100 bonus XP for each story added to the myths and legends page.
Um, do we need to get GM approval before posting new stories? Like, the story has to pass muster before it can be posted and XP awarded?
Post it here first. I'll give 100XP if you tried but it wasn't quite suitable, 150XP if it makes the myths and legends page. I'll deduct 125XP for each and every Monty Python reference.
Modification effective as off this post (meaning does not apply to any previously posted stories because I just realized the flaw in my brilliant master plan ;) ) -
Original Works -
100XP + additional 50XP if it makes the myths and legends page (go ahead and post it on the appropriate page, I'll move it to an honorable mentions page if it isn't suitable. Go ahead and post it here though, if you feel it needs work and are looking for feedback)
Modified works from other sources -
30XP + additional 20XP if it makes the myths and legends page
(If I don't catch the fact that it's a modified story, you get the XP as though it were an original source) (see above)
Movie References -
-125XP
-150XP for Monty Python and Princess Bride
-2000XP for the DnD movie
+1000XP if you can correctly utilize the reference 'Where did you get the holy water in the middle of a desert?'
So if we get a monty python reference into a posted story, we get 25 xp?
sure. And the next magical item you find will have a curse on it for the sole purpose of amusing me.
So, how much xp loss are we looking at for, say, the Sclavini folk hero Maksim Piotrovitch and his Floating Circus? Many are the tales, from the cautionary tale of the Dead Roc, or the Olde Man in Search of an Argument, or his famed discovery of the Sclavini Sparrows in regards to the mystery of the coconut palm trees in the scattered mountain oases of Andrzej? I mean, these are the tales that shaped the young Feliks Havel, and led him to where he is today.
Onatah
The Water Monster
In the first world there were 4 mountains, one in each direction, and the gods who lived in the mountains began to teach First Man and First Woman how to plant corn and how to build homes. They also warned everyone not to bother the water monster. But the coyote did not heed the warnings. He went to the home of the water monster and kidnapped his 2 children.
Suddenly the oceans rose and the land began to flood. All of the people and animals gathered on top of the highest mountain and begged the gods for help. The gods told them that they should climb up to a new world away from the water. So the people planted a giant reed on top of the mountain and climbed up inside it. Finally after 4 days of climbing the giant reed, the reached the 2nd world.
This 2nd world was even more beautiful than the one before, and here were other people and other kinds of animals. But the coyote still had the children of the water monster, and First People were horrified to find the waters of their new world suddenly rising. Again they planted a reed and began to climb, but this time they could not reach all the way. Nor could they find a hole. Despair settled on the people and all the creatures.
But then First Man and First Woman decided that someone must have offended the water monster. They searched everyone, and of course, found his children with the coyote. So the yellow hawk tried to scratch a hole in the reed. The heron and the buzzard also helped, but the locust was the one who finally succeeded in getting through. They fashioned a small boat out of strips of reed and set the water monster’s children afloat on the flood. The waters went down immediately and the land soon became beautiful and fruitful again. Floods have never again threatened man's world.
Bluebird and Coyote
A long time ago the Bluebird's feathers were a very dull ugly color. It lived near a lake with waters of the most delicate blue which never changed because no stream flowed in or out. Because the bird admired the blue water, it bathed in the lake four times every morning for four days, and every morning it sang:
There's a blue water.
It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue.
On the fourth morning it shed all its feathers and came out in its bare skin, but on the fifth morning it came out with blue feathers.
All the while, Coyote had been watching the bird. He wanted to jump in and catch it for his dinner, but he was afraid of the blue water. But on the fifth morning he said to the Bluebird: "How is it that all your ugly colour has come out of your feathers, and now you are all blue and sprightly and beautiful? You are more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I want to be blue, too."
"I went in only four times," replied the Bluebird. It then taught Coyote the song it had sung.
And so Coyote steeled his courage and jumped into the lake. For four mornings he did this, singing the song the Bluebird had taught him, and on the fifth day he turned as blue as the bird.
That made Coyote feel very proud. He was so proud to be a blue coyote that when he walked along he looked about on every side to see if anyone was noticing how fine and blue he was.
Then he started running along very fast, looking at his shadow to see if it also was blue. He was not watching the road, and presently he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him down upon the ground and he became dust-colored all over. And to this day all coyotes are the color of dusty earth.
Makarios
The Seasons
Persephone was gathering flowers in a meadow one day when a huge crack opened up in the earth and Hades, King of the Dead, emerged from the Underworld. He seized Persephone and carried her off in his chariot, back down to his realm below, where she became his queen. Her mother, Demeter, was heartbroken. She wandered the length and breadth of the earth in search of her daughter, during which time the crops withered and it became perpetual winter.
At length Hades was persuaded to surrender Persephone for one half of every year, the spring and summer seasons when flowers bloom and the earth bears fruit once more. The half year that Persephone spends in the Underworld as Hades' queen coincides with the barren season.
Venus and Adonis
Venus, playing one day with her boy Cupid, wounded her bosom with one of his arrows. She pushed him away, but the wound was deeper than she thought. Before it healed she beheld Adonis, and was captivated with him. She no longer took any interest in her favorite activities. She absented herself even from heaven, for Adonis was dearer to her than heaven. Him she followed and bore him company. She who used to love to recline in the shade, with no care but to cultivate her charms, now rambled through the woods and over the hills. She called her dogs, and chased hares and stags, or other game that it is safe to hunt, but kept clear of the wolves and bears, reeking with the slaughter of the herd. She charged Adonis, too, to beware of such dangerous animals. Having given him a strong warning, she mounted her chariot drawn by swans, and drove away through the air. But Adonis was too noble to heed such counsels. The dogs had roused a wild boar from his lair, and the youth threw his spear and wounded the animal with a sidelong stroke. The beast drew out the weapon with his jaws, and rushed after Adonis, who turned and ran; but the boar overtook him, and buried his tusks in his side, and stretched him dying upon the plain.
Venus, in her swan-drawn chariot, had not gone far towards heaven when she heard the groans of her beloved, and turned her white-winged coursers back to earth. As she drew near and saw from on high his lifeless body bathed in blood, she alighted and, bending over it, beat her breast and tore her hair. Reproaching the Fates, she declared that he would not be forgotten. So she sprinkled nectar on the blood; and as they mingled, bubbles rose as in a pool on which raindrops fall, and in an hour's time there sprang up a flower of bloody hue like that of the pomegranate. But it is short-lived. It is said the wind blows the blossoms open, and afterwards blows the petals away; so it is called Anemone, or Wind Flower.
Falkor
Recovery of Thor’s Hammer
Once upon a time it happened that Thor's hammer fell into the possession of the giant Thrym, who buried it eight fathoms deep under the rocks of Jotunheim. Thor sent Loki to negotiate with Thrym, but he could only prevail so far as to get the giant's promise to restore the weapon if Freya would consent to be his bride. Loki returned and reported the result of his mission, but the goddess of love was quite horrified at the idea of bestowing her charms on the king of the Frost giants. In this emergency Loki persuaded Thor to dress himself in Freya's clothes and accompany him to Jotunheim. Thrym received his veiled bride with due courtesy, but was greatly surprised at seeing her eat for her supper eight salmons and a full grown ox, besides other delicacies, washing the whole down with three tuns of ale. Loki, however, assured him that she had not tasted anything for eight long nights, so great was her desire to see her lover, the renowned ruler of Jotunheim. Thrym had at length the curiosity to peep under his bride's veil, but started back in affright and demanded why Freya's eyeballs glistened with fire. Loki repeated the same excuse and the giant was satisfied. He ordered the hammer to be brought in and laid on the maiden's lap. Thereupon Thor threw off his disguise, grasped his redoubted weapon, and slaughtered Thrym and all his followers.
Ragnarok
Some believe that a time will come when all the visible creation, the gods of Valhalla and all the inhabitants of the world together with their homes, will be destroyed. The fearful day of destruction will not, however, be without its forerunners. First will come a triple winter, during which snow will fall from the four corners of the heavens, the frost be very severe, the wind piercing, the weather tempestuous, and the sun impart no gladness. Three such winters will pass away without being tempered by a single summer. Three other similar winters will then follow, during which war and discord will spread over the universe. The earth itself will be frightened and begin to tremble, the sea leave its basin, the heavens tear asunder, and men perish in great numbers, and the eagles of the air feast upon their still quivering bodies. The wolf Fenris will now break his bands, the Midgard serpent rise out of her bed in the sea, and Loki, released from his bonds, will join the enemies of the gods. To the battlefield called Vigrid they will go with all the followers of Hel and the Frost giants.
Heimdall will then stand up and sound the Giallar horn to assemble the gods and heroes for the contest. The gods will advance, led on by Odin, who will engage the wolf Fenris, but fall victim to the monster, who is, however, slain by Vidar, Odin's son. Thor gains great renown by killing the Midgard serpent, but recoils and falls dead, suffocated with the venom which the dying monster vomits over him. Loki and Heimdall meet and fight till they are both slain. When all the gods and their enemies having fallen in battle, Surtur, who has killed Frey, will dart fire and flames over the world, and the whole universe will be burned up. The sun becomes dim, the earth sinks into the ocean, the stars fall from heaven, and time is no more.
After this Alfadur (the Almighty) will cause a new heaven and a new earth to arise out of the sea. The new earth filled with abundant supplies will spontaneously produce its fruits without labour or care. Wickedness and misery will no more be known, but the gods and men will live happily together.
Makarios
Echo and Narcissus
Echo was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was a favourite of Artemis, and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day Hera was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Hera discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo in these words: "You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of- reply. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first."
This nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps. O how she longed to address him in the softest accents, and win him to converse! but it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her answer ready. One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, "Who's here?" Echo replied, "Here." Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one, called out, "Come." Echo answered, "Come." As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun me?" Echo asked the same question. "Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!" "Have me," said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the woods. From that time forth she lived in caves and among mountain cliffs. Her form faded with grief, till at last all her flesh shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word.
Apollo and Daphne
Daphne was Apollo's first love. It was not brought about by accident, but by the malice of Cupid. Apollo saw the boy playing with his bow and arrows and chastised him saying, “What have you to do with warlike weapons, saucy boy? Leave them for hands worthy of them. Be content with your torch, child, and kindle up your flames, as you call them, where you will, but presume not to meddle with my weapons." Venus's boy heard these words, and rejoined, "Your arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but mine shall strike you." So saying, he drew from his quiver two arrows of different workmanship, one of gold to excite love, the other of lead to repel it. With the leaden shaft he struck the nymph Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus, and with the golden one Apollo, through the heart. Forthwith the god was seized with love for the maiden, and she abhorred the thought of loving.
Apollo loved her, and longed to obtain her; and he who gives oracles to all the world was not wise enough to look into his own fortunes. He admired her hands and arms, naked to the shoulder, and whatever was hidden from view he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, and delayed not a moment at his entreaties.
The nymph continued her flight, and left his pleas half uttered. And even as she fled she charmed him. The wind blew her garments, and her unbound hair streamed loose behind her. The god grew impatient to find his wooings thrown away, and, sped by Cupid, gained upon her in the race. So flew the god and the virgin- he on the wings of love, and she on those of fear. The pursuer is the more rapid, however, and gains upon her, and his panting breath blows upon her hair. Her strength begins to fail, and, ready to sink, she calls upon her father, the river god: "Help me, Poseidon! open the earth to enclose me, or change my form, which has brought me into this danger!" Scarcely had she spoken, when a stiffness seized all her limbs; her bosom began to be enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her foot stuck fast in the ground, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retaining nothing of its former self but its beauty, Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. "Since you cannot be my wife," said he, "you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay." The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment.
Khepri
Osiris and Isis
Osiris and Isis were at one time induced to descend to the earth to bestow gifts and blessings on its inhabitants. Isis showed them first the use of wheat and barley, and Osiris made the instruments of agriculture and taught men the use of them, as well as how to harness the ox to the plough. He then gave men laws, the institution of marriage, a civil organization, and taught them how to worship the gods. After he had thus made the valley of the (insert name of river here) a happy country, he assembled a host with which he went to bestow his blessings upon the rest of the world. He conquered the nations everywhere, but not with weapons, only with music and eloquence.
His brother, Typhon saw this, and filled with envy and malice sought during his absence to usurp his throne. But Isis, who held the reins of government, frustrated his plans. Still more embittered, he now resolved to kill his brother. This he did in the following manner: Having organized a conspiracy of seventy-two members, he went with them to the feast which was celebrated in honour of the king's return. He then caused a box or chest to be brought in, which had been made to fit exactly the size of Osiris, and declared that he would give that chest of precious wood to whomsoever could get into it. The rest tried in vain, but no sooner was Osiris in it than Typhon and his companions closed the lid and flung the chest into the (insert name of river here).
When Isis heard of the cruel murder she wept and mourned, and then with her hair shorn, clothed in black and beating her breast, she sought diligently for the body of her husband. In this search she was assisted by Anubis, the son of Osiris and Nephthys. They sought in vain for some time; for when the chest, carried by the waves to the shores of Orisha, had become entangled in the reeds that grew at the edge of the water, the divine power that dwelt in the body of Osiris imparted such strength to the shrub that it grew into a mighty tree, enclosing in its trunk the coffin of the god. This tree with its sacred deposit was shortly after felled, and erected as a column in the palace of the king of Orisha. But at length by the aid of Anubis and the sacred birds, Isis ascertained these facts, and then went to the royal city. There she offered herself at the palace as a servant, and being admitted, threw off her disguise and appeared as the goddess, surrounded with thunder and lightning. Striking the column with her wand she caused it to split open and give up the sacred coffin. This she seized and returned with it, and concealed it in the depth of a forest, but Typhon discovered it, and cutting the body into fourteen pieces scattered them hither and thither. After a tedious search, Isis found thirteen pieces, the fishes of the (insert name of river here) having eaten the other. This she replaced by an imitation of sycamore wood, and buried the body at Philoe, which became ever after the great burying place of the nation, and the spot to which pilgrimages were made from all parts of the country. A temple of surpassing magnificence was also erected there in honour of the god, and at every place where one of his limbs had been found minor temples and tombs were built to commemorate the event.
Onatah
The Duped Dancers
Manabozho was a poor man with no family who wandered the land telling stories and singing songs to earn his food. One day Manabozho was walking along a lake shore, tired and hungry, and he observed a long, narrow sandbar, which extended far out into the water, around which were myriads of waterfowl. Manabozho decided to have a feast. He had with him only his medicine bag; so he entered the brush and hung it upon a tree, and procured a quantity of bark, which he rolled into a bundle and placing it upon his back, returned to the shore, where he pretended to pass slowly by in sight of the birds. Some of the Swans and Ducks, however, recognizing Manabozho and becoming frightened, moved away from the shore.
One of the Swans called out, "Ho! Manabozho, where are you going?" To this Manabozho replied, "I am going to have a song. As you may see, I have all my songs with me." Manabozho then called out to the birds, "Come to me, my brothers, and let us sing and dance." The birds assented and returned to the shore, then all retreated a short distance away from the lake to an open space where they might dance. Manabozho removed the bundle of bark from his back and placed it on the ground, got out his singing-sticks, and said to the birds, "Now, all of you dance around me as I drum; sing as loudly as you can, and keep your eyes closed. The first one to open his eyes will forever have them red and sore."
Manabozho began to beat time upon his bundle of bark, while the birds, with eyes closed, circled around him singing as loudly as they could. Keeping time with one hand, Manabozho suddenly grasped the neck of a Swan, which he broke; but before he had killed the bird it screamed out, whereupon Manabozho said, "That's right, brothers, sing as loudly as you can." Soon another Swan fell a victim; then a Goose, and so on until the number of birds was greatly reduced. Then the Grebe opening his eyes to see why there was less singing than at first, and beholding Manabozho and the heap of victims, cried out, "Manabozho is killing us! Manabozho is killing us!" and immediately ran to the water, followed by the remainder of the birds.
As the Grebe was a poor runner, Manabozho soon overtook him, and said, "I won't kill you, but you shall always have red eyes and be the laughing-stock of all the birds." With this he gave the bird a kick, sending him far out into the lake and knocking off his tail, so that the Grebe is red-eyed and tailless to this day.
You really want that XP don't you? Just don't fill up all the history/legends space so the rest of us can't submit :P I intend to submit a few things myself.
Heck yeah! I'm trying to catch up to the rest of you. And don't worry I am cutting myself off now. :D
Elf War
Brothers
There were many heroes and villains named in the Elf War but none so tragic or great as that of two friends. Rathllia'th and Lieander were friends, no, brothers. Always together until the war tore their friendship asunder, but the war was not the first cause of misfortune but merely a means to an end. As with any tragedy a woman was involved, one that divided the friends that when the war started they vowed to kill one another and the victor take their love for themselves. Taking different sides and even purposely taking different styles of fighting, each honed himself for the day they were to meet on the battlefield. This story would be over if their plans had come to fruition, having one slain and the other the victor, but no story is without hardship. The woman that tore their friendship apart was accounted for among the dead after a siege that neither friend was there to witness. Their love beyond the reach of mortal hands, the friends wept tears of rage and both cut swathes upon the fields of battle, both gaining the name of devil and the like. Their fury met no adversary that did not feel fear before being cut down, they both were respected and feared, heroes and monsters alike. They both met on that faithful day in the midst of a raging battle, Rathllia'th wielding his great sword and Lieander swinging his twin scimitars. They met with crossed swords only to find their lost friend that they had vowed to kill so long ago. They were said to both have tears in their eyes as they met each other that day. With no home to return to, no family left, and their most beloved gone they both had nothing but their vows for each other's death, they only had each other left. With a swiftness unseen they both turned from each other and made one their backs. The friends died that day not as enemies but as friends, each defending the other from any assault no matter the foe. They ascended any warrior known that day fighting for the only thing either had left to them.
(It's crap but I'm too lazy to press the backspace that many times :P. Modify as you'd like I don't care, that is if you can use it at all.)
Elf War
Brothers
There were many heroes and villains named in the Elf War but none so tragic or great as that of two friends. Rathllia'th and Lieander were friends, no, brothers. Rathllia’th a son of a proud elven family and Lieander a son of an even prouder drow family, they were friends since childhood. They shared everything and sacrificed anything for each other. There was nothing that could tear them apart, when their families drifted away from each other the friends chose to distance themselves from their families rather than each other. Each was an expert in a martial skill, Rathllia’th trained in the great sword and focused on strength while Lieander trained in the twin blades and focused on speed and precision. It was never known if they could ever beat each other but as a team they were undefeated using Lieander’s speed to make openings and Rathllia’th’s strength to break the opponent. They were equal in all things, even their love for one woman. She was Lyllthynia, a beauty beyond compare and with a voice that even angels envied, there was no being that the friends loved more. She in turn loved both friends equally but this only caused a division between the two friends and no clear outcome could be discerned. Both friends wanted her, neither wanted to give up on her, and she favored neither more than the other. The friends’ friction soon escalated and swords crossed more than once but there was never a victor nor did there seem there would ever be one.
The war became a good excuse to get away from one another and to test each other. They swore to meet on the battlefield and settle their dispute once and for all, that only one would come back as victor. Each friend was recruited into their respective people’s side of the conflict but they could care less for the politics were an after thought. The only thing that ran through their minds was to see one another again and settle who could finally claim Lyllthynia’s hand. Lyllthynia grieved for the two but knew no way to quell their quarrel and only hoped that they would see reason before it was too late and that nothing would be regretted would happen. She set the two friends down the path of destruction by being the river that created the valley but would also make the two mourn and grieve. The two friends received word that Lyllthynia was among the accounted of dead after the siege of their hometown, neither were their to see her, neither knew that their home had been razed, neither knew that their families had been killed. When the two received word of Lyllthynia’s death both shed tears of rage, their love beyond mortal reach, and blamed the other. They set upon a path of death and destruction, using their skills they cut swathes through the battlefields and into history as both monsters and heroes. One thing propelled them forward and that was to finally meet the other on the field of battle and exact their rage.
The faithful day finally arrived, mist hung thick and bodies were already piled deep. In the midst of the battle, both side clashed fiercely with no clear outcome foreseen. Both sides charging one another, the two friends met each other finally, Rathllia’th’s great sword held high and Lieander’s twin blades flashing. The two charged each other, the battlefield stood still to watch the two warriors clash. They crossed swords, for what seemed an eternity they stared at each other, they noticed that they both had tears running freely while they stared at each other. These tears were of rage, sadness, and relief. They both had lost everything; their home, their families, and even the one they loved most, but before them stood a friend. In a swiftness unheard of, they turned and back to back took up arms against anyone who would dare come near. They died that day fighting both armies together, not as enemies but as friends, no, as brothers once more.
The desertion and revolt of the brothers caused such losses on both sides before they were finally put down that the two armies were forced to retreat and leave the area unclaimed. To this day, the local populace remembers and honors the two brothers. There was a statue erected to honor the brothers and to remember what they represent. They represent a bond that, in the end, no war or army could break and that strength gives hope to those who look upon the statue of the two brothers back to back with blades in hand ready to fight the world.
(I revised it, tell me what you think. I personally still think it could be better but I'm no writer so I guess I can't make it much better. If you'd like revise it as you will to make it better, story wise and writing wise.)