Mythological Tales

Written By: Lady Diotima of Puddleby

Introduction

This story is a collection of myths gathered from ancient Human history. These tales have been told for generations on Shan Deral and have found their way to Puddleby. The tales reveal an important account of the Third Children mentioned in the ancient “Myth of Creation”.

Enba the Rat

May races believe that the rat carries pestilence and plague. Others
worship the rat for its persistence and fervor. When the Earth brought
Enba the Rat into existence, the Sun’s children ignored the rat as
harmless. Little did they know the power of selfishness and before long
the entire world was swarming with rats. The rats ate everything in
existence returning the Mists back into the void. It is said that the
Earth created the rats from ashes and it is to ashes they shall return.
The rat has a lust for the self like no other creature on Gaia’s earth.
The rat thinks about none but him self and will try at all costs to
preserve its own life.

In the times after the Mists were destroyed, the world was filled with nothing but rats. All of Gaia’s trees and plants were being chewed to nothing. The Earth felt this and needed something to stop the
destruction. So the Earth asked the Sun for guidance and it was at this
moment when the Earth had a vision. The Earth decided to bring a new
creature into existence; a creature who shared a small piece of the
light given by the Sun.

Elixus the Cat

Hunger is the driving force behind all of the world’s knowledge. As the world became infested with the pestilence of the rats; the Sun and the Earth willed Elixus into being and cat instantly started to rid the
world of the rats. Hunting the night, Elixus searched tirelessly. By day, Elixus basked in the warm glow of the Sun. Eventually, Elixus grew tired and collected many searing wounds from his battles with the rats, and the Moon grew sympathetic for Elixus.

The Moon’s children had been taken from the Earth and this made the Moon sad and lonely. However, this new creature spawned of the Earth and Sun gave hope to the Moon. The Moon was so pleased with what Elixus had done for creation; she wanted to return a favor to the one who had given revenge against Enba the Rat.

Shaer the Healer

The Moon, lonely and sad, cried seas of tears upon the Earth in the
darkness of the night. Looking upon the destruction the war of Enba and Elixus had brought to the Earth, both the Earth and the Moon knew
something had to be done. Elixus in such poor health after such a bloody battle was too weak to walk the Earth. The Moon said unto the Earth, “Bathe Elixus in the pools of my tears and the pain of living will be washed away”. As the words were spoken a giant tidal wave washed over the Earth, cleansing her of all the blood and pain left by war. On the shore, when the waters receded, stood a new being. One who some say was cursed by the Moon, and others who say was blessed. The one they call Shaer the Healer.

When Shaer appeared on the seashore there was no question in his mind. Shaer’s emotions took over his body and his spirit cried out to heal Elixus the Cat, but nothing could Shaer do about the wounds inflicted by the rats upon Elixus. The Sun shined brightly for many days and on the twenty-eighth day the Earth was nearly dried of all the Moon’s tears. Elixus barely able to walk was visited by Shaer the Healer. Just as the Sun was setting on creation, the Moon began to rise. The Sun and the Moon both shined upon a pool of water that had not yet dried. Shaer noticed something that his spirit was drawn to in explicitly. Shaer reached his hand into the water and grabbed hold of a translucent-blue stone and pulled it out of the puddle. Shaer raised the stone up to the sky and a moonbeam shined on the stone. This made the stone pulse with the gift of health down Shaer’s arm making the rest of his body tingle.

The Moon not speaking a word, Shaer instantly ran over to Elixus the Cat. Holding the stone near the deep bite marks on Elixus, Shaer began to feel a warm rush through his body and projected it onto Elixus. From this day on Shaer praised the Moon, and cursed the Sun and the Earth for the pain they had created.

The Earth was very displeased with what the Moon had done. Shaer the Healer praised the Moon with every waking moment. The spirit of the Moon had once again taken hold of the creatures that inhabited the Earth. Elixus the Cat was a child of the Sun and the Earth hungered for the Healer’s spirit. Elixus turned on Shaer and attacked the one who had healed his wounds. The Moon, now with a firm grip on life in the realm of the Earth, willed into existence a nemesis for Elixus.

Oobiscus the Foxweir

In the darkness of night the Earth heard a howl, the cries of a new
creature filled existence with the sounds of life. Made from the same
basic form as Elixus, the Foxweir rose from the grasslands eager to
befriend Shaer and stand by his side. When the Sun rose over Oobiscus
for the first time, a beam of sunlight kissed Oobiscus the Foxweir. It
was at that moment the world learned of good and evil. The loyal foxweir now had the power to control its hunger in favor of friendship. Oobiscus saw what Elixus was doing to Shaer and knew this was wrong.

Shaer the Healer ran all over the Earth trying to escape Elixus’
voracious appetite which Elixus could not control. The Sun showed
Oobiscus the joy that can come from friendship and the Foxweir rushed in to save Shaer. Oobiscus nipped at Elixus’ tail and the cat turned
instead on Oobiscus and hissed. Oobiscus stood unafraid and growled at
Elixus. Just then Enba the Rat bolted by and Elixus set off in chase
after his favorite meal. The Rat, the Cat and the Foxweir chased each
other to the far reaches of the Earth and this amused the Sun to no end.

Eghorus the Rooster

Oobiscus the Foxweir and Shaer the Healer, wandered the Earth in search of new friends, but they found the Earth to be a lonely and silent place. The Moon and the Earth had talked the whole night about how wonderful it was their creations had been getting along. Many seasons passed and the Spring Equinox was upon creation. At dawn that morning, when the Sun and the Moon share the Earth’s company, a strange sound filled the lands. A call to the heavens was announced by the newest creature to inhabit the Earth. The Moon and the Earth gave thanks to the Sun, for showing Oobiscus friendship and loyalty. The Earth and the Moon had blessed Eghorus the Rooster with awareness for the approaching dawn. The Earth would be filled with praise at every sunrise to greet the Sun.

The Sun was very impressed by the gift the Earth and Moon had given him. The tides of the seas were very high on this day and the spirit of the Moon swelled upon the Earth. Spring was upon the lands and planes of life were filled with energy. Shaer and Oobiscus wandered off into the forests to search for the one who praises the Sun so loudly. As the two approached a large field filled with grass and flowers, the Sun reached high noon. The Sun and Earth wondered together if it was possible to out do what the Earth and Moon has accomplished. Shaer was in need of a real friend. One who would stand up for the healer and one who is not easily distracted by the thrill of the chase. One who has all the traits the previous creations and a little something extra.

Ina D’Xus the Warrior

Shaer and Oobiscus while standing in a field gazed upon an odd looking flower. Oobiscus the Foxweir ran over and sniffed at the flower,
suddenly Enba the Rat races by and a chase ensues. Elixus bored with the chase walks up to Shaer, purrs and rubs against his leg. Upon looking to the ground, Shaer noticed a patch of mushrooms. With the Sun high overhead Shaer was struck with an idea. Shaer took the flower and mushrooms, and then places them into a puddle nearby. The pool turned a deep red color and from the murky liquid raised Ina D’Xus, equal parts mind, body and spirit.

The Earth’s ability to create had reached a new pinnacle. Selfishness, hunger, spirit, instinct and awareness combined in this new being to form consciousness. Ina D’Xus was not controlled by the Sun, Earth or Moon and therefore had freedom of thought. This frightened the creators and all three agreed to keep Ina D’Xus busy in labor so there was no time to create problems.

Shaer and Ina D’Xus created a farm near the fields where the flowers bloomed. They lived in harmony for quite some time. Ina D’Xus grew wheat, hops and barley. The land was bountiful in those days and Shaer fed all the animals. Eventually Ina grew tired of just water and grains. Ina D’Xus the Farmer hungered for something different, something better. Ina D’Xus would follow Elixus the Cat out at night, and wander the lands in search of things that were hidden in the darkness.

Orcipus the Pig

When the Moon saw what Ina D’Xus and Elixus were doing, the Earth and the Moon hurried to come up with a solution for the farmer’s wandering. It has been said, that the day Orcipus the Pig was created the Sun had become eclipsed by the Moon. This creature was a lot like Ina D’Xus but lacked the capacity for thought, a creature that functioned on will and emotion. Orcipus’ jealousy and appetite was so uncontrollable that not even the rats were safe.

One summer afternoon Ina D’Xus and Shaer were working in the fields tending to their crops when they heard a loud noise coming from the orchard. Eghorus the Rooster yelped, scurried, and flew a short distance to safety. Orcipus the Pig was pushing over the trees trying to get at the fruit. Leaving the orchard in shambles, Orcipus continued over to the field where Ina and Shaer were working. The pig began to devour the tender shoots which were sprouting from the Earth and were reaching for the Sun. Oobiscus taunted and nipped at the Pig’s heels, but Orcipus ignored the Foxweir. When Shaer saw this, the Healer tried to heal the plant’s wounds to with little success. Orcipus felt as if Shaer was trying to steal his food and confronted the Healer and Shaer retreated.

Ina D’Xus did not fear the Pig as Shaer did, and tried to scurry the
nuisance away. Orcipus the Pig persisted even after many attempts to
frighten off the beast. The Sun was falling in the sky and there wasn’t
much time to finish the day’s labor. Ina D’Xus grew impatient and set
out to physically stop the pig. Ina D’Xus the Farmer took a digging
stick and began to poke the beast in an attempt to run Orcipus off.
Finally Ina D’Xus’ rage became so great the stick was thrust into the
pig’s side and a murky deep red liquid poured from the beast. This was
Ina D’Xus’ first taste of blood and the moment when the first warrior
was born.

Falinea the Centaur

The Sun, the Earth and the Moon saw the error in their last creation and vowed not to repeat it. The Sun and the Moon agreed to give this
creature an equal part of light and dark just like the Earth and the
Moon. This creature would resemble the form of a former inhabitant of
the Earth from ages forgotten only this time with the consciousness they had created with Ina D’Xus. This creature was known as Falinea the Centaur; half beast, half human.

Falinea’s beauty was so powerful all who laid eyes upon her fell into a trance. Even the animals ceased to scurry about when Falinea came around the farm. Shaer and Falinea would often visit the orchard and talk about the things they saw in the moonlight. This made Ina D’Xus very jealous and enraged the Warrior. Under the light of the Full Moon the Warrior and the Centaur engaged in battle. The contest for Shaer’s attention raged on through the night and by the time dawn began to break there was no clear winner. It was then the three parted ways but Ina D’Xus was left standing alone.

The Sun knew that Ina D’Xus was becoming shrouded in darkness and the Warrior’s spirit drained. The Sun, Moon and Earth knew they were getting better at creation but their children needed to speak as they do. To gain wisdom, share that knowledge and compromise through understanding.

Ma’Taline the Mystic

When the Sun came up over the eastern seas, a wave of calm swept over Ina D’Xus the Warrior. In the blinding light Ina D’Xus could make out the shape of a boat. On this boat sailed Ma’Taline the Mystic. This was mostly the work of the Sun, who saw what was needed to defeat the darkness in the Warrior’s soul.

Ma’Taline and Ina D’Xus did not get along well at first and both
bickered long into the night about insignificant things. All their
jousting was in good fun and the both of them enjoyed the company. The Warrior and the Mystic grew fond of one and other. Each one discovering they shared the same interests in creation. The secrets which lay hidden in the darkness intrigued them both and they set out to get the answers in the night. Except the Sun was not watching and the Moon had been dreaming. The Warrior and the Mystic stumbled upon a great peril buried in a cave from ages long past.

When the dawn broke, Shaer awoke and stumbled out of bed. The Healer could sense something was not right with Ina D’Xus. Shaer the Healer and Falinea the Centaur set out to discover what had happened to Ina D’Xus the Warrior, and to find this new creation of the Sun that Eghorus had been bawking about. Shaer and Falinea searched the farm and searched the orchard but Ina D’Xus was no where to be found. Oobiscus cried in the distance and the two set off to see what the Foxweir had gotten into.

When the Healer and the Centaur arrived at the foot of the cave where Oobiscus was pawing, they saw nothing but piles of rats. Falinea
trampled the varmints and under the mess lay the fallen bodies of
Ma’Taline the Mystic and Ina D’Xus the Warrior. Shaer the Healer was
gripped in fear and sadness. Shaer dropped the stone found in the puddle and it broke into two pieces. Falinea picked up a shard and tied it to a sturdy limb from a tree and then touched the mystic with the staff. Ma’Taline the Mystic lifted into the air with the stream of life now
pulsing through the Mystic’s body. Shaer tried with every bit of spirit
to raise the Warrior to her feet to no avail. The Mystic, the Healer and
the Centaur gathered around the fallen Warrior and held hands. They
prayed to the Sun and the Moon to wake their fallen friend and Ina D’Xus rose with the breath of life.

Detros the Ruknee

In the cave was complete darkness except for two glowing eyes. The Warrior peeked again inside the cave to catch another glimpse of the beast they had found. The beast pounced out upon the group and knocked over the Mystic. While still standing on Ma’Taline’s chest, the great beast spoke to the scared bunch. “In the darkness lies mistakes of the past whose shroud of darkness is best left forgotten”, the beast
returned to the cave and they set for home back on the farm.

This did not sit well with Ma’Taline and the Mystic demanded to know more from the Ruknee. Detros was familiar with failure and decided to teach the young mystic a lesson which the Sun had taught to him long ago. Detros the Ruknee let Ma’Taline pass into the cave and through the darkness the Mystic stumbled. Ma’Taline fumbled around and bumped his head on the wall nearly falling down. The Mystic sat down to rest and from under Ma’Taline’s feet shine a stream of light. Ma’Taline began to dig furiously to uncover that which was buried here so long ago. It was a huge glowing rock too big for Ma’Taline to carry, so the Mystic chipped off several pieces and stuffed them in his pocket. As Ma’Taline turned around he hear a booming voice proclaim, “All knowledge comes with a price” and at that instant Ma’Taline burst into flames.

They Mystic ran deeper into the cavern and in the light of the fire;
Ma’Taline could see the shape of a Dragon. At the end of the cave lied a big pool of water which Ma’Taline quickly jumped in to. With the fire
out, the Mystic was surrounded by darkness. Ma’Taline knew the Earth and the Moon were the only ones that could save him so the Mystic held the shards of the Sun tightly and spoke with the Earth and the Moon as the Sun did.

Awjus and Hamusa the Shredders

With a piece of the Sun in the Mystic’s possession nothing the Sun, the Earth and the Moon thought went unheard by Ma’Taline. The Mystic knew where every creature in the cave was hiding. The Moon was still good at keeping a secret despite the possessions of Ma’Taline. “From the Moon your spirit came and to the Moon your spirit remains”, whispered the Earth gently in Ma’Taline’s mind. Ma’Taline’s ego grew with each passing moment while in possession of the shards of the Sun. The ecstasy of pride blinded the Mystic’s perception of the situation.

From the ground Ma’Taline the Mystic heard a bubbling all around.
Ma’Taline still could not see all of what the Moon and the Earth were up
to in the darkness. Ma’Taline could now feel the water rising under his
feet. Ma’Taline tried to run but the Sun, the Earth and the Moon clouded Ma’Taline’s mind with so many thoughts the Mystic could not move. Ma’Taline could feel something brushing up against his leg and the cold water now engulfed his body. Ma’Taline cried out in his thoughts for somebody to help him, but nobody replied. Awjus and Hamusa the Shredders grabbed hold of Ma’Taline and carried the Mystic away to the Land of Shadows.

Josephus the Ancient

When Ma’Taline the Mystic arrived in the Shadow lands he was greeted by Josephus the Ancient, the gatekeeper of souls into the realm of light. Josephus asked for the shards of the Sun and Ma’Taline humbly, agreed. Ma’Taline the Mystic had seen too much and could not be returned to the Earth with the knowledge of creation. The Sun, Earth and Moon agreed that Ma’Taline was just as brilliant as they were. As a rewarded the Sun, the Earth and the Moon allowed Ma’Taline the Mystic to shine in the night skies until the end of creation.

Josephus the Ancient returned the shards of the Sun back to the cave. It had been a very long time since Josephus had been to the Earth as a physical being. Josephus exited the mouth of the cave and saw Ina D’Xus, Shaer and Falinea standing outside gazing into the darkness. The three beings stood stunned as Detros followed closely behind Josephus. As Falinea and Ina D’Xus prepared to battle the Ruknee and the Ancient, Josephus held out his hand in peace. A wave of calm washed over the trio, the centaur and the warrior sheathed their swords. Josephus smiled and the Ruknee lay down and curled up peacefully. Shaer asked Josephus what had become of Ma’Taline?

Josephus began to tell Shaer about Ma’Taline and the hidden secrets that the Mystic had uncovered. As the Sun began to set, Josephus pointed to the sky. On the horizon, rose the constellation of Ma’Taline the Mystic. Ina D’Xus saw this and began to sob slightly. Josephus walked over to console the Warrior. Josephus laid his had on Ina’s belly and said, “The body might be gone but the spirit lives on forever”. At that moment Ina felt a slight kick in her belly and she looked up at Josephus, astonished. Josephus just smiled and returned to the cavern. Detros the Ruknee stood up, roared and followed Josephus into the darkness.

Afterword

It has been said the child of Ina D’Xus turned out to be a great ruler
in the early human kingdoms.