Thread: The Princess and the Serpent  (Dawnbreaker x Silvamoon)

The Kortharian Valley a forested elven shire protected on all sides by tall and steep mountains. Many know of this land reclused by nature herself but few ever travel there whom are not born there. The Valley is a vast elven paradise, covering several hundred square miles of untouched wild lands with only two ways in or out one to the north and one to the south. Many small settlements lay scattered across the wilderness, radiating out from the great elven city of Korthallies which rests in the dead center of the valley. Despite the songs that are sung of this place beyond the mountain passes and the tales of the unspoiled beauty that echoes through the counties beyond the Valleys wall-like peaks, the Kortharian Valley is not a safe place to live unless you reside in Korthallies itself. Elves are not the only sentient creatures that inhabit the valley they are simply the only civilized creatures. Orcs have always inhabited the valley alongside the elves, warring against the frailer races and taking what they wish from the elven people when left unchecked. Minotaurs are rare and solitary beasts in the valley but they are not unheard of. Some orc war parties have even been reported working with the massive furred creatures but these rumors would seem farfetched to most. Centaurs, like minotaurs, are rare but they are usually quite peaceful usually being the operative word for travelers to keep in mind. Carriers of the lycanthrope disease are perhaps the rarest of threats but the valley has seen its share of werewolves, and werebears in the past. Goblins, gnolls, and kobolds inhabit the mountains around the valley and often venture from their lofty settlements in search of well, no one really knows. These creatures, while sentient, are barely so. Who is to guess what goes through their little brains? Most simply assume that they come in search of food. Perhaps the most terrifying of all is a new rumor that has spread through the Valley like a wildfire a rumor that a green dragon now calls these lands home. Of course, many other threats of a non-sentient variety roam the wilds as well. Wild wolves and bears have always lived alongside the elven people in their natural home. Oozes hunt along the valleys river systems, scavenging on anything and everything that they can absorb into their horrendous goopy bodies. Wyverns often come into the valley from the mountains to hunt, as do mountain lions. Then, of course, there are the trolls and ogres both in forest and mountains. Rare and formidable beasts, even the brutish orcs give these monsters the space that they demand. Despite the harshness that these lands can hold, the elves have long refused to surrender their ancestral homelands to the other less intelligent beings that also lay claim to the Valley. They stand, tall and proud, among a myriad of savage humanoids, ferocious beasts, and wild animals. The elves have long won any war that they might have been fighting against the beasts of their home and now serve as the guardians of these lands. They have even transcended the social and cultural barriers that the surrounding mountains might impose on their kind. The primary road that travels through the valley from north to south connects their capital of Korthallies to two major human cities of different kingdoms, making Korthallies an important trading hub and bringing great wealth to the elven people. While the elves, themselves put little importance on materials such as gold and silver, the human kingdoms do. The humans might think that they are using their elven neighbors for their trading routes but the elves have benefited from the trade arrangements on a grander scale through the purchase of weapons, armours, and even specialized training from the humans. Their greed makes them far too easy to sway. Unfortunately for the elves, there now lies one great threat to their kingdom. The rumors of the dragon in their midst are far truer than anyone would be comfortable with. In recent weeks, the forest has become even more dangerous than usual. The animals, being the closest to the forest, sense the presence of the dragon and have grown restless. The orcs, who rely on hunted wildlife as a food source, have also become more restless in response. The minotaurs and centaurs have become more violent, fearing whatever has gotten their home in such an uproar. Wolves, bears, and oozes have been seen far closer to settlements than they would have in the past, driven into boldness by the evil presence tainting the forest air. There could have been no worse news to the elven people than the presence of this great reptile. Green dragons, while being easier to deal with than their other chromatic brethren through diplomatic matters, were no less evil and dangerous than their cousins. They revel in the suffering of mortal beings, inciting warfare and bloodshed beneath the shadow of their wings. They are strong and cunning beings, capable of melting entire forests to the ground with their acidic breath but they prefer to take their time and manipulate other creatures rather than outright killing them. A living being can offer a dragon much more enjoyment than one who is already dead, after all. Only time will tell what the future holds for the elven people. Will they become the victims of a dragon as so many civilizations had before or will they be able to ward off its terrors and ultimately end the young wyrm before it does irreparable damage to their valley or their people?