Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

After the great invasion, only a few of the Lizardmen's temple cities remained. Many of them were destroyed by demons, whose corrupt and destructive activities turned these places into ruins and filled with poisonous gases.

Some other temple cities were abandoned or given up due to the emergence of new enemies, such as Juiteks sunk in the lake, Horroto sealed, Zahuitak torn open, Huta and Asroto attacked by White-haired Haken. Despite this, many temple cities still have Lizardmen troops stationed and continue to be used as spirit vein nodes.

All temple cities, even those abandoned, had specific purposes and positions in the greater plan. But now, these purposes and positions have become the subject of speculation, as the first generations of Shilan who were instructed by the Old Ones have long died or are silent, and the stone tablets describing the Old Ones' instructions are incomplete.

Temple-cities share a common structure, but the architectural forms and arrangements vary according to the energies that a particular Temple-city is designed to channel. The Old Ones were magical, and they aligned Temple-cities with celestial bodies and constellations, drawing their power as if making the Temple-city their own.

The most prominent example is the Moon City, Talaxlan, which, unlike the others, was the fourth Temple City to be founded. Located south of the Piranha Swamp, travelers along the Amazon River might see the glimmer of spires, adorned with silver metal, imitating the real moon.

It is a calm city, adept at revealing secrets from the horizon. Built before the Morsrib, its broad streets are laid out in accordance with the steady movement of the Manasrib.

The city lacks the impenetrable walls of Hexotar, the mighty armies of Itaza, or the mysterious defenses of Slanwupek. Less militaristic than many of its peers, the city is a place of calm reflection and careful study. Without walls to constrain it, the city has been able to expand, with new roads, monuments, and observatories spreading outward from the central plaza.

Each towering star monument and statue is carefully positioned in the lunar orbit. In this way, Taraxlan becomes an important node in the spiritual network, using the power of the sky to enhance the city's defenses and the prophecy of Slann. But... with the coming of the Great Invasion and the emergence of Morsrib, this development was curbed, and the city wall appeared on the outskirts of the city after the end of the Great Invasion.

According to legend, Taraxlan was founded by the Old One Razkotor, and the Skinks tell of how Razkotor taught the Lizardmen to read the night sky. All is seen through the moon and the stars, the light begins in the past and continues into the future. Following Razkotor's teachings, the Slann of the Moon City share in all that the celestial bodies see. They are the Old Ones' most trusted overseers, watching over every decision and weighing every outcome. Or so the Skinks of this city say, and believe it.

Razkotor is a distant, apathetic observer who embodies the ideal of cold-blooded, unshakable indifference. It is what a lizardman should be like, and represents the inherent coldness of the Slann's mentality. Worship of Razkotor is usually expressed as meditation, and those Slann who wish to call upon the Old Ones must achieve Razkotor's cold, vigilant state, and the results...

To the Skinks, the Silver Moon is the Eye of Razkoto, a calm, all-seeing observer who judges all in the greater scheme of things. As such, the Skinks in the city strive to emulate their Patronus, observing and weighing all things with a calm eye before choosing the best course of action.

But only a few or a select few can be like the lords they serve, and meditation and astrology are particularly difficult for them. Although they are unfamiliar with the concept of boredom, they lack the apathy of their compatriots. They are easily frightened, and their thoughts are constantly jumping rapidly. Quiet contemplation is extremely difficult for them, so those priests who succeed in doing so are highly respected.

In imitation of Razkotor, the Slann and Skinks of Taraxlan are caught in a strange atmosphere, silent and alert, and they usually act only after considering all possible angles. They know that the future is a delicate thing, as irresistible as the change of seasons, and as fragile as the foam on the surface of the Amazon River.

To act hastily means to risk going against the grand plan, to easily sever the ties that bind the present to the desired future. This caution sometimes clashes with more utilitarian beings who believe that the grand plan can only be achieved through action and sacrifice. The atmosphere of Talaxlan is one of laziness, a misreading of the grand plan.

The various deeds of Taraxlan caused friction with Hexotar, and the representative of these beings, Mazdamuddi, was also thwarted. Afterwards, his mutterings were carefully recorded by his servants, which led to hundreds of years of border friction between the two cities. Of course, the friction was limited to actions, words and manners, and no real conflict broke out, or even escalated into civil war.

Some young Slann in Taraxlan were also dissatisfied with this, because they were influenced by Mazdamuddi's more aggressive philosophy and supported the extremist faction led by Mazdamuddi, but these things are now a thing of the past as time goes by.

Although Razkotor is the main deity of Taraxlan, the times have changed and the Cult of Sotek has emerged. The cult has gained widespread support in this city that has been invaded by the Skaven. Many Skinks have not participated in it, but they know through legends and records that it was their ancestors who followed the Prophet to fight and finally defeated the Skaven and drove them out of this continent.

Against this backdrop of strife, the Cult of Sotek grew in power and influence, with more and more Skinks turning to Sotek, hearing a message of action and bloody vengeance that contrasted sharply with the city's more contemplative, patient nature.

Some young Slann did not remain neutral like Adoshi-Tehega. One of them, named Chuka-Shi, saw the sect as the ultimate means to motivate the Moon City to take action. He believed so because of the changes in the times.

With the fall of the Polar Gate and the mysterious disappearance of the Old Ones, the Lizardmen saw a green scar tearing through the sky. In this pure sensory assault, a moon appeared. This was the first time the Slann in the Moon City had seen Morsleeb. The existence of the evil moon disrupted their astrological predictions. Their hatred for Morsleeb surpassed that of all their enemies. The power they controlled was twisted by Morsleeb, and the power of darkness and corruption flowed into their city.

The Slann tried to reverse the situation. At this moment, a quarter of them fell and some astronomical observatories were reduced to ruins. There was no doubt that they failed. The stones flowed like water, and the air was full of the smell of sound. Under the light of Morsleeb, the demons were rampant and raging.

As demons overran Lustria, the Slann of Taraxlan fought a losing battle to defend their achievements. Taraxlan was never designed for defense, and its wide streets, towering pyramids, and elaborate astronomical observatories were quickly overrun, forcing the Lizardmen to retreat to the steps of the Great Pyramid of Razkoto.

The Temple City survived thanks to three Slann who were sent by Adohi-Tehega to the Pyramid of Zoga, where they successfully activated one of the Old Ones' most powerful artifacts. A powerful barrier appeared with the activation of the Zoga Shield.

This stopped the demonic invasion, but unfortunately not all temple cities could be protected. Talaxlan survived the invasion relatively unscathed, however, the prophetic powers of the Slann were never restored, and they could always feel the taint of Morsleb spreading like ink in water, constantly interfering and taunting them.

The Slann fixed their gaze on the sky, every thought focused on their celestial enemy. The presence of Morsleeb distorted their careful prophecies, and the power of darkness seeped into the leyline network through the alignment of Talaxlan. Morsleeb was not in the grand plan, and the Slann tried many times to get rid of it, and sometimes, they did seem to succeed, and Morsleeb retreated into the abyss of darkness, fading until it became nothing more than a small green dot in the sky.

However, the next night, Morsleeb returned, fat and full, with a mocking face that laughed at all who opposed it. Now, some Slann considered nothing else but destroying Morsleeb, only in this way could their prophecies and temple cities be purified, only in this way could they see the true face of the great plan. But undoubtedly, their various actions failed, and Morsleeb remained until the end.

This is the past of Talaxlan.

Now, the "Dragon Mother" Modax stood in the central square of the temple city of Taraxlan. Unlike her companions around her, she did not wear a funny toga, but a set of armor with crimson, black and gold as the main colors.

The armor is intricately carved and decorated, full of dragon elements. The shoulder and chest armor is thick and solid, covered with sharp spikes, showing a defense that cannot be ignored. The design of the breastplate is exquisite, and the curves are perfectly combined with her body contours, which not only enhances the protection of the armor, but also highlights her elegance and strength.

The waist and legs of the armor have smooth lines, and the leg armor fits tightly against her legs. The leg armor also has sharp decorations, symbolizing sharpness and combat effectiveness, especially the armor at the knees and ankles. The entire armor is like a work of art, full of deadly combat aura, and reveals her extraordinary identity and status.

The crown in the center of the helmet is made of gold, and its sharp angles are consistent with the dragon's horns, symbolizing domination and leadership. There is also a large red gem embedded on the top, which is inlaid delicately. The metal patterns around the gem are scattered like dragon scales, giving her a noble and extraordinary temperament.

The dragon horns extend gracefully upward from both sides, with black and gray textures and slightly curled outwards at the ends, symbolizing the ancient and powerful power of the dragon clan. The dragon horns are inlaid with golden decorations, covering the roots of the horns, and the exquisite craftsmanship highlights the sense of luxury.

The contrast between the gold and the dark color of the horns makes the helmet majestic and gorgeous. There are red gems hanging at the base of the dragon horns, connected by a gold chain. As she moves, the gems sway gently, echoing with other decorations. If a veteran adventurer from Azeroth saw Mordax's outfit at this time, he would definitely exclaim: Alexstrasza!
This set of armor was designed for Modax when Dacus was idle on the Black Ark, and was made by the Vaal priests. Unfortunately, the Dragon Transformation Technique has some flaws. Modax, after transforming into a human, does not have pointed ears, nor a beautiful and delicate face. Her head is still in the shape of a dragon, and after transforming into a human, the dragon's head has been scaled proportionally. As for the body shape, the large and bumpy skeleton...

Modax lowered his head and looked at the Skin Lizard beside him, whose head was shaking and tail was wagging. He looked at the wax tablet in the Skin Lizard's hand and fell into deep thought.

Chuku-Ta is a Skink Priest, anointed to become the Chief Attendant of Adohi-Tehega in the future.

He was born not long ago and was supposed to appear beside his master, holding a wax tablet, ready to record the lord's announcement or short words in his sleep. He was also the chief waiter, speaking on behalf of Adoshi-Tehega, responsible for supervising the daily management of Talaxlan, and monitoring other Skink Priests and the Red Crown Skink Leaders left in the city by Tehenhauin.

But now, Adohi-Tehega is active and Taito Ikao has not officially retired. He is dominated by Taito Ikao and is assigned the task of receiving the Red Dragon...

"What do you think?" Modax's voice broke the long silence. She raised her head from her thoughts and squinted her eyes to glance at her companions around her.

The red dragons did not respond immediately. With the sound of deep breathing and the slight heat from their nostrils, the original conversation turned into silence. Talaxlan, the ancient city of the lizardmen, gave them a sense that was far beyond their expectations. The huge shrines and pyramids that were perched on the square carried unspeakable power and history. Under the shadow of these buildings, their huge bodies seemed a little small.

"interesting."

To Avanach, all of this was nothing more than a huge playground tailor-made for him. His cold pupils flashed with a strange light, not awe, nor shock, but an extremely playful cynicism. He regarded the complexity and solemnity of Talaxlan as a stage, and the lizardmen coming and going, the silent Slann magic priests, were just actors in this drama, and every move and every low chant seemed to exist to please him as an audience.

"interesting."

He murmured in a low voice, and his eyes looked over the distant pyramids, watching the patrolling lizard warriors. Every step of the lizard warriors seemed to be a pre-determined action, neat and uniform, without the slightest deviation. In his eyes, this perfect order not only did not bring awe, but deepened his interest in this "performance", a drama about control and being controlled.

"They follow the prophecies and revere the stars, as if their entire destiny has been engraved on the sky. It's sad and ridiculous that everything is just an absurd rehearsal, but they believe it." Ivanach smiled mockingly.

He likes the feeling of being a bystander, being in it but always keeping a distance. The mystery and solemnity of Talaxlan fascinate him, but not because of the power or majesty of the city, but because of the complexity of the city. As an observant man, he can see through these complex appearances and see deeper things, the subtle imbalance and fragility buried behind the order and rituals.

He knew that no matter how magnificent a city or how ancient a civilization was, it could not truly escape the fate of collapse. To him, all grandeur and majesty would eventually turn to dust.

This wisdom and insight made him extremely lonely, and also made him stay away from other red dragons. In his opinion, his compatriots were stupid, arrogant, and inexplicably proud. He didn't like this, he didn't like chasing power or the thrill of fighting, he liked to stand in a dark corner, observe quietly, and get the pleasure he needed.

He looked into the distance, watching a group of skinks performing some kind of ancient ritual. The sound of chanting drifted in the wind with a strange rhythm. A sneer flashed in his eyes. He had seen this scene too many times before, and it was nothing new.

"Let the game continue."

He whispered to himself, like a mysterious chess player watching a chess game, neither eager to make a move nor caring about the outcome. To him, Talaxlan, and even the entire world, was just a wave in the long river of time. And he was the red dragon who watched from afar, not being involved, always hovering on the edge, always watching with cold eyes.

"idiot."

Ashdaron turned his head to look at Calledel beside him. His lips moved slightly and his whisper was as soft as the wind blowing through dead leaves. Idiot was his evaluation of Ivanach.

"Always hiding in the shadows, thinking that I am the only spectator of this drama."

Kaledel's eyes swept over Avanach lightly, with a meaningful smile on the corner of her mouth. She whispered, as if she was talking to herself, but also as if she was responding to Ashdaron's undisguised sarcasm.

"He always just watches and never takes action. He thinks he is superior to others, as if the whole world is a stage prepared for him. But the truth is..." Ashdaron sneered and flicked his tail slightly. The red scales glowed dark red in the sun. His eyes were full of disdain and ridicule, and his voice was low, with an undisguised contempt.

"A lonely spectator can never truly participate in it. Perhaps he sees things more clearly than the rest of us, but he is also isolated from the world because of this." Calledel nodded and took over the conversation.

"Are you talking about that fool?" Scarandil leaned over and asked in a low voice.

Ashdaron and Calledel said nothing, then they and Scarandil sneered.

"This is a place beyond my imagination!" Finally, Kudnos broke the silence, his golden eyes flashing with complex emotions, and his usual arrogance was challenged when facing this city.

"Those lizardmen...especially those toads, they can actually be revered so much." 'Majestic' Skulex whispered, his tone mixed with irrepressible admiration and desire.

Not all red dragons were like Avanach, immersed in the world they created for themselves. They were thinking and exchanging silent glances with each other. Although they were proud, after witnessing the exquisite culture and unfathomable wealth and power of the Lizardmen, they began to have new expectations for themselves deep in their hearts.

"We once thought we were one of the most powerful creatures in the world, but every stone and every leaf here reveals an ancient power, a power... that we have never seen before!" Modax said loudly, his eyes wandering over the pyramids in the distance, while his mind was recalling the scenes he had seen in the past two days. (End of this chapter)