Dragons have always lived in the thick woods, deep lakes and high mountains. As the Apex predators, they also served as guardians of nature. Assuring that there would always be a balance in their domain. And for ages, no humans were seen in their beautiful land. Of course, until the first did come. From over the sea, coming from an unknown country, the humans suddenly came in masses. On makeshift boats, clearly built to flee. Like a bad rash they spread. One day the coast was empty, the next the first huts were already being built. And thus, the Age of Tranquility ended. And the Age of Men began.
At first the humans did nothing wrong according to most dragons. In fact, at first they seemed to help the dragons in their duties. For at the dawn of the second Age, there were a lot of prey animals. And humans quickly started to hunt them. It was only when they started to actively attack hunting beasts, that the dragons could see the true nature of humanity. Slayers and killer. They tried to interfere. A few dragons attempted peaceful negotiations. But humans were spreading to fast, becoming too much of a burden. Others saw this as an attack and flew down from the skies into battle. This tactic, at first, seemed fruitful. Until the dragons began to call on especially skilled mages and warriors. Dragon Slayers, they were called. And within 2 generations, they were so deadly that each and every dragon feared their name. The surviving dragons vanished into the mountains, forests and lakes. And thus the Third Age began: the Golden Age of humanity.
Both technology and magic advanced at a rapid pace. New branches of magic were uncovered, researched and mastered. From the mountains came the Dwarves, whom hid themselves under the rock and stone, in their great Halls. Elven came from another distant land. Not from the West, like mankind. But from the East, following a river. They settled in the great forests. To survive, they had to enter the alliance the humans created. And thus all three races prospered. Humans made their great castles, along the shore and a few against the northern mountains. The Dwarves began to carve the northern mountainsides into their cities. Watching over the rich valley’s in which they began to farm. The elves remained east, in the great woods, with the plains between them and the dwarves. They are known for singing the trees into shapes. Creating their houses from the living plants, living in a synergetic relationship with the environment.
Dragons were never entirely forgotten. The Dragon Slayers, humanity's famous order, was repurposed as Royal Guards. The Dwarven dragon slayer were formed a lot later than their human counterpart. They are called the Karnaghrum and are the elite order among their ranks now. The elven never slew dragons. Thus they never had to form dragon slayers. But they too have an elite unit amongst their ranks: the Ent'Huïn. Wizards, sorcerers and mages showing great promise.
But now the Golden Age is at an end. Dragons, who were considered a distant memory, are returning. Sightings begin to pour in. Witnesses, once ridiculed and declared mad are now believed. The Alliance will act soon, in unity. For every race remembers how terrible a war is with the true Guardians of Nature.