Tarsh. His son, Orenfren, had been prophesied to do great things for the good of the common folk, and Ingolf was one of his sponsors.
Voranstagos was a hungry dragon with a twisted eye who had brought success to the fortunes of the Vindori in Ralios. He eliminated rivals by destroying New Jardan, but the retaliation was so intense that the event of slaughter and revenge is called “The Two Eliminations.” Thousands were slain in each place, and only two people escaped each. Ingolf and Ornefren escaped from Karadan, but only because Ingolf destroyed anyone who opposed him with his fiery breath.
Voranstagos had not been present at the site of the slaughter, and sought revenge. He had a taste for uz and shared menus with his friends. They flew to Halikiv and slithered through the caves there, feasting. This incited an intense struggle between the uz and the Vindori.
Ingolf was incited to enter into the fray again. These recorded battles show only a portion of the overall struggle. At each one, Ingolf used (and lost) a draconic power.
- Used the Fore Claw at Vindorhall, in Delela, against Unalakez and the uz (933 S.T.). Vindorhall was one of the Vindori strongholds in Ralios. Unalakez was a Mistress Race Troll who was surrounded by a pool of Underworld when she ventured on the surface. With a hellish army she swept over Delela with depredations were so severe that Ingolf was incited to act against them.
- Used the Left Claw at Vindorhall, in Noramland, against Cragspider and the uz (934 S.T.). Ingolf had taken refuge here to be away from combat and temptation, but again acted to help his people when an army of great trolls erupted from underground in their territory.
- Used the Scales in the Vindori lands to defend against Cragspider (936 S.T.). Cragspider created a huge pillar of intense fire in the Vindori homeland. It destroyed everything within its path and would have ended the Vindori except that Ingolf took the burn upon himself, sacrificing his scales for the good of his people.
More Struggles (pg. 188)
Around 940 S.T., Ingolf began teaching his new learning, the Ingolf Knowledge. He said it was not only acceptable but desirable for draconic persons to manifest their power in the defense of the common world. However, he did not expend any of his unique powers for years after that, although he led armies and fought in many battles.
- Used the War Teeth “upon the blood red fields of Karnant,” against warriors (947 S.T.). The elite of Alkoth, armed with their “Three Strange Magics,” rose in battle in 947 against the draconic invasion. Ingolf spewed forth these warriors, who stunned their foes and then dragged them into an invisible dragon’s gullet. This won the battle for the invaders, but Alkoth never fell to siege.
- Used the Wings to escape murder in 976 S.T. The EWF had factions that struggled against each other. The troll wars of this decade were incited by rivals of the Vindori. The Night of Night Revenge pitted humans, dragons, and trolls against the Standing Ten Against Destroyer faction. They eliminated many key organizations within that faction, including the Vindori. Ingolf finally used his draconic flight to rescue those closest to him. Most dispersed, and he withdrew to his clan in Hestven.
The End of Ingolf (pg. 189)
After 976, Ingolf withdrew again to solitude to begin purification again, and to abstain from the world and not use his last dragon power. He held a seat on the ring, but rarely served in person. The masters of his orders squabbled among themselves to see who would sit in his place. King of Sartar records Ingolf’s last moments, when a great black dragon came and ravaged his lands. “But its eyes, my good man, what of its eyes?” cried Ingolf. When they are described he is satisfied. The eyes are his unused dragon power, and when he hears of them he knows he is going to go to Kapertine, instead of one of the worse hells for completely failed members of the dragon way. He greets the devouring death dragon without fear, and when he is transformed to the mystical planes his release blesses his seven companions to become as draconic as they can be. These are the seven stages of the path, of course, and after serving humanity they were exterminated by dragonewts in 1042.