The Creation of the Blasted Weald

Long ago, during the first age, a beautiful star skimmed through the sky on silvery wings, looking down upon the world. Through her travels, she saw the impressive machines of men, the intricate crafts of the dwarves, and the beautiful cities of the elves, though always only from above and from far away. She longed to fly among these works and the small creatures who made them. But she was too far above them, and too busy with her duties.
One night, during a trip across the world, she decided that at least a part of her might be able to fulfill her dream, so she cleaved off a part of her dazzling light, gave it wings of its own, and sent it on its way to the surface. The fragment dove, down and down and down, shining all the way.
Of the few who saw the fragment descend, none were more vile than the wyrm, a beast of claws and teeth and fire, and, above all else, greed. The wyrm saw the brilliance of the fragment and coveted it for himself. Heaving himself into the sky, he commanded the fragment to stop. But the fragment would not.
Enraged, the wyrm burned the wings of the fragment, the silvery light giving way to angry red flame. The fragment plummeted, down and down, the wyrm chasing it all the way. 
As is crashed, it heaved the rock aside, hoping to hide from the wyrm by burying itself beneath the hills. The wyrm, blinded by his smoke and fire, could not find the fragment. In his fury, the wyrm scoured the land, seeking the fragments light among the ashes of birds and beasts and trees. But the fragment, hurt and alone and afraid, hid, digging deeper and deeper, its light growing dimmer and dimmer, until nothing but red glowed in the night.

Historical Basis

While the specifics of the story may be incorrect, in part or in whole, the origin and setting of the legend are a likely telling of the formation of the charred, desert-like region north-west of Tarminas known as the Blasted Weald.
The star of the tale is thought to be the comet called the Night Lilly in old elvish manuscripts, due to the correlation of its recorded appearance at the supposed time of the legends events.

Spread

Though once a common bedtime story for the elves of Tarminas, the legend has begun to slip from general cultural knowledge in recent millennia.

Date of First Recording

The Second Era

Date of Setting

The First Era