The Dragon of Pyreland

Summary

Before become the Pyrish the various tribes of constantly fought among each other but gave half of their food, gold, and other riches as tribute to the Dragon that controlled the crater. Each generation the dragon asked for more as the tribes were forced to give tribute or be destroyed by the scaled tyrant. The tribes would travel far to the edges of the Verdent Crater to mine for gold while each tribe would raid each other in hopes of obtaining the gold to pay tribute. When the gold veins dried up the raiders had to travel further outside to to find more gold for tribute as smaller tribes were destroyed for failing to give enough gold to the Dragons.
Desperate to save each of their tribes the leaders of those that remained gathered together in peace to risk their lives and kill the Dragon. When next tribute was to be given each of the tribes sent their carts to the Dragon's den, but instead of gold the tribes strongest warriors hid to strike the dragon all at once. The battle was tough and the dragon slew a great many but eventually the humans managed to slay the dragon and claim the Verdant Crater as theirs. TheFor their success the tribes took the title of Dragonlords and split the dragon's horde among each that participated, bringing new wealth and prosperity to all inhabitants of the Verdant Crater.

Historical Basis

Directly taken from the origins of Pyreland while a great amount of the story has been embelished to make the inhabitants look better the names, places, and general time frame of those involved are all true. As a cultural taboo the name of the dragon has been purposely left out to be forgotten as punishment for all the lives he took.

Spread

The story is told by any Pyrish traveler and bard and has become an inspiration to a great number of human settlements and pilgrims who feel they are oppressed. At least one version of the story has spread to all civilizations that deal with and welcome traders.

Variations & Mutation

While the embellished story of the story making the dragon younger, more powerful, and not slowed by gluttony and sloth. One particular variation is told by the Dragonbreed as a morality tale from the perspective of the dragon. In that version the dragon is a lord who ruled fairly over the humans till his greed for gold forced the humans to rise up and slay the dragon, as the tale is told to children to insure they do not fall for the vices dragons are known for. There is also a few versions that establish the dragon as female though there is no way to learn the truth of the dragon's gender.

Cultural Reception

Among humans the legend is told frequently and hailed as one of humanities greatest achievements while the other breeds consider the tale boasting or an outright lie. Only among the dragonbreed is the story considered offensive, not because of the ancestral connection to dragons rather most among their communities believe the tale to be a human rant against the dragonbreed.

In Literature

There have been a few plays and bardic stories written down based on the legend, the most popular being the Lighting of Pyreland, which incorrectly calls the dragonlords Pyrish generations before Alric Pyrebeard was born.

In Art

Several artist have rendered the legend mostly surrounding the slaying of the dragon or the splitting of his horde.