Fantasy
One Way Out
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Its soils were once fertile. Its streams gave fish to our people. Its grasses fed our herds. Trees reached into its clouded skies like red giants and foraged rains to meet our thirst. This land to us gave everything as if it was made by everything for us. That was then, before the ills and fire, but now—
By Elise London4 years ago in Fiction
Palace of Fallen Time
Chapter 1: Dragons There weren't always dragons in the Valley. You wouldn’t know it from casual observation that a mere century ago, before the Pact of 12 Nations, Oren’s valley was a pristine, hillock strewn, lightly forested grassland, nestled with rivers and bursting with leaves and flowers of all colors and properties. Lovers and families could be found camping along banks and craggy trails just 50 years hence, and a signpost still stood at the head of the main NorthWest trail directing visitors to local attractions. The first sighting was followed swiftly by the first massacre, and the news of an untracked brood spread like fire through the nations. They had taken Lake Donmol, nestled in the heart of the valley, was the rumor.
By Jed Beetle4 years ago in Fiction
The Ruler of Dragons is...a Human?
"There weren't always dragons in the Valley." Florena, the fairy who brought me to said Valley, filled with said dragons, gives this statement as a sort of twisted consolation prize - as we are now running for our lives away from scaly, fire-breathing jaws.
By Ryann Grimes4 years ago in Fiction
Dragons Fire, Man's Ire
There weren’t always dragons in the valley, but there were very few who remembered that. Among those who did few ever spoke about the time before the dragons ruled. Those who did speak out were dealt with by the dragon overlords and were either branded as crazy or disappeared never to be heard from again.
By Julie Kline4 years ago in Fiction
One Step at a Time
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Examining the shit on her boot, she knew the valley had at least one dragon. She sat on a rock and closely examined her boot. She might need new boots after this. The particularly foul smell, sulfur and rotten potatoes, let her know the scat was fresh. A dragon was near.
By Mark Crislip4 years ago in Fiction
A Home for the Ages
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. They appeared when Rafi’s grandfather was just a boy, the reason still unknown even after all these years. A cool breeze wafted against Rafi as he crested the tallest hill surrounding the aptly named Dragon Valley. Morning sunshine filtered through the haze, casting long shadows in front of him. Birds flitted about, their songs blending to form a pleasant melody. Healthy, green trees lined the path he had traveled, the scent of pine strong in the breeze. In the decades since the Dragons arrived, this place had been off limits to most, only a select few Mages from every race allowed to enter. Even so, they could be killed on a dragon’s whim or from a poor choice; the latter was more likely.
By Conner Crenshaw4 years ago in Fiction
Ransom
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley, though it proved to be less of a shock than if they’d appeared anywhere else in the realm. For centuries, as far back as the written accounts had been able to trace the Grovensky dynasty, the Valley remained the last great unbroken frontier, full of brigands and opportunists that lurked in the cavernous faults cut into the mountains towering to kiss the sky in every direction. A lawless place that could stand to be governed by no man, the only ones cunning enough to live within the depths of its lush, green dome were those brave, or perhaps foolish, enough to make their living fencing dragon eggs across the great jade sea.
By Amy Kisner4 years ago in Fiction
The Cultist Hunt
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Seven Grand Cities dotted the lands cut by the Magna River with the greatest squabbles put to ease by the Grand Priest of Phaedria. Magic was only wielded by the Priests and Priestesses of the Order using it to heal and light the way of their followers. Then the Elder Dragons appeared, fracturing reality and allowing chaos to flow through the tear, and in their wake the four Northern most cities were destroyed becoming their new lairs. The first of those born with the gift bestowed upon them by the Dragons were persecuted by the Order and a decree was issued requiring the turning over of any children born with the gift.
By Ben Jamieson4 years ago in Fiction
The Loss of Luster
There weren't always dragons in the valley... Unfortunately nowadays, there'll never not be. "No, that's not right! That reads about as well as Hariot's poetry she brought to class when we were five." Hén thought with annoyance, snapping his leather-bound notebook closed and wrapping the dangling cord around it to keep the pages tight. As he placed the notebook into his pack, he looked behind himself, nodding to the fallen coniferous tree that provided him with shelter while he slept the previous night. Hén's quest had taken him on quite a long journey, but he was finally within a day's walk to Gimmen's pass. Hén was finally going to see a real dragon in all of its majesty. Or at least, what's left of a dragon...
By Sam Wagstaff 4 years ago in Fiction
