Lore Writer's Blog - The Tragedy of the Fireclaws

Long ago during the Time of Peace, before the Nharogk arrived, before the Molten Mountain erupted, the Lava Lands were known as the Green Lands where grass and berry bush covered the plains and trees grew with fruit and nut in the Greenwood that is now known as Blackwood Forest. In this time of peace, the Fireclaw Behemoths were plentiful because their main food source, the Ironhide Grazers, were numberless, as the sands of the dunes they roamed.

Everything changed the day the Molten Mountain erupted. Fire and lava consumed much life. What was green and lush is now black and dead. The Fireclaws turned to preying on dragons to feed their hunger. They were the first to break the law, the first to feed on dragon flesh, the flesh of Flame Stalkers. Jrakhon responded and waged war on the Fireclaw Queen Zemohra for control of what is now known as the Lava Lands. The Fireclaws were large and their armor was thick, but they could not fly. Yet fire had little effect and Jrakhon ordered his dragons to move North, to the Winter Winds. He knew there was no food left for the Fireclaws and they would likely follow. There in the Winter Winds, Jrakhon formed an alliance with Ikioh and the Icehorn Behemoths, and overtime, a friendship.

When Zemohra and all her kind came to the Winter Winds with their hunger and bloodlust, they were met by Jrakhon and Ikioh. The Fireclaws were cold and unable to fight at full strength against the Icehorns. They were also slow and unable to retreat. The battle that proceeded was bloody and decimating to the Fireclaw species. Fireclaws are like the Icehorns where breeding is difficult. In Icehorns, most offspring are male, but with the Fireclaws, it is just the opposite, most are born female. Jrakhon had a plan, and it worked. Kill the males, all but one, and Zemohra will capitulate. As the battle raged, the Icehorns focused on killing the males while the Flame Stalkers distracted the females. Jrakhon fought Zemohra, using his speed and flight and blue fire to burn at her armor. Ikioh and the Icehorns slew all the males in the battle, save one who was frozen solid in Ice. Ikioh managed to lure Grunlohk, Zemohra's mate, into the Icecaves, where he was frozen alive in solid ice and remains there to this day.

When Zemohra realized what was done, and what it meant for her kind, she capitulated. Jrakhon pronounced judgment and banished her and what was left of her kind to the caves under the Molten Mountain where there is but one food source, Cave Cutters. With Grunlohk inprisoned, Zemohra had no choice but to obey Jrakhon's will.

When Zemohra and her clan returned to their territory, they realized the unthinkable had happened. The few eggs that were laid, had been stolen while they were lured into the Winter Winds. Zemohra knew that their future as a species was now in the hands of Jrakhon whom she hated with a burning hatred as she swore unending enmity between her kindred and the Flame Stalkers.