Myths and Legends|Tales of the World and the Gods

[flippedside]

Gryphons live in a complex society, complete with a variety of myths, legends, and other tales. Bards are the ones to most commonly spread these stories, though some tales apply mainly to a specific class and are passed on within that class. Each of the following posts imparts a new story.

THE BEGINNING OF THE GODS AND THE EARTH

In the beginning, there was only Lakri. In his single existence, he felt lonely and longed for something more than himself. So he created another, Talinie; though “create” may be the wrong word as she was a part of himself that became a separate entity. Even now, most consider Talinie a part of Lakri: the feminine side of the god, rather than a separate goddess.

Lakri and Talinie had two children: Zanic, the elder, and Farlin, the younger. Being gods, they were not “born” in the traditional sense, yet they weren’t created by Lakri, either. Although it is generally acknowledged that Lakri, who is by nature good and right (and cannot be otherwise) is the highest and most powerful of the Ervos, his children are often worshiped as a powerful god and goddess in their own right.

In fact, the children of Lakri are quite different from him. He watches over them with a keen eye, but allows them to do as they wish (or so it appears). Farlin is neither outright evil, nor outright good. For her, Lakri created the earth and its beasts as a source of enjoyment. His elder son, however, is Lakri’s opposite. The followers of Zanic claim that their god is the most powerful and will one day defeat Lakri in a terrible battle and bring darkness over all the earth. Others, however, believe that Lakri will one day banish his fallen son to a kingdom of darkness and empty skies. In the meantime, Zanic rules through lies and sly deception.


THE CREATION
After Lakri and Talinie had created their children, they saw that the universe was still too empty and lonely. For his youngest child, Lakri created a lovely land with trees and grass and small creatures. But even with this new creation, the universe still felt empty. So Lakri decided to create creatures that would look like him and yet would live in the new earth that he had created. He gave Farlin and Zanic to watch over his newest creations, saying that these creatures—gryphons—were very special to him.

Unfortunately, Zanic immediately began to corrupt the gryphons, guiding them away from the truth and towards the darkness and lies. Farlin, for her part, was still a very young goddess and thus had little care about these small gryphons that, though they resembled her, were weak and needy. Eventually, war broke out between the followers of Zanic and the followers of Lakri.

The followers of Zanic were stronger and more powerful, knowing the arts of war (which the followers of Lakri did not). They were winning the battle, trampling out all the gryphons who still had pure hearts, when at last a few of the remaining good-hearted gryphons called out to their god. It seemed that Lakri did not hear and would leave them to their own devices, when at last he struck, a massive silver gryphon whose wings bore ice and freezing winds. He devoured his enemies, leaving their carcasses to rot in the sun. At that time, he declared that one day his children would be judged for their deeds. He called for the gryphons to put aside the evil within them, warning that if they embraced the darkness they, too, would one day be destroyed. But he also blessed them, saying that if they would follow him and do what was right, then he would bring them into his own flock on their death, and let them live with him in heaven.

[flippedside]

THE ISTRA

Many years passed, and the gryphons lived in relative peace. Grex were formed to bring order and justice into the world. Then one day, a lone gryphon claimed to have seen a vision. He claimed that he had met with new gods, gods who offered a new way of living.

At first, the gryphon, named Saruel, was repudiated. No one believed that there could be other gods than those that made up the triad. Saruel, however, was an excellent speaker with impeccable logic. He soon began to turn the younger gryphons away from the worship of the three and into the pantheon that he had created. His followers grew numerous…And greedy. They claimed that unjust laws kept them from freely practicing their new religion and that the grex unfairly drove them out. It didn’t take long before Saruel’s followers, hungry for power, began to drive out the other grex.

Their religion quickly began to degenerate, though, as many gryphons followed the lead of Saruel and sought visions through herbs and poisonous plants. Intoxicated by his own sense of self-importance, Saruel claimed that in truth he was god and that he was the one that should be worshiped. His followers grew even more numerous, many claiming that all could find godhood within themselves and that the Watchers were no more than myths. They destroyed any grex that disagreed with them, sacrificing truth and wisdom for pleasure.

Only a few gryphons remained that followed the triad, and they were forced into hiding. It seemed that none of the gods would take action and that Saruel and his followers would destroy both themselves and the earth. The last of the gryphons that followed the triad met together and begged the gods to do something before there were none who followed them left.

On the day that Saruel’s new temple to himself was to be consecrated (preferably with gryphon blood), the gods did appear: all of them. Their massive, fierce forms struck fear into the hearts of all the gryphons but Saruel, who had fallen too far to be saved. He mocked the gods, who immediately destroyed him and many of his followers with lightening. Only ash marked the spot where they had fallen. The gods disappeared as wordlessly as they had arrived and the remaining followers of Saruel slunk away and went into hiding.

But the gods were not done with Saruel and his followers. They sent their decayed, corrupted spirit forms as guardians for the gates of hell. “Be gods as you so desire,” Lakri told them, and left them as worthless beings, doomed to forever guard the bleakest of all places in the universe.

[flippedside]

FOUNDING OF TAPERA

When Lakri first created the gryphons, he gave them the new earth to live in. He instructed his children to watch over his new creations, but to the gryphons, he said, “Be pure and good of heart and you will live long and full upon the earth. I have created you to be like me in both your appearance and your hearts. Do not stray from this or you will bring destruction and judgment upon yourselves and the very earth. I have made you to be caretakers of the earth and all the land. You may eat from it, but watch over it and protect it, as well.” And then he left them to return to his own home.

The first pair of gryphons were very pleased to see the new land. They were just as amazed by their new life. At the discovery of air under their wings and the lift it provided them, they were even more amazed to discover the ability to fly. The land below them stretched out green and fresh; untouched. Both gryphons flew for a long time, seeing winding rivers, steep mountains, and thick forests. Everything was clean and unspoiled. At last, they landed in a ridge of low mountains surrounded by thick pine trees and clear lakes.

“Let us build our home here,” said the male.

The female scratched in the earth with her silvery claws and then spread her wide gray wings in agreement. “All of this place is now our home,” she said, savoring the beauty of the new world.

They built a nest of stout branches and padded heavily with leaves and their own downy fur and feathers. The nest was built into a crevassed ledge on the mountainside, and there they had their first kits.

Three kits were born: two males and one female. When they had grown, each flew away to a different part of the earth. The male went far to the south and found strange lands and a raging sea. The second male went to the east and found endless grass plains that traveled all the way to the place where the sun rose. The third child, the female gryphon, went to the west and discovered mountains that rose up to the sky. When at last the three children had returned, they reported all that they had discovered to their parents.

“It is a very wondrous land that we have been placed in,” mused the father. The first family decided that they would first own the land between the distant plains, the raging seas, and the mountains of the sky. This place would be a home for all gryphons and they would call it Tapera, meaning “home” or “land of the gryphons.”

And so it was.

[flippedside]

DESTRUCTION OF TAPERA

When the first war was ended, Lakri promised a future home in Sirto for those who followed him. But his son has long been at work in the hearts of his followers, corrupting them to evil. Followers of Zanic claim that a great day will come when one day their god will rise again. On that day, his followers will again rise up and claim the earth as their own, while in the heavens, their god will claim his rightful place as the highest of gods.

Most know the stories of Tapera’s creation, when Lakri destroyed Zanic’s armies and proclaimed that at a future date his children would be judged according to their deeds. Some say that at this time Zanic will be cast out for his evil ways and Farlin will be punished for her selfishness. Others claim that Zanic will rise, but before he can destroy the earth, he will be overthrown by Lakri. A few have even said that Zanic will proclaim himself the highest of gods and rule for a time, but then Lakri will again rise and overthrow him.

The truth of any of these tales cannot be known, but they are enough to make most gryphons pray that the end of things will not come in their day.

[>>Trinity;;]

The All Seeing One or Elmen in The Formal Tongue

To many, Elmen's existence and future appearance is nothing more than a myth, a legend told to kits to frighten them and told by bards around the gathering place. To others though, such as the seers, it is anything but a myth. The prophecy given by the great oracle Tebyn, the only male seer to have ever been known to exist to date, is said to speak of the coming of Elmen and the havoc he will wreak. Some believe he will turn against his maker and end the chaos, that he will bring peace to the world when Lakri cannot. Here is a small sample of the prophecy known only to seers and seen as a rumor to others;

As the Son is whelped beneath the Stone
and his Far-Seeing mother lies dying
The cry of the Marked shall awaken the Chained.

Seers scream out, fearful mortals crumble
Nightmares of the Bane and Undying tearing their minds.
The cry of the Betrayed shall awaken Fear's Child.

The Dark One's heir chosen
Fates are sealed as he rises.
The cry of the Damned shall awaken the Father

At full light
On the darkest night
The cry of the Son shall summon the Father

The Child shall meet his Maker
Atop the temple where injustice was secretly committed
The cry of the Marked shall awaken the Chained.

Only Seers know the full extent of the prophecy, everyone else is forbidden from gleaning the knowledge this prophecy may contain. Most seers believe the Elmen will be born of a female seer "his Far-Seeing mother" hence the reason they are not permitted to have kits. But other seers have a darker suspicion, that it isn't an earthly male that will father the All Seeing One. Only one thing is agreed upon: this gryphon will be born with great power, his Sight greater even than Tebyn who was the strongest seer to have ever existed. Other clues may have been gleaned from Tebyn except that his contact with whatever gave him this message killed him only minutes later.

So now the mystery, is the prophecy true or merely a legend as is believed by the masses? If it's true, will the seers unravel it's mystery before the Awakening?

[flippedside]

The Lay of Laralyn

I
Listen, oh children, to a tale of chance
And she who dared gamble it all
In a game of the gods and two mortals
Who fought with carved sticks
And not beak and claw.

On the day that the first sticks were cast
Farlin dared Zanic to gamble
“Choose one champion for yourself,
And I will take mine. The winner takes all
For all time.”

Zanic grinned slyly and nodded,
Thinking time on his side.
The stakes were set,
The game had begun,
And one set of gaming sticks carved.

For his choice Zanic sought the darkest of hearts
A murderer with a beak carved from fire
And a mind twisted and cunning with greed.
But Farlin was slower in choosing,
Waiting to find one that held
The skill of chance in her claws
And luck perched on her wings.

II
Chance is a dangerous game to play
But Laralyn cast the sticks anyway.
Luck was her gift
And the sticks answered right,
But it wasn’t the game that Laralyn won
But the eyes of the goddess above.

“Well done,” said the silvery form of the goddess,
Clicking the sticks in her claws,
“But do you dare gamble with the gods,
Little gryphon? For I have a game for you
One that could win you great fame.”

Laralyn’s eyes opened wide
And she saw that her friends
Lay frozen as if deep asleep.
Headstrong, but not foolish,
She knew better
Than to play games with the gods
For it’s always the mortals that lose.

“Great goddess, I’m happy to serve you—
Surely you’ve seen the sacrifices
I’ve made in your name—
And I can think of no greater honor
Than to speak with you face to face here.
And yet who am I to dare test your skill?
For surely I’ll lose.”

“It’s not I that you’ll gamble but another,”
And the goddess grew brighter and stronger
“But hark me, small gryphon,
You go with my help or you stay with my fury
For I’ve chosen you now and I’ll not have your no.”

Left with no choice, Laralyn agreed—
“But what are the stakes to this game that I’m playing?
Surely you can tell me that, at least.”

Farlin narrowed her eyes
That gleamed like the sun off of ice
“You play a black gryphon
Who will try every trick.
Stay with the game and I will reward you
With every wish you might have
But lose and my wrath will consume you
Like the stars overheat in the skies.”

Laralyn trembled and felt herself ill,
But knew that the choice had already been made—
To argue with a goddess meant death
And to change her mind now
Would destroy her whole grex.

“I accept the terms.”

“Then you will need these,” Farlin hissed,
And passed her five sticks.

III
The sticks were carved from ice and fire
Made with a skill not known to mortals
And glowed with an inner blue flame
Marks black as infinity scored down their length.

The instant Laralyn’s claws snagged them
She felt herself dragged back through time
And landed in a narrow black gorge
The sun dim and low in the sky
And night seemed to touch down on earth.
A massive black gryphon sat on the ground
Tail curled neatly around.

He stared at her with bitter cold eyes
“Well met, little challenger,”
Came the harsh whispered words.
“I hope you brought the dice.”

Laralyn dropped them on the ground
“Your start, three turns, winner takes all.”
“Of course,” said the black
And cast the blue sticks on the dirt.
Three black, two white and he cursed
His bad luck.
Laralyn’s beak only curved
In the faintest of smiles
As she picked up the glowing blue sticks.

Chance is a dangerous game to play
And Laralyn cast the sticks with her life
Four white, one black, excellent toss
Her opponent grunted and snagged them.
“Why fight me,” he murmured,
“Why not leave now
And save yourself death and dark pain?”

“Size doesn’t matter, only luck
And even the gods can’t change that.
Now throw, or leave now
Because I’m here to the end.”

He did and cast all white
And crowed, “Victory’s mine
Give up while you can,
And save yourself death by my claws.”

“It’s not your claws I fear,”
Growled Laralyn and cast the sticks to the ground.
Three black, two white
A horrible throw.
Unease stiffed her wings.
Only one cast left and only one chance at a win:
She must throw straight black, the hardest to get.

The black gryphon sneered
And threw a scattered amount
Three black, two white,
And sat back to gloat.

Laralyn clutched the sticks
And hoped for the best.
The markers were thrown
But the black’s wing shot out
And knocked her aside,
Jerking her throw.

One stick went missing
But the rest turned up black.
Laralyn knew she needed the last
If she wanted to win.
But if her challenger found it
She feared he would cheat.

Then the air shimmered
And Farlin appeared,
Gleaming with glittering sprites in her feathers
“I win!” she shrieked and leaped in the center
Jarring the other two back.

“Liar,” grated a voice as dead as the grave
And the air shivered black.
But neither fire nor ice answered this call
But death and the darkest abyss
Opened into blackest infinity
Hopeless and deathless
Stepped Zanic, the darkest of hearts.
“There’s only four black
That makes me the winner,
Well done, little mortal.”
He sneered.

The black gryphon gloried
In the praise of his god
And wondered about
Attaining godhood himself.

But Laralyn scrambled across the bare ground
Seeking the last of the sticks.

Chance is a power beyond all the gods
One that they don’t dare touch.
Her slender seeking claws bumped something small
And she called,
“Here it is, and it’s black!”
God and goddess alike crowded her back
To see the slim little shaft.

“I told you,” said Farlin
And Zanic spun with a roar
Killing his black with one blow.
He vanished in smoke
And the earth rained down ash
With his rage at his horrible loss.

But Farlin just smiled in self-satisfaction
And said, “Now what do you want?
Fame or fortune?
I’ll give you your wish
Just as I said.”

“Oh great goddess,” said Laralyn,
“My greatest wish
Is simply to return safely home
And never be touched by the deeds
Of the great gods again.”

Farlin sniffed. “If that is what you wish.”

And the world around Laralyn shifted
And she found herself blinking awake
In the midst of a game just ending back home,
The winning throw just hitting the dirt.

She started and wondered,
“Was that just a dream?”
But a set of blue glowing sticks
Carved with the stars and infinity
Sat gleaming right by her feet.

So watch the games you choose to play
And beware the powers of chance
One throw of the sticks
And luck might take all that you have.

*This is much better read aloud because you can hear the meter/timing. That said, the meter isn't perfect...feel free to suggest changes to help that. I don't think that there's a point to this story, but it is a funny non-heroic hero story.

[>>Trinity;;]

Father Laith

Once there was an aging gryphon who had one son. He was a rogue and viewed the world with a weary and sour outlook after years of being looked down upon. Now that his mate had passed and left him with their single son and no means to support him, he went out to find a suitable home for the young kibu.

The first being he encountered on his long journey was a brilliantly white gryphon, his feathers and fur laced with ice and his bright blue eyes gleaming fiercely above his pale beak. Power radiated from this figure but despite this, the gryphon stubbornly stood and fixed his yellow eyes on the blue.

I am Lakri. Let me take your son as my own and I will make him into a great and powerful lord. He will grow to be just and wise and never know poverty as long as my wing remains above him. Spoke the powerful gryphon, his voice echoing in the gryphons mind and ears

I know what you say cannot be true, Spoke he in reply, Or you would have aided our family sooner. We would not have been treated unjustly nor my wife and I fallen ill with this crippling illness. If you were as wise and just and caring as all those stories say, you would have helped.

And with that Lakri faded and the rogue left him without looking back.

Next he encountered a skeletal black creature that radiated fear. Despite himself, he shivered a little, as the towering gryphon turned to him and spoke to him in voice that was like claws grating on stone.

I am Zanic. Give me your son and I will make him a mighty ruler over all the land. He will grow to be fierce and strong and proud. No one will dare to challenge him then.

The rogue raised his head, but refused to meet the eyes of the Dark God, You will not work either for you are a trickster and a cheat. You would lead him to destruction and would make him your tool and slave.

You are a fool. Zanic hissed as he vanished in a roar of flame

Shaking despite himself, the gryphon moved on with only an occasional glance back.

He reached the end of the road and before him stood a creature older than Regalt that had no clear face or voice. Though he was not Regalt, he also was for Laith was in all things.

What would you offer my son?

I will make him into a powerful healer that will have no equal in all the world. He will grow powerful and command respect, all will look to him as a wise and gifted Regalt. No one shall doubt him.

The aging gryphon nodded, pleased with Laith's words. Then it shall be. I give you my son, do all that you have said.

With that, the aged gryphon died and Laith sought out his son who was now a venis. Laith raised him until he grew into what his young form promised to be a handsome and powerful figure. And he was, few could match the beauty of his feathers and pelt and few could best him in contests of strength as Laith knew all and gave unto him this knowledge. But Laith also kept him from arrogance and nature too prideful for he understood that this led to the downfall of many.

At last it came time to reveal to the Sutla what his Talo(fate/fortune/destiny) was. Laith gave him the ability to see and find the Eilen plant which could cure all ailments. Then he gave him two commands; "When I stand by a gryphon you will know and say unto the others that he will die, when I am not present you will know and say unto them that he will live and use the herb which I have given you. Do not try to cheat me and save one that is mine."

The Sutla agreed and began to heal others. He quickly became known throughout the realm as the greatest healer. Many spoke of his ability to accurately predict whether someone would die or live. One day, long into his career, his mate fell deathly ill. When he went to her side to heal her, he was horrified to see Laith at her side. Despite his oath to him, the Sutla fed her the plant and prayed that Laith would not harm him because he was his son.

Laith was furious at being cheated out of another soul but looked the other way this once as the Sutla was his son. Still, he gave this warning, Do not try to cheat me again, your own life will be forfeit then.

Knowing Laith meant his threat, the Sutla continued healing and did not cheat Laith. Years later, his son was attacked by a creature in the wood and lay dying with Laith at his head. He wanted so badly to heal his child but Laith fixed his gaze on him. The Sutla nearly turned away when the anguished cry of his mate forced him to act.

Laith came to him in his sleep that night and the Sutla shrank away from his anger. He was shown to a chamber of stone, it's round interior pockmarked by many holes. Within the holes were orbs that looked to have been formed of clear water. In each one floated a silvery substance.

These are the Sielu(souls) of the living, Laith motioned toward the orbs on the nearest wall, And these were also the Sielu of the living. They are mine now and have passed to Sirto and Nquat. He finished with a nod to puddles littering the floors.

This Siel(soul) is yours.

The Sutla was horrified to see that the light within the silvery substance barely flickered. Please Laith! I'll never cheat you again, I swear it. Just let me go back to my mate and child.

Laith gazed at the orb for a moment more as if contemplating it then acted as if he was going place it back in its alcove. The Sutla relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief which turned to a cry of horror as Laith dropped the orb on the stone floor. Instead of shattering as he had expected, it splashed as if it really were formed of water. He gazed transfixed at it a moment longer before his body collapsed to the floor. Laith gazed down at the body of the male child he had so long ago adopted and wondered what could have made the Sutla desire to cheat him.

So you see young ones, never cheat death. Everyone has a time, for some it's too soon. Eventually we must all go and it is only Laith's right to ferry our Sielu for he was here from the beginning.