Downfall of Kelonazh

This is the tale of how the proud city Kelonazh was humbled. It is told by the Pathruz to explain how the dragon-sized hole in Kelonazh mountain came to be there. Other peoples tell it as a warning against the vanity of pride. Well, that and to poke fun that the Pathruz.

Summary

As the tale goes, one day the ruler of Kelonazh received a visit from a great serpent. The serpent praised the impregnable defenses of the city, though he pointed out that most of it was due to the mountain encasing the cavern and not the famed stone-masonry of the Pathruz. If ever the stone were breached...

But the ruler stopped the serpent, saying the cavern was a gift to the Pathruz and could never be breached. When the serpent questioned this, the ruler proposed a bet. The serpent would have three years to attempt to breach the city. If by some way Kelonazh were breached in that time, the ruler would pay whatever tribute the serpent demanded. However, if the serpent failed, he would guard the entrance of Kelonazh all the rest of his days.

The serpent accepted and immediately called a counsel between the most powerful magical creatures. Dragons and great serpents and leviathan all attended. They all liked the idea of bringing down the pride of Kelonazh. As the creatures were currently in contest over a certain land, they agreed that the first to breach Kelonazh would take possession of it.

A month later the Pathruz of Kelonazh awoke to a crumbling ceiling and rising waters. The entire city was thrown in confusion, as nothing like this had ever happened before. Some poor souls looked deep into the water and thought they saw a large form coming swiftly nearer. Just before that terror presented itself, a huge boulder crashed down upon the rich district.

The largest dragon any had thought possible crawled through his newly-dug entrance. He roared his victory, heating the stone with his fiery breath. The Pathruz thought the end had come, but the rest of the ceiling held. Presently a large splash drenched any fires which had erupted and a leviathan just as large as the dragon came forth. The leviathan argued with the dragon for a bit, but eventually he had to concede defeat.

So the great city Kelonazh saw its first unfettered sunrise, and they took it as a warning. Before the dragon left, for he had no desire of gold, the ruler told him if the bet with the serpent. The dragon was so amused by the idea of the serpent guarding the entrance that he denied having any alliance with the serpent. Thus the requirements of the bet were not met and the serpent never received his tribute.