title: Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth
author:  Carol Rose 
description: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! have nothing on Rose, at home in a thicket of menacing creatures. -- <i><i>Choice</i></i>
zlib_text: Elfsong
  
  By Elaine Cunningham
  
  Copyright 1994
  
  Version 1.0
  
  Prelude:
  
  
  In the heart of the Northlands, a few days' travel from the great city of
  Waterdeep, lay a vast, primeval wood known as the High Forest. The adventurous
  few who braved the forest brought back tales of strange sights and magical
  beasts, and many were the legends and songs that told of the land's beauty and
  its dangers. One tale, however, did not find its way into fireside boasting or
  bardic lore.  
  The villain of the untold tale was a green dragon named
  Grinmoshtadrano—Grimnosh, to his friends and victims—and this lack of
  notoriety hampered the dragon in his pursuit of his favorite pastime. Grimnosh
  collected riddles as avidly as he hoarded treasure. He waylaid and challenged
  all those who passed near his woodland lair, offering them their lives in
  exchange for a new riddle. Travelers were scarce, and none had offered a
  riddle that Grimnosh could not answer. The dragon had let two or three go free
  regardless, in hope