The Ritherian Foundation Myth

Summary

A little over 1500 years ago, a woman was born. Her name was Eirla, and she was cast out of her village by her people for fear that she was a witch at age ten. She came to village after village, begging for food, but was refused and turned away by all.
At the point of starving to death, she collapsed unconscious a long way from any village.
When she came to it was night, and Eirla was covered by a blanket with a roaring fire beside her, and a man dressed in black stood over it, cooking meat. He had saved her, and now fed her, and Eirla thanked him for it, and answered all the questions he had for her. She fell asleep. When she woke again it was morning, and another man had taken the place of the first, this one with lighter clothes, hair and skin, but otherwise identical. He treated her just as well as the first.
She stayed with the two men for just over a week, until she was feeling stronger again, but only ever saw the first man at night and the second during the day, and never together. On the last day she complained of having nowhere to go as no village would take her. The lighter man told her to make her own, and brought her to the Dragons, who helped her create a home on the exact spot she had collapsed. There was water aplenty and until she'd learned to hunt and grow food herself the dragons fed her. They trained her as a Rider, the first.
After a while people started to walk by her home, lost or running, and she would bring them in, feed them, and set about helping them build there own home alongside her.
The house grew into a village, the village into a town, the town into a city, and Ritheria was born.
Eirla never saw the two men again, but could feel their presence always, one at night, one during the day.

Historical Basis

Records make note of Queen Eirla I of Ritheria, the First Monarch of Ritheria, and foreign reports from the time tell of her early involvement in the construction of the settlement.
The Dragons still watch over Ritheria, and according to historical texts and the Dragons themselves, they always have. The myth amongst the Dragons lines up with this one, although most of what is not concerned with the Dragons themselves is omitted.

Spread

This myth is commonly told throughout Ritheria and its colonies, as well as by wandering storytellers and vagabonds. It is not uncommon for members of other cities to be familiar with this myth.

Cultural Reception

To the citizens of foreign cities, it is the Dragons and how they are linked to Ritheria that is the more interesting part of the Foundation Myth, whereas in Ritheria the most important part is that of the men who helped Eirla, as this was the foundation of The Church of the Double God.

In Literature

Both fictional and non-fictional (or as close to as can be for a myth) books have been written on the subject of Eirla's life and the foundation of Ritheria. Poems are often hugely exaggerated on this topic due to the lack of detail, and many a love poem has been performed about Eirla, with long descriptions of her appearance which are all entirely made up.

In Art

Far more famous than any individual book or poem on this topic is the close to one thousand year old painting by R. Estitic depicting Eirla's first meeting with the Dragons, featuring her (in this case painted as a tall brunette and dressed in a white nightgown) facing away from the audience with her arms spread open to a crowd of metallic coloured Dragons. The bottom left corner has largely faded away, but otherwise it has been remarkably well preserved. It is titled A Step to Foundation.
Other artwork often includes aspects of or references to the myth, but none are as famous as this piece.