The Spectral Runes...
Sendarriel is an elf who was once in training to become a bard of his tribe. For his coming-of-age action, he was given a dragon's egg to raise to maturity. However, one evening during which a palidin who was exploring the mountain range and stumbled into Riftdale came, Sendar and the egg fell in a sacred pool that was filled with forbidden gems visible only at night. Both beings were since cursed and neither elf nor egg can exist in the daylight, or so it is theorized; Sendar is not about to test that idea. Thusly, at night in the land of perpetual autumn, Sendar forrages for food, rationing the scarce game, berries, and bark of the area. He knows that once the egg hatches, the dragonette will be very hungry, need to be entertained, and desire to roam where he wishes. Because of the latter-most of these ideas, Sendar has begun clearing the forest that once surrounded the Night Jewel Pool. In that manner, the dragonette will be able to see the glorious orbs that are the stars in all their glories shinging down upon the world.
"What a sight, little one!" Sendar breathes, lying on his back in the clearing next to the egg. "That constellation, south ascention, declination thirty minutes, eighteen seconds, is the Majestic. The tale behind that one is long and complex, and I only know it to a certain point. However, it is known that once the Majestic did make landfall in our world. Its crew was of but three: a woman, a halfling man, and a very special dragon who could fortell the future. The dragon said that one elf and his bondmate would deal the deceisive blow in the battle against the orcs, and ever since then, my tribe has been training youths in these mountains. They set off again, to where no one knows, but soon after their departure, a definite form of the ship was seen amongst the stars. Over the passed ten years, the ship has become merely the loosest possible shape of the Majestic. It is always trailed by the stellar winds... ah, there they are now."
As Sendar speaks his final remark, a rush of brilliant blues, greens, and reds floods the sky above them. The haze of the hues seems to spin about Riftdale, with the retrospectively small crater as its focal point. The dance is long and seems to involve most of the cosmos. Because of the thin atmosphere and lack of clouds above, Sendar can finally see the event clearly, as he has always desired to do. Suddenly as it had come, the winds subside, but the dust that trailed behind them lingers. The dust forms elaborate patterns and shapes that glitter every now and again of their own accords.
"It stays like this from now, the longest night of the year, until one of the dates where day and night are equal. My master called the patterns in the sky Spectral Runes, for you see, very few elves catch the slightest hint of order in the seemingly haphazard mess of color, light, and dark. I sense there is a pattern, but a true-seer, one the likes of which have never before been seen, is needed to deceipher their meanings. Perhaps that will be you? Alas! I am too vain. To think that you could possibly be the fabled celestial dragon and save us elves from destroying ourselves and our bretherin. It matters not; I've already sworn you shan't fight and that's that. No messing with the Elven blood-oath, no sir. Soft! The dawn already! I fear I talk too long!"
Sendar leaps to his feet and rolls the egg of the dragon into the cavern. The sun will not touch that wall until passed midday, and by then the elf and the egg are nestled safely within the caverns, away from the light. Panting, Sendar curses.
"I need to pay attention, young one," he states, brushing a stray lock of his hair behind his pointed ear. He takes the egg to a place to whcih not even teh sunlight can be reflected by the jewel-like souls of the long-deceased once-inhabitants of Riftdale. Pantin, Sendar collapses on the floor by the egg. He leans himself upon it, half embracing it. "Apologies, friend. I was so caught up in what you may be, I nearly forgot about what we are - cursed." He drifts to sleep, using the egg as bed and pillow both.