Two Rivers Legends

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Great Battle of Dragons

The Dragon's Scales is a mountain range to the north east, dividing Two Rivers from the Unknown Lands that lie beyond. In times of old there were merely a bit of rising terrain to be found here, until the war with the barbarians of the north ensued, more than 200 years ago. There was a decisive battle, where the barbarians got unexpected help. Five Dragons came to their aid, and they were controlled by a dragon rider each. Darkness came, when the sun was obscured by big leathery wings, and cries of horror and despair where heard all over the battlefield below, where the battle was raging.

That is when one of the Gods appeared, Melgrath the Mighty, as tall as a tower, swinging a giant blade in his hand, and when the rays of the sun was caught in his silvery armor, any eye who dared look his way was blinded. He engaged in a fight with the largest of the dragons, many blows were exchanged, before Melgrath let his sword drop and tried to squeeze the throat of the monster with his bare hands. That is when the dragon's teeth were buried into his shoulder, the armor smouldering under the acidic saliva dripping from the monster's maw. And the dragon spread its wings, flapping until they had gained height, an odd pair the fight of which was now for all to see, who watched down there from the battle field. As their own fighting ceased for a long moment, and the gazes of thousands were directed upwards.

Into the silence of the battlefield came the crack of the dragon's neck, when the God finally gathered all his strength to break it. The wings ceased flapping, and down they came, a wide crater forming where they hit the ground. Melgrath was weakened though, unable to continue to fight, let alone move at all. It took the help of Peetairas, Jaynos and yes, Grouldon to carry him off the field towards the realm of the Gods. Four more dragons remained. Although they were quite distracted by the death of their leader, the Giant Dragon Melgrath had managed to slay. The dragons howled in a high pitched wail that was painful to the ears - according to legend those who were not quick enough to cover their ears in time became deaf for at least the rest of the day. And they gathered around their dead leader, inspected the body before each grabbed on a different part with their claws, and the combined strength of their wings they managed to carry him away from the battlefield to the rising terrain that bordered onto it. There they would deposit him, in a relatively safe distance from the battle and any greedy men who might try to flay their leader, before flying back to where the fighting still raged.

King Fernand Brais watched from a hill on the opposite side, and beside him was a foreign looking woman. She was fairer than any other, of a supernatural beauty, her hair black, the wide gown she wore the colour of azure. Some say her eyes were made of silver, as they glowed with a unearthly light. This woman raised a stone the size of a melon high above her head, and chanting words in a foreign tongue she unleashed the powers of magic on the enemies of Two Rivers. First and foremost, the dragons. Rays of fire and light darted from the stone towards the large creatures of magic, and managed to deal them painful injuries. Again those deafening cries could be heard above the battlefield, when the dragons tried to escape. Two of them flew back to their dead leader, as if hoping for a miracle that would resurrect him and protect them. They were finally hit by grey rays and turned to stone right where they were, hovering over the dead Dragon Leader. And so the rising terrain became a mountain range, that is today known as the Dragon's Scales. Another pair attempted to escape by flying westward, towards Estoria. They came finally down, when the grey rays hit them as well, their massive forms turned into the Great Barrier, the mountain range that constitues the natural border to the neighbour kingdom till this day.

The Wolf of Athereyne

Long before the Battle of Dragons, another supernatural beast entered the realm of Two Rivers. Stories about the giant wolf with terrifying sharp fangs date back to a time about 400 years ago, some whisper it was the size of a small house, others say it was as tall as a horse. All agree at least in this, that it was much larger than the average wolf. This wolf came most probably from the Dark Forest. It was spotted in the Duchy of Granville during the daytime at first, but after people tried to assault it, it preferred to be more active at night. Remains of dead cattle bearing witness to this, of course, as several sightings by drunken peasants at night.

Soon it moved on, towards Beresgond and Athereyne, and crossed the Plains of Perescan. There are several stories about assaults on the horses that were being bred there even back then. It seems nothing could stop the beast on its bloody path through the realm. Strangely enough no sightings happened during the day anymore. And hunting parties could not manage to track the beast down.

The bane ended suddenly, and under mysterious circumstances. It was on one late night that a young maiden called Malya ventured out at night, after some disagreement with her family. She was a commoner woman, but of renowned beauty. She came to a meadow where she decided to get a bit of sleep beneath a tree, and so she encountered the horrible beast there at night as it roamed the area in search of something to eat. Somehow he did not attack the maiden. She managed to calm him and fell asleep, curled up to him.

When she awoke he was gone. Instead a young huntsman stood there, assuring her that he had killed the beast. No body of the beast could be found however. Even so young Malya married the huntsman, who was a stranger, as nobody knew him. They left on the day after the wedding, and were never seen again.


A Few Words on Witchcraft

There have been stories on witchcraft circulating among the common folk for centuries now. Mostly referenced as old vile women that live in the woods, brewing their magical potions and concoctions there, as well as practicing their evil curses. Even if there was never proof of their existence, women who work as healers and midwives do know a great deal about various herbs and their effects. They sell their wares on the market, and some do even sell the occasional 'love potion'.

They have been briefly prosecuted in the year 616, by order of the teen King, and closely watched afterwards by the priests of Meladrys, decreed to do so by Tearvin Brais himself. With the Banishment of the Gods, this decree has lost its significance, however.