Roablade
Loyal Servant of Altera
In a small, minor empire to the far east, there is a tale of three monsters who were once masters of their own realms, but were tamed by man.
The story begins in a remote village in the middle of the wilderness that is no more. To the east of the village was the great sea, to the west was a vast and barren desert, and to the north were majestic mountains. Among the village people were a fisherman and a blacksmith, both of which wanted to become masters of their field. The two also often argued about who's role was superior, and for years the question remained unsolved.
One day, a wise man entered into the village and stumbled into the two during one of their regular quarells. After listening to their petty dispute, he began to talk to the fisherman about how a great fish lived in the ocean to the east, and how the person that could capture it would be blessed and have the right to be called the true master of the seas. He also told the blacksmith of how there was a special ore in the desert to the west that would equally bless the person who forged it into a weapon and give him the right to be called the true master of the land. As a result, the two squabblers set off in pursuit of their blessings, leaving the wise man to disappear into the wind.
The fisherman started out to sea, and only stopped when the seabirds were no longer visible. He cast his nets and, for seven days and seven nights, waited for the great fish the man spoke of. At the dawn of the eighth day, a bulky and armoured serpent emerged from the depths, and appeared before him. It introduced itself as Leviathan, the undisputed lord of the ocean, and asked the fisherman why he had presented himself before it. When he had spoken of his heart's ambition, Leviathan found itself greatly amused, and so allowed itself to be caught.
Meanwhile, the blacksmith had gone and gathered the special ore, and had begun to work on it at his forge. For seven days and seven nights he hammered away at the shapeless metal. At the dawn of the eighth day, the metal had shapen itself into a terrifyingly muscular beast. It introduced itself as Behemoth, the undefeatable ruler of the land, and demanded that the blacksmith answer why he had sought it. When he had spoken of his body's toil and sacrifice, Behemoth found itself pleased, and allowed itself to submit before him.
When the two men met again at the centre of the village, the two beasts saw each other and cursed, for their hearts were black with hatred for each other. Thus, they fought with great fury, ravaging the village and slaughtering all but their masters. Water and lightning met earth and fire, and they did combat for seven days and seven nights.
At the dawn of the eighth day, an awesome creature of the sky descended upon the the beasts. It introduced itself to be Ziz, the unquestioned predator of the skies, and it asked why the two were locked in struggle. It was then that the wise man reappeared, and told Ziz that they had nothing but unwavering contempt for each other. Unsure of what he was to do next, he confided with the wise man, and asked what he believed was best to do. When he announced his spirit's desire for the end of their conflict, Ziz found itself at peace, and allowed the wise man command over him.
Ziz slashed the flesh of Behemoth and Leviathan, and their anger was then halved and balanced between their peers. As a result, they returned to the sides of their masters, and they each went their seperate ways. With the aid of their companions, each man founded his own village and attained disciples to learn the craft of the founder.
One might dismiss this tale as simply legends to soothe a child to sleep, but how can be sure of the impossibility? Who knows, there might be someone or even some people out there who have learned of the truth...
...And maybe they have inheritted command over a Beast itself.
The story begins in a remote village in the middle of the wilderness that is no more. To the east of the village was the great sea, to the west was a vast and barren desert, and to the north were majestic mountains. Among the village people were a fisherman and a blacksmith, both of which wanted to become masters of their field. The two also often argued about who's role was superior, and for years the question remained unsolved.
One day, a wise man entered into the village and stumbled into the two during one of their regular quarells. After listening to their petty dispute, he began to talk to the fisherman about how a great fish lived in the ocean to the east, and how the person that could capture it would be blessed and have the right to be called the true master of the seas. He also told the blacksmith of how there was a special ore in the desert to the west that would equally bless the person who forged it into a weapon and give him the right to be called the true master of the land. As a result, the two squabblers set off in pursuit of their blessings, leaving the wise man to disappear into the wind.
The fisherman started out to sea, and only stopped when the seabirds were no longer visible. He cast his nets and, for seven days and seven nights, waited for the great fish the man spoke of. At the dawn of the eighth day, a bulky and armoured serpent emerged from the depths, and appeared before him. It introduced itself as Leviathan, the undisputed lord of the ocean, and asked the fisherman why he had presented himself before it. When he had spoken of his heart's ambition, Leviathan found itself greatly amused, and so allowed itself to be caught.
Meanwhile, the blacksmith had gone and gathered the special ore, and had begun to work on it at his forge. For seven days and seven nights he hammered away at the shapeless metal. At the dawn of the eighth day, the metal had shapen itself into a terrifyingly muscular beast. It introduced itself as Behemoth, the undefeatable ruler of the land, and demanded that the blacksmith answer why he had sought it. When he had spoken of his body's toil and sacrifice, Behemoth found itself pleased, and allowed itself to submit before him.
When the two men met again at the centre of the village, the two beasts saw each other and cursed, for their hearts were black with hatred for each other. Thus, they fought with great fury, ravaging the village and slaughtering all but their masters. Water and lightning met earth and fire, and they did combat for seven days and seven nights.
At the dawn of the eighth day, an awesome creature of the sky descended upon the the beasts. It introduced itself to be Ziz, the unquestioned predator of the skies, and it asked why the two were locked in struggle. It was then that the wise man reappeared, and told Ziz that they had nothing but unwavering contempt for each other. Unsure of what he was to do next, he confided with the wise man, and asked what he believed was best to do. When he announced his spirit's desire for the end of their conflict, Ziz found itself at peace, and allowed the wise man command over him.
Ziz slashed the flesh of Behemoth and Leviathan, and their anger was then halved and balanced between their peers. As a result, they returned to the sides of their masters, and they each went their seperate ways. With the aid of their companions, each man founded his own village and attained disciples to learn the craft of the founder.
One might dismiss this tale as simply legends to soothe a child to sleep, but how can be sure of the impossibility? Who knows, there might be someone or even some people out there who have learned of the truth...
...And maybe they have inheritted command over a Beast itself.
