The Trigone Valley

There weren't always dragons in the valley. In fact, there was a time when life was nonexistent in the valley. For where these trees and shrubs now grow their roots once was a site of sorrow. Nature, as the merchant and his traveling envoy consisting of several royal guardsman could see, was nothing short of a miracle considering the legend that all peoples of this land carry with them. Though many winters had since passed, what the locals call, "the Arrival" none who were there that fatal morning, including this very same merchant, will ever forget what had happened.

Seragnome was his name, as he looked that day was seemingly unimportant, despite the elegance of his company. A man who was no giant, nor beast, no weakling, nor putz, this was a man who despite first appearances and notable unremarkability was in fact not who he appeared to be. So, who was this man you ask? Good question, for he often asks himself the same.

The company continued forward at a good pace despite the number of heavy ruts from wagons in haste from what unknown. The royal guardsman, in heavy clad on horseback dawning longswords upon their hips, were not uneased by the signs of a chase nor were they surprised, this was not their first escort through the Trigone Valley. Many folk have always gone missing from the valley for the valley was not safe. Dangers of all of nature's provisions were on the prowl in these woods, for they were wild, untamed, and teeming with life. Life by all appearances should and would be thriving here in the heart of absolute serenity of humans and nature. Although where there is the possibility of good so lies the grounds for the possibility of evil.

Seargnome had been driving the wagon led on by the pair of his chestnut mares laden down with sacks of grain, seed, and rice. He had been tasked with the transport of his cargo from the capital city, Towa Nar, across the Trigone Valley through the eastern pass and twenty kilometers the sibling city of Agma Re. Together the siblings made the Kingdom of Trigone. Now, the Kingdom of Trigone was by no means any more politically significant to the world than the rest of the surrounding kingdoms but that does not mean it was not more interesting. The twin cities as they were also called, were called sibling cities because of just that, their rulers were siblings. Anzo, being the firstborn of the royal line of Agma Re and his sister Tara, who would later become queen of Towa Nar. While not being incredibly distant from one another, the twin cities had once been separate kingdoms until the arranged marriage of Tara and the soon to be king of Towa Nar. Having always been close as children and on into adults, the two heirs presented an alliance agreement drawn up, under one single banner so was born the Kingdom of Trigone.

In the old times Trigone Valley had separated the two cities by miles and miles of desolate stone and sand. Clouds and storms had seemed to have been banished from the stretch of land for all time, in turn no life could survive. It was forbidden to enter the Trigone Valley for all who valued life, for those who dared fate blundered. The valley in the old times was nothing short of an inconvenience for all who sought to travel between the twin cities. Located between two mountain ranges that stretched nearly city to city with grades upon each being unpassable with nearly forty kilometers between them. Some say this is where the first battle of the gods took place with their opposing camp upon the far peaks. Legend speaks but no one knows for sure when the great upheaval must have taken place that created this mighty obstacle, that is, until the Arrival.

The company came to a halt, Seragnome, being not in the least surprised, removed the hood of his cloak and began to pan his gaze across the underbrush that surrounded them as well as up to the clear blue skies above them. They had reached a clearing of the tall birch and oak trees that flooded the forest surrounding them. Seragnome felt a slight chill upon the nape of his now frozen body as he slowly reached under his seat and took hold of the sheath lying in wait. Time stood still, the beating of anxious hooves, the rustling of thickly webbed leaves, the clanking of iron clad, all seemed to stop. Seragnome closed his eyes only for a moment before yelling to the guardsman "It's a trap!".

The people of the village outside Towa Nar reported a strange static in the air that morning, a certain electricity as if a powerful storm were brewing just beyond the tree line at the edge of the townhouses. The village was within a few miles of the southwestern pass of the Trigone Valley. Accounts say a strange rumbling, like the earth were to split right under their feet, there have never in this time been an earth shake anywhere near Towa Nar. Some say it was minutes, others say it was seconds went by when the explosions from the valley could be heard to the unrelenting barrage of boulders and debris started to penetrate the village. Those who had been fortunate enough to have been aware of what had happened managed to flee rendering the projectiles harmless, not all were. Following the incident, caught by shock and disbelief, the villagers attempted to recover as best they could as quickly as they could fearing another one of nature's onslaughts, but when one did not come, courage was gathered and search parties sent. The scene, by one account of the small search parties, was that of amazement as to the unbelievability of what had happened. Before them high upon the northern slope of the beginning peaks was, by all accounts, a hole. A large hole as if something had struck the side of the mountain with such force as a seige machine would do to stronghold's walls that were made of stacked stone and clay. Unable to know what to make of it considering where they were was deep inside of friendly territory and the completely baffeling concept of why or how such a thing could happen in a spot high up a steep grade on the side of a mountain in a dry and desolate valley under the name of Trigone. A heated discussion began, and grew, and grew, with each and every one seemingly blaming each other for as to why this had to happen and why so many needed to perish. Just as the now argument was approaching violence between an already existing blood feud, they all drew silent when boulders began to descend from up the steep slope. Boulders, from within the hole. That's when they noticed just what had created so much turmoil, and was now hawking at them as dinner.

The royal guardsman, battle hardened and ready took to arms desperately trying to get their steeds under control from the ensuing panic from the sight of what had just flown over top of the company. Although the sun was high and the sky clear, no one had seen it coming, they'd only heard it when it was already upon them.

"What?!" "Where is it?!" a guardsman yelled as he reigned in his horse. Again great force was sent across the peaks of the trees above them.

"There!" another yells.

Seragnome, as he draws his warrior's longsword from his sheath jumps atop his wagon and beckons to his escort.

"Together now men! It's Her, the one we've been waiting for!".