Mythano Cycle

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley, but they supposedly came when we needed them in the old days. We shall see if that still holds true. The legends about the protectors of the weak, the bold tribe of naturally armoured warriors are nowadays only talked about by the bards.

“Call to mind the ancient times,” declared Truacha, the master story holder around the campfire one evening, “can any of you young one even remember stories before those large hairless monsters arrived? How Grenn the great fought the evil Drua, the beast of a thousand faces, that threatened our beloved and merciful deity. Up to heaven, Drua dared to climb to destroy the balance of all things. He built rock upon rock, stone upon stone until he was nearly at the level of the clouds!”

The children had heard the stories many times, but it was as if they were fresh to eager ears again.

“Our ancestor Grenn was bathing in the Clochan,” he continued, gesturing at the stream a stone’s throw away, “when a Raven came and told him what Drua’s plans were. Without a moment’s hesitation, he leapt out of the water and ran as fast as his four limbs could carry him to Lia, the wise dragon. 'Four things we will need', she said, 'a branch of the holy thorn bush, a witch’s cooking pot, the cry of a baby and the poison of a toad'. Now Grenn being small and nimble, he could find a toad without too much trouble and Lia put on her scariest expression to capture the cry they needed from a hapless babe.

'Can you fly to the top of the valley to get the holy branch', asked Grenn.

'I can', replied Lia. Now for the trickiest part. Grenn knew that if he asked the witch, he would be refused or worse, cursed with some disease or other, so he resolved to borrow it without permission. Thus it was as evening drew near he knew she would be out gathering supplies, so he snuck in to steal the pot. However, he reckoned without her familiar cat.

'What do you think you are doing?' She hissed slyly at him before making a leap at his face with all her claws extended. In fright, Grenn threw the toad’s poison at it and she froze in mid-air before collapsing on the floor as stiff as a board. Grenn gulped and, taking the pot, returned to the village, all the while imagining the evil that would befall him.

'As I surmised', said Lia, 'I knew that would come in handy'. Grenn shook his head and said,

'Let’s get on with this!'

They made their way to where Drua had nearly finished his tower and was just coming down for supper. Now he was so large that he ate entire trees for one meal and there were only a few left.

'I am starving', he cried, 'what can I eat before I rest?'

'Eat us', yelled Lia at the top of her voice.

'Yes, eat us', echoed Grenn

'You will do as a snack', agreed Drua, and before you could blink, the dragon and Grenn were swallowed whole!"

The children gasped in unison, as all keen listeners to an ancient tale should.

"Sliding down the cavernous throat of the beast, Grenn used the thorny branch to catch on the mucous covered wall and steady themselves. Using the witch’s cauldron as a magic amplifier, they let loose the baby’s cry. It echoed and vibrated around the inside of the foul Drua until his whole body shook, tearing his head with a thousand faces asunder from the rest of him. Lia flew away with Grenn on her back as the would be marauder of the holy crumbled beneath them.

As a reward, we were given the most luxurious fur and many skills from the Gods, and the Dragons were given not only the wisdom of Lia but also mighty gifts of combat to defend our realm.”

“Well Truacha,” said Fraena, the leader of our tribe to the myth holder, “where are the mighty defenders now? Our valley is steadily being overrun by these giant creatures who only seem to consume and hardly notice us at all. You know at first some of us thought we could co-exist with them..."

Truacha looked horrified at the heresy of coexisting with hairless creatures

"Look how they have come down close to us," he almost yelled, though protocol restrained him, "we are running out of options.”

One of the children, shaking with nerves, squeaked up, “Let’s go on a quest to find the dragons again!”

Truacha nodded, “Well Fraena, the next move is yours. How else are we going to rid our home of this human infestation?"