Lafay, the Harvester of Sorrow
The 33rd Day of the Month of the Scorpion, Year 498.

Ruellia

                     2   2   2   2
                     |   |   |   |
                   d-5---3---h---X---5      search at X
                     |   |   |   |
                     |   5   1   5
                     |
                     |
             4   1 d-g-1  
             |   |   |
         d---1---2---d---1
             |   |   |
             2   1   1
                                       

Agalinis, Psoralea, Gleditsia, and Lychnis   
                              o---o---o
                              |   |   |
                              o---o---o                 d
                      Chute  /       /                  |
                            o       o           o---o   o
                            |       |           |   |   |
                            o       o---o---o---o---o---o
                            |               |
                        o---o               o
                       /    |               |
                      o     o---o           o
                 Gleditsia  |               |
    o---o                   o       o---o---o---o     o---o
    |   |                   |       |           |    /     \
    o---o                   o       o           o---o       o
        |                   |       |           |       Psoralea
        o           o---o---o---o---o           o
        |           |           |               |
o---o---o---o---o---o           o           o---o
    |       |       |           |           |
    o       o       o---o       o---o---o---o
    |                   |       |       |
o---o                   o---o---o       o
|   |                           |
o---o                           o
Agalinis                        |
                            o---o
                            |
            o---o           o       o---o
            |   |           |       |   |
            o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o
                |   |       |           |   |
                o---o       o           o---o
                             \
                              \_____________  
                                            \
                                             o
                                             | 
                                             o---o
                                                  \
                                                   o
                                                   |
                                                   o
                                                   |
                                                   o
                                                  /
                                             o---o
                                             |
                                             o
                                             |
                                             o---o
                                               o |
                                               | o--o
                                               o |   \
                                               | o    \
                                           A---o-|-o---o  Ice Serpent, no flee
                                                 |
                                             o---o
                                            /
                                           o
                                           |
                                       o---o
                                       |
                                       o
                                       |
                               A---o---o---o---o
                                               |
                                               o
                                              /
                                             o---o
                                                 |
               A---o---o       o---o---o         o
               |   |   |       |   |   |         |
               o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o     o
               |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |    /
               o---o---o---H---o---o---o---o---o
               |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
               o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o
                   |   |   |
                   o---o---o     H --- Holy place
                       |   |     A --- Falldown spot
                       o---o---o
                       |   |   |
                       o---o---o
                           |   |
                           o---o  
                           |   |
                           o---d
                            \   \
                         o---u---o
                         |   |   |
                     o---o---o---o---o
                      \      |   |   |
                       o     o---o---o
                       |         |
                       o         o
                       |
                       o---o
                           |
                           o
                           |
                           o
                            \
                             @

Many years before the Dark Armies swept into New Genesia, a group of farmers and tradespeople saddened by the corruption of the officials in their hometown decided to begin anew. They set forth to establish a small, secluded village in a little known, high glacial valley far to the northwest of Genesia, away from the deceit and intrigue of the larger town. Due to the many dangers found within the mountains, contact was soon lost with their native city, a loss the villagers did not mind whatsoever.

Some years later, the townsfolk found, to their amazement, that they were not alone in the valley. The other resident of the valley, a good copper dragon named Callitriche, appeared before the city gates offering friendship and protection to the goodly citizens, an offer the villagers gladly accepted. From that day forth, the village grew and prospered under the care of Callitriche, always offering portions of their harvests and hunts to the dragon as some small payment for her services.

These peaceful times came to an abrupt halt one fateful day a few short years ago. Callitriche swooped onto the ledge above the village square, carrying a small creature curled within her great talons. As the townspeople gathered, the dragon began to speak, sadness and fierceness mixed into every word she spoke. Her words described a new horror and threat in the nearby mountains, an evil black lich dragon, that would test her formidable skills to the limit. As she finished her speech, she uncurled her massive talons to reveal a baby copper dragon, her only offspring, named Ruellia, whom she placed under the villagers care until the outcome of the battle would be known.

With a final challenging cry, Calltriche sprang from the ground and went forth to fight the evil lich. The battle raged across the sky for a day and a night and into another day until finally Callitriche managed to seal the lich in a mountainous prison many miles away. Unfortunately, her wounds were too great and she never made it back to the town and her child, dying at the base of the glacier far to the south of the village. Learning of her death, the villagers took it upon themselves to raise and nurture the young dragon Ruellia, teaching her all they knew of human magic and skills until she would be able to venture out and find others of her own kind.

You are cherry pick seven thousand six hundred and ninety-four 
All content copyright Ronny Iversen ©2001, reuse of original or modified
content without permission is strictly prohibited.