How to Make a Myth

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. In fact, there hadn't been dragons since the myths of old. It was around the end of the 21st century that people started playing around with DNA to create all sorts of beings. At first it was just ancient species that had gone extinct like the Dodo Birds, Mammoths, Giant Sloths, and Wooly Rhinos. Then they started making dinosaurs, but mainly plant eaters like Brontosaurus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. Then there were Flying Horses, Griffins and Hippogriffs. When the first Dragons were created, they were long and looked more like Chinese Dragons than European Dragons, but that changed soon after. Someone decided to add wings to the most formidable beast ever created by man and soon all Hell broke loose the world over.

For some reason someone decided to add the DNA from Bombardier Beetles to give them a stinky, hot liquid that became like the dragon's breath, gave them the ability to survive in both hot and cold environments and even gave them the intellect of the human mind. Within a generation most cities had been destroyed, and oddly the dragons horded the things humans thought were precious. Luckily other creatures were made before the dragons came to power and took over the world.

Some people used DNA to create elf like beings. They were frail, with pointy ears but they too had been infused with the DNA of Bombardier Beetles and could create charges like Electric Eels. This gave them almost magic like abilities. Some had wings, while others had fins making Angels and Merfolk as real as the day is long. Some people used DNA to create smaller beings that dug into the ground and Dwarves, Halflings, and Molebeings came into being. Someone even merged the halflings, and angels DNA and created Pixies. Perhaps the laws to stop DNA testing should have been passed then?

Now the laws are in place, but there are no longer labs that can extract DNA. The dragons have collected the copper wires that once filled the skies of the cities and farmlands and have made dens of the once colossal power plants. They attack light at night that doesn't smell of smoke, thinking more wire can be added to their hordes. Luckily the large animals that were created were let loose as well, so they attack the dinosaurs and mega mammals instead of the few scattered humanoid settlements. The dwarves, halflings and molebeings still have power due to making power plants underground based on geothermal. But the elves, pixies and what's left of the humans have been reduced to only using fire as light at night.

Hopefully one day that will change. For in the valley humans, elves and dwarves had finally come together. It's taken a few generations as it is now 317 in the After Years. People lost track of the old calendars and started counting after the dragons took over. Over the prevailing years the 3 races rarely saw eye to eye, but a new quest has led to them all working together. The idea came to the dwarves who still worked metals, generated power and found long lost information about where the dragons came from. They came to the elves first since the dwarves had thought all humans had been lost to the DNA experimentation. It was the elves who brought in the humans since they still lived on the surface instead of in the trees, skies or seas. Perhaps they still had the knowledge of where the old lands could still be found.

The leaders of the 3 groups decided to start their quest in the Sylvanlands near the City of Pits. There were 3 river valleys that might lead them to a place called Leigh's Heightland. Supposedly within this city the first dragons emerged. They called on their mightiest warriors and sent them looking for where the dragons emerged in an attempt to learn the secrets of their destruction. After 5 years those warriors were deemed lost. At that time the next best warriors were called together and after another 5 years they were considered lost. This went on for 2 decades. In that time the 3 species intermingled and dispersed their technologies and myths amongst each other, and a new myth of the chosen ones began.

It was said that in their time of need the greatest of warriors would unite together of their own accord. They would be a mix of the several races that were both created by genetic manipulation and that were from the mother race of beings that created the rest. They would learn the location of Leigh's Heightlands and learn the truth of where the dragons came from. And from there they would devise a way to destroy the dragons and take the world back from them so that the humanoids and humans could live in peace and harmony together. This legend was shared by the various races and even 200 years later, no one had found the location or devised a way to stop the dragons. All hope had been lost until a young group of upstart warriors became lost themselves.