There are gods, and there are GODS. Everything in the cosmos has a pecking order. The gods are no different. .Most learned people are aware of the basic hierarchy of the gods: demigod, lesser god, intermediate god, and greater god. Each step upwards scaling evermore with unimaginable divine power. There exists a least two tiers above the greater gods. In the rung above them stand the Titans. Titans are the direct descendants of the Primordials, those who created everything, and not surprisingly occupy the rank above them.. The Titans were the Primordials agents, and granted power to maintain and defend what the Primordials had created. Even after their masters retreated deep into the hearts of their respective elemental planes, the Titans remained watching over all. It was they who created the beings that we know as gods to serve much as they had. Many of these gods served similar functions, and in some cases the same function as other gods. As the sentient creatures began growing in number, the gods discovered they could enhance their power through worship. Naturally, competition ensued, which eventually erupted into outright war. After the first Godswar, many gods were slain. In the aftermath, the divine hierarchy was formed. The Titans remained outside of it, but provided counsel for their children. Only a handful of Titans, chose not only to associate with the gods, but also began attracting worshippers, intentionally or otherwise.
Kor’Tunni is one of those few. The twin sister of the Neissithaar, the god of knowledge and fate, Kor’Tunni was drawn to magic even more so than usual for her kin. She traveled frequently to the Aether to study the source of all magic. She loved to see how magic was manipulated by users. She studied with other academics, Titans all, about the nature of magic. She traveled to the Fey Realms, and the Elemental Realms to see how magic differed there. Gifted even beyond her brethen, Kor’Tunni mastered every form of magic she came across. Incidentally, while learning from the Firelords from the elemental plane of fire, she met Aeruus, a duke of that realm. Yes, that Aeruus.
Some millenia later, Kor’Tunni had taken the portfolio of goddess of dragons, after her favorite creations. While it is known that the dragons are her favored, only learned scholar knows that Kor’Tunni created the first dragons. It was she that taught other interested titans how to create them as well.An even lesser known fact about dragon creation, is that Aeruus, by this time her consort, had given her the inspiration for, and helped the create early dragons. Together they experimented with the raw elemental magic of the Aether and created the starwyrms. These were massive dragons that dwarfed even the great wyrms of today, and traveled the cosmos. Legend has it they grew large enough to feed on entire worlds. Thankfully, none exist on Duir’Aion, although rumor has it the Dragonspine Mountains are the remains of one such creature. Kor’Tunni then went on to create the sun dragons and the fire dragons. The other titans created dragons, to suit their temperament or particular need. Eventually the dragons would grow in number, creating a vast empire that stretch across the planet. Some say, even beyond it. And they all revered Kor’Tunni as their mother, an affection she returned.
Titans as a rule did not take “portfolios” as we know them. For a god, say the god of war, the portfolio means they draw power from that descriptor. So in this case, a god of war would benefit most from wars between kingdoms, and least in times of peace. If a war grew large enough, encompassing the entire world for example, the god of war could experience a massive shift in divine power. Perhaps even enough to ascend the divine ladder. The reverse is also true.
Titans simply gravitated towards pursuits that suited them. They generally became more powerful by mastering those pursuits. For example the titan Noggoroth, loved to build things. He was obsessed with how things worked. So he crafted volcanos, and undersea mountains. He created clouds, and wind and rain. He eventually tinkered with sentient life, and is often regarded as the creator of the gnome race entirely, although the diminutive folk disagree. The more he built, the more powerful he became. It didn’t matter if the mountains were destroyed, or races rendered instinct. The power was in the making. There was no power loss in unmaking. Now power is relative, even among titans. While Noggoroth was no pushover, he paled in comparison to the titan of fire whose elements were found nearly everywhere. Kor’Tunni became singular among all the titans, becoming a Titan of magic, and dragons.
Kor’Tunni’s ultimate gift to her dragon children, was the ability to access the Aether to wield magic. Most dragons used the gifts innately. The ice dragons of old, example used that magic give them immunity to frigid temps, and to quite literally climb ice in any orientation. They used their cunning to manipulate that magic to cast simple useful spells. This trait was passed on to their children, and their children’s children.
Other dragons were far more clever when it came to magic. These were not content with the innate gifts the magic gave them. They experimented, and found, with Kor’Tunni’s blessing, they could wield that magic in many forms. Many developed completely new and unique spells, which they could teach another if desired. With these developments, the growing of the dragon empire, as well as the discovery of new spells, all served to make Kor’Tunni stronger, and she swiftly began outstripping the other Titans in terms of power.
There is not a spell that has been created by any being, dragon, god, mortal, celestial, or demon, that is not among known to her and inscribed in her massive collection of grimoires. Note that she does not require the grimoires to cast any spell. If she wishes a spell to come into being, it does so. Rather it serves a dual purpose. First, she often rewards her most faithful followers with rare or unique spells. In the case of the latter, it is rare for more than one living being to be rewarded such an honor. The other purpose it serves, is as a permanent record of magic. On the occasion that Kor’Tunni forbid’s a spell (or an entire school of spells), that spell cannot be researched, discovered, or otherwise utilized unless she changes her mind. Spellbooks that contain the spell will find either the spell missing in the case of simple spells, or important phrases, gestures, or component requirements absent, rendering the work useless. Note that a wizard who currently has the spell prepared at the time of censuring, is aware of the censure. Said wizard is then faced with an interesting dilemma. He can cast the spell knowing he is defying the goddess, which is never a good idea. Or hold it, knowing he would never be able to prepare it again, as his spellbooks and scrolls would have been affected by the censure.
Not so much a secret as it is more a little known fact, is that Kor’Tunni can actually erase a spell from existence by removing it from her grimoire. Such a spell immediately disappears from memory, spellbooks, scrolls or anywhere it is written, drawn, or otherwise stored. Has it happened before? Likely. Then again, even has her archpriest, how would even I know. Would she even remember? All that I can tell you is that Kor’Tunni is loathe to do so. It doesn’t matter if it can undo reality. Why? Simple really. All dragons can trace their lineage to Kor’Tunni, or one of the handful of other Titans she taught to do the same. Dragons share the same temperament, including the need to hoard treasure. If I have to explain it further, there is no point in continuing this discussion.
At some point, Kor’Tunni created her lair in the Aether itself. This allowed her to create an even stronger bond to the magic she loved. It is known that this move was contested by the other Titans, but a conclave of gods and titans, with Aeruus speaking as his consort’s counsel convinced them to allow it. Was it foolish of them to do so? Perhaps. The realms of the gods exist in the Aether. To travel, or even send an agent from those realms to the mortal realm requires passage, no matter how brief through the Aether. Kor’Tunni can forbid travel in the Aether to anyone. Violators have faced her wrath. In terms of sheer power, only Aeruus is considered her equal. And is the only one to survive her wrath thus far.
A Darkness Rising 