For hundreds of years the gypsies of Borbon have passed the stories of Oxidinal the Great down to their children. Legend has it that upon the creation of the world Dathos created the dragon patriarchs and charged them with the task of seeding the world with the plants and races that would inhabit it. When they were finished with their task they were allowed their freedom and could live as they chose among the creatures of the world. One by one they finished and as they did the dragons chose a secret location call their home. Hidden away the dragons raised their children and as they grew they were sent out into the world and they became great lords that the creatures of the world feared. Yet for all their power there was one among them who was the more ferocious and terrifying than all the rest. All the patriarchs feared him.

During the seeding it was Oxidinal who was charged with hiding the great secrets of the world. In the dark places he hid the riddles that men would discover, among these were the riddle of fire, the riddle of agriculture, and the riddles of technology and innovation. As each was discovered men, and elves, and dwarves prospered. The most hated riddle of all was that of the riddle of steel and he buried it deep within the mountainside where no one would ever find it.

Long years passed and the patriarchs grew old. Their legacies were great and the years made them tired and each slept, hidden away in their lairs. Even Oxidinal was overcome by age and he too fell into a deep slumber, knowing that his most hated secret was buried away for all time. Then one day a young troupe of dwarves mining in the great mountains discovered the riddle that the great dragon had hidden. Unbeknownst to Oxidinal steel was crafted and sent out into the world. Every race that learned the secret prospered and great items of wonder were created. Elves and men alike marveled at the ability to craft lightweight items that were stronger than anything ever created. Word spread and soon every race in the world had learned the riddle of steel and each was better off for having known it.

Thousands of years later the great dragon Oxidinal learned of the discovery. It is unclear who whispered the secret into the dragon’s ear but he flew into a rage and set out from his lair to destroy those who possessed the knowledge. He soon learned that nearly all the civilized races of the world possessed the riddle and upon seeing the impact it had he was instantly driven insane. For one hundred days the great dragon flew over the world destroying any person, city, town or village he came across, finally passing out from exhaustion. Ashamed of his great failure the dragon went into hiding, vowing never to return to the world until such time as he could destroy the riddle and burn the knowledge of steel from everyone on Ateria.