The Last Stand of the Miylian Elders

"After creation was spoken and done the dragons were quick to leave Miyla and started to weave and tend to the magical rails that connect all the worlds. The elves stayed on Miyla and tended to the land making the planet a beacon of magical energy. Everything was great so the old stories say. The elves had a branch from one of the first trees that was ever planted embedded with great healing abilities that are said to raise the dead. If there is any truth to the myth than safeguarding that staff should be added to the growing to-do list."

- Ala Sebla

The Vetsco Dane Scutto is said to be a staff made from one of the branches of the first tree that was created on Miyla a tree that has now been long dead. It is said that the staff has amazing restorative abilities even the power to bring the souls of those who recently died back to their bodies but there is no way to tell whether or not the staff has those abilities since it and many records of the Miylian Elders have been severely damaged or outright destroyed in the Miylian Elder Dragon War.

Summary

The Miylian Elders were surrounded and held up in their city of Scuttofrona the dragon armies were bearing down on them when Niossa Scultronna stood before the people with Vetsco Dane Scutto and told the people that they had the means to leave Miyla and go to a new world where they would safe against the dragons but to open the portal with the dragon scales that the elves were able to collect throughout the long war they would need time. More time than just waiting for the dragons to come and kill them. Niossa held up the staff and cleansed her people of the dark magic that flowed within them telling them that she was willing to fight for a chance at a better future for her people.
Niossa took the army outside the walls and as they fought she stood on the rampart casting great spells of healing for the army. At some point, most of the elves in the army died to an onslaught of dragons flying overhead. Niossa rose Vetsco Dane Scutto over her head and raised the whole army again. She did this two more times before the portal was ready and a retreat was called for the army so that as many elves as possible could retreat into it. Niossa cast great wards behind the army continuing to protect her people as they fled. As they were retreating a dragon using both strengths of claw and magic tore through the ward and destroyed the rampart that Niossa was standing on.
By then most of the people got into the city and were able to fight their way to the portal before it closed leaving Niossa on Miyla. Niossa had survived the fall from the rampart but only just and knew that the dragons would want Vetsco Dane Scutto for themselves because of what she was able to do with it. Weakly and carefully trying to avoid the dragons flying overhead she made her way back to the temple which had a Konn Prünnzu well where several leylines crossed. She raised the staff and dropped it down into the well before collapsing. When the dragons found her they were surprised that she did not have Vetsco Dane Scutto and asked her where she had hidden it.
To which she replied before dying, "where you think you understand."

Historical Basis

Scuttofrona is a real ruin and Niossa Scultronna was a real person as well. The last stand was an actual battle that was fought and was the last battle in the Miylian Elder Dragon War where the elves were able to flee Miyla for their new homeworld of Shinia. There is even enough historical documents that the staff Vetsco Dane Scutto is a real staff that was used by Niossa.

Spread

The legend has thread throughout Miyla and Shina as the elves and dragons both know the story. Although the myth is more commonly known to the elves of Shinia as the ones from Dolwen do not hold to this traditional belief as highly.

Variations & Mutation

In some tellings, Niossa tells the dragons that she hid the staff in the temple or within the core of Miyla. There are tales that she rose the army more than three times and others that say it was fewer times.

Cultural Reception

Niossa is a cultural hero to the elves as she was able to buy time for them to escape Miyla. The dragons see it as the first time in myth and history where someone other than a dragon has able to open a portal.