The Queen of the Mountain

In a far away village, so small that the villagers had to travel to the neighbouring village just to go to church, lived a girl named Azova. When she was small, she had come down with a sickness that made her bedridden for the rest of her life. The other villagers urged her parents to abandone her, or at least give her over to the church, however the parents, being pious, took it upon themselves to provide for her every need. They brought the sages to look at her, but no cure could be found. Over the years the sages brought many books and scrolls to their home.

Azova began to read at a young age, and could soon tell the villagers what healing herbs to gather and how to use them as well as any sage of Svarog.

When kobolds started stealing from the villages, breaking and pillaging, the people came to Azova to ask for advice how to hunt them. However Azova said that they should not be hunted, as they had souls just as humans. In stead, one should put out food for them and the kobolds would leave the villagers alone. Reluctantly, the villagers obeyed, for such was the authority of Azova, even though she had not come of age. And as she said, the kobold raids stopped.

Some time after, a big fire started in the village, far to big to put out. The villagers fled to the river, not able to enter the house of Azova and carry her out.

Many thought this was caused by kobolds, claiming Azovas fate showed that they should have hunted down the creatures to begin with.

And true to their assumptions, the kobolds were not far away. Being creatures that endure far more than humans, they could walk into Azovas house and carry her out on her bed, down to the river where the villagers were waiting.

Azova was grateful and asked what the kobolds wanted as reward. The kobolds told her that they had no one that knew herbs, of which they had seen many in home, and asked her to come to their home to teach the kobolds herbs and healing. She agreed and was carried into the mountain.

It is said that the kobolds knew magic that could cure her, for when Azova was seen again, she could walk on her own. She also learned to change her size to be able to walk the tiny tunnels of the kobolds, and can change her shape into that of a malachite coloured lizard.

She is said to still live in the mountain, coming out to help miners that have good hearts and are dedicated to Svarog. The locals call her the Queen of the Mountain, and no one an reach the rich ores of the mountain without her permission.