Aelfryd the Dragonslayer

Stories about King Aelfryd of Wessex are almost numberless, but they tend to concentrate on the fact that he was the first Man to slay a Dragon. Overlooked amid his heroism is the fact that he was also the first to negotiate with Dragons and the first to create a Dragonlaw. This was at least as important an accomplishment because it pointed the way toward a world in which Free Folk and Dragons could live in comparative peace, if not together then at least nearby.

Aelfryd was born a king, but his realm was crumbling under the combined hammerblows of Goblins, Orcs, and Dragons. These races did not cooperate, but the lesser evils took the greater as cover. Dragons will kill Orcs and Goblins, but they seldom eat them as they taste bad. They like Humans better, but even more they like livestock. They had long since destroyed all the Houses in Brittania. Dwarves refused to poke their noses out, and the Elves stayed deep in their forests. Dragons hunt by sight, so sheep in a pasture will catch a Dragon's eye far more quickly than Elvenfolk deep under the oaks and elms.

Northumbria was but recently overrun. Scotland and Wales were free of resident Dragons, but much of the rest of Brittania had its share. New Dragons were looking for grounds, and Wessex was the next easy target. Or so they thought.

Aelfryd was only nine years old when his father was killed in battle. Aelfryd himself escaped only by hiding in the hills and fens of Devonshire, eluding Orcs, swamp Goblins, and worse. He was actually completely alone for a time, taken in by kindly peasants. He gradually acquired protectors, then followers, and eventually an army. Because he had never been raised at court, he didn't have any idea how to be a king. So he made it up as he went along.

After the Battle of Eddington he became the first Man ever to speak with Dragons (through the assistance of certain spells).

When one particular Dragon broke the truce and killed his friend, Aelfryd also became the first Man ever to slay a Dragon.