The Dragon Servant

Long ago the Luschki dwarves dwelt on the Luschki Mountain near Graustein. During times when they still lived on and within the mountain, a farmer once lost his entire fortune without any fault on his part. The farmer had heard rumors that treasures could be found within the castle ruins on the mountain, as the King of the Wends had once lived there. In his desperation he went off to dig for those treasures. First he searched for a spot where he thought that the treasures might be found there. Then he suddenly spotted an iron door. He opened it and entered a long, dark corridor. After he had proceeded for about half an hour, the corridor brightened. Then he saw wondrous beings in the distance, some of whom made music and danced and some of whom pursued all sorts of other activities. When he was spotted by the Luschkis, one of them who was carrying a big club stepped forward and asked him what he wanted. The farmer took heart and told him of his predicament. When he had finished, the Luschk said to him: “I know that you have spoken the truth. You shall receive help: Each noon a dragon will appear in your chamber, and you must feed it with millet. Then you can tell it your wishes, and it will fulfill them. But if you should neglect to give it millet, it will never come to you again. Then you should also take care never to step foot on this mountain again, for if you do that you will find a dreadful end.”

As soon as the Luschk had spoken, there was a dreadful sough and roar so that the farmer was bereft of his senses. When he regained consciousness, he was back in the chamber of his farm. But at the next noon, the promised dragon really did appear. The farmer fed him. Then he asked for money, and the dragon gave it to him. From that moment on the dragon appeared every noon, ate in front of the farmer, and brought him money. This continued for quite some time until the farmer thought that he had enough money. Then he neglected to give the dragon millet. From that time onward the dragon ceased to appear.

The farmer now thought himself so rich that he indulged in all excesses which he could attain with money, in the hopes that his money would not run out. Alas, one day he was bereft of his fortune, and the last coin had been drunken away at the pub. Drunk, the farmer staggered back home. But he must have missed his path and approached the mountain too closely. For while nobody knows precisely what happened, his corpse was found dreadfully lacerated at the Luschki Mountain.

Source: Veckenstedt, E. Wendische Sagen, Märchen und abergläubische Gebräuche, 1880, p. 165f.

Notes & Commentary: Dragon Kobolds - The Drak