Back in the days when the Dermorian Elves still inhabited their native land Dermoria, the elves led a peaceful and harmonious life. But then one day, a few weeks after the winter snows had melted, their peaceful life was disturbed by a giant and powerful creature.
It was two young children playing on the plains that first glimpsed it, an enormous dark silhouette against the setting sun. When they told their people of what they had seen, they were laughed at and quickly ushered to bed.
But Srydelle, a young Dermorian maiden who was stunningly beautiful but unfortunately lacked the wisdom that comes with age, decided that she wanted to see the interesting beast for herself. Her life had been quite simple until then: all she ever did was sew, cook and forage. And so Srydelle crept away in the night, taking with her one of her father?s bows.
The next morning Srydelle was not back, and everyone worried and called out ?Srydelle, where are you?? Towards noon everyone had all but given up on finding the pretty young maiden, and they said, ?She was one with the Gift. She must have shifted plane in her sleep.?
But a young yet wise elf the people called Wit remembered the young children?s words. The stubborn people, however, would not accept what Wit suggested. They said to him ?Srydelle was one with the Gift, she could have shifted plane, as is what happens when it is the Gifted ones? time.? But Wit could not accept this.
That very day he took his bow and his sword and journeyed to the plains where the children had first glimpsed the creature, telling the people that he was going hunting. Three full days he camped on the plain, and waited for a sign of the creature. On the fourth day he said ?My heart fails me. Perhaps Srydelle did only shift plane.? But no sooner had the words died on his lips, than he saw a great dark shadow rising in the west.
The shadow was a giant lizard-like creature with wings like that of a bat. It was covered from head to toe in large black scales which were as tough as any metal known in Yliakum. On the beast?s head was a set of horns, as sharp as daggers and many times larger.
The lizard landed before Wit and for the first time in his life Wit knew fear. The lizard looked down upon him and spoke to him, ?You wish to rescue your kin, but she is now mine. You have weapons upon you. You must challenge me for her life. If you turn and run, I will kill you.?
Seeing that he could not possibly best the lizard in a contest of strength, Wit spoke to the giant lizard, ?I shall challenge you, but not in a battle of the body, but in a battle of the mind.?
Wit?s words amused the giant lizard and it said, ?You are wise for one so young. Very well, I shall ask of you three things. If you fail in one, your blood shall be mine forever. If you manage to succeed, I shall release your blood and abandon my hunting grounds.? Wit agreed and so the giant lizard said, ?Firstly you must bring me the light of the sun in your palm. You have until tomorrow?s sunset.? And then the giant lizard arose and flew back across the plains.
Wit did not know how this was to be done and so the wise elf sat on a stone by a nearby river and pondered the riddle. He still had not solved the riddle by noon of the next day. The young elf had nearly given up hope when a strange sparkling in the river caught his eye. He leapt into river and retrieved the strange sparkling crystal that had been lodged there. It caught and magnified the sun?s rays and shone as bright as the sun itself.
Wit ran to the plains and met the lizard there on sunset. Wit showed it the crystal and the lizard said to him, ?You have brought me sunlight in your palm. Next you must come to me clothed yet naked. You have until sunset tomorrow.?
All night Wit thought about the lizard?s request, but could not understand how he could be clothed yet naked. The next morning Wit saw some fishermen fishing in the river. He finally understood how he could do as the lizard asked. All day he gathered vines and made himself a fishing net.
When sunset came Wit clothed himself only with the fishing net and went before the lizard. ?I have done as you asked me.? He told the lizard. The lizard saw this and began to worry that it might have to give up the maiden to this mortal. The lizard decided to give him a quest he could surely not solve. So the lizard told Wit, ?Bring me a Moonrock. You have until sunset tomorrow.? The lizard thought itself very cunning for it knew that Moonrock?s existence was but a myth
Wit knew that he could not do as the lizard had asked, and he was deeply saddened by it. A Mirdukai who was disguised as a bird heard his weeping and delved into his thoughts to see what saddened the young Dermorian so. The Mirdukai wept when he learnt of Srydelle?s fate, and carried the tale to Vod?l. Vod?l was greatly grieved by the tale, and wept openly for Srydelle?s fate. One of Vod?l?s tears fell from his cheek and fell to the ground at Wit?s feet as Moonrock. Wit praised Vod?l and picked up the Moonrock.
Wit presented the moonrock before the lizard at sunset, and this greatly enraged the lizard. The lizard refused to let Srydelle go, claiming that Wit had used trickery against it. Wit told the lizard, ?I have done the three things you asked me to do. Now you must free the maiden as you vowed.?
But the lizard was too enraged and did not hear Wit?s words. The great lizard lunged at Wit, but at that moment the Moonrock glowed with the power of the gods and with one might blow of his sword, Wit felled the great lizard. The Moonrock crumpled to dust and from the gaping wound in the lizard?s belly emerged Srydelle, looking confused and frightened.
Together Wit and Srydelle returned to their people and Wit told the tale of the great lizard and how he had defeated it. The village celebrated Wit?s victory for a whole week, with much singing and dancing.
From the fangs and claws of the giant lizard, the Dermorian people carved powerful magical weapons, while from its hide they made near-invulnerable shields and suits of armour.
The people sold their weapons and armour to an army of warriors who rode great steeds and claimed they fought against evil. The same warriors would be the Dermorian people?s downfall, but that is another tale.
