Although the Elder-dragons are generally considered to be a myth, stories tell of an ancient race that dwelt on Gielinor before any other. In some arcane way their lifeforce was linked to the life of the world itself; it is written that, as long as the Elder-dragons continue to live, the world shall not end.

However, skeptics claim that the myth of the Elder-dragons was invented to cast doubt on claims that this realm was lifeless until the gods first arrived.