Big Blue Battle -- Part 1
Jan. 3rd, 2007 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluegargantua...they brought him before the Caliph who looked him up and down and said, "Stranger, you walk among our lands claiming to be a god!". And Korfu looked up with patient eyes and said, "No, your Majesty, I am no god. I am a god-to-be."
"Blasphemy!" shouted the Caliph, "there is only the Family Divine! All other gods are merely puffed up demons and to think that a man could attain even a demon's height is sheer foolishness."
Korfu shrugged, "Then it is good that I am not a man."
"Take him away. Have him executed. Slowly."
"Are you so unsure of your own faith, your Majesty?" asked Korfu, "If I am a poor deluded mortal then I present no threat to you or your religion. If I am a god-to-be, then I must prove it."
"What proof could you offer?"
"What proof would you accept? It is easy enough for me to set my own tasks, but surely there must be some difficulty facing your caliphate that cannot be resolved by mere mortals -- something only a god-to-be could accomplish for you."
"It would only prove you a demon if you could accomplish it," said the Caliph.
"I have openly declared myself a god-to-be before the people of this land and before it's very ruler. Surely the Family Divine will not allow such a flagrant claim to go untested, here in lands of the First Hearth itself. If my claim is not just, then surely the Family Divine will exercise their power to stop me. False prophets have never flourished in the Caliphate."
The Caliph furrowed his brow in thought while his ministers conferred with him. Finally he looked up at Korfu. "Beyond the Southern Deserts lie the lands of Altai. It is a land of rare treasures and goods and we trade heavily with them. But the deserts have a terrible scourge. Sagarawan, "The Falling Sky", is a terrible dragon that strikes from the noonday sun and lays waste to caravans crossing the Southern Desert. Hardly one caravan in ten makes it through, but even so the trade is so lucrative that brave men will risk all to make the trip. Destroy this Sagarawan and you shall clearly have proven your claim."
"I'm afraid that I can't destroy Sagarawan," said Korfu, "Not because I am incapable," he added hastily, "but because I am a merciful god-to-be who respects all sentient life. Even life that doesn't return that respect. Still, if I can trap and hold this dragon (a task far more difficult than merely killing him), would you consider the task fulfilled?"
"Kill him, capture him, either way you're dead, heretic."
"I'll take that as a yes."
So Korfu, accompanied by a small squad of soldiers, official observers of the Caliph, and two caravans headed up by men with more avarice than common sense made the trek into the Southern Desert. At noon on the sixteenth day of the trip, Korfu halted the group near an oasis. "We are about to be attacked by Sagarawan," he said, "it would be best if you all dismounted so that when the fear takes you, you will be able to run freely with a minimum of fuss. Also, you will become tired quickly and it will be easier to round you all up later."
The assembled throng hardly had time to scoff at Korfu, when a terrible rising wail deafened them. With an earth-jarring crash, Sagarawan was among them and man and horse fled in all directions. Only Korfu and one of the official observers managed to stand fast.
"Sagarawn!" called Korfu, "your murder and pillaging are at an end!"
With a snort, the terrible dragon lunged forward to devour Korfu. Korfu merely cupped his hands and brought them together. From the sky, a giant, inverted bowl slammed down over Sagarwan.
"It is finished," said Korfu, "let the cosmic tablets record that I, Korfu, have completed another Great Task and so move ever closer to godhood."
"The dragon will surely dig it's way out from beneath the mound," said the observer.
"Not so," answered Korfu, "the top half of the sphere is joined to its lower half below the ground. Thus, Sand and Sky are united to trap the monster. He cannot fly away and he cannot dig himself out. Even now you can hear his frustrated roaring. There are small passageways around the perimeter so one can slip inside and view the beast. Have no fear, the dragon cannot squeeze out through the passages and portions of the passageway are clear, so you can get a good look. The whole of the sphere is impervious to magic and lightning."
After stepping inside and confirming everything that Korfu said was true, the observer cast a spell and brought the Caliph and his ministers through to see the evidence of Korfu's deed.
"Am I a god-to-be?" asked Korfu.
"Perhaps," admitted the Caliph grudgingly, "but you are not a god."
"Yet." answered Korfu. "But someday I will be and I would not have you or anyone else forget my Great Tasks. I am also a merciful god-to-be and would not see the dragon suffer when it may still be put to some good. Therefore, I declare this place to be my first temple, this observer to be my first priest, this dragon as my first temple guardian, and you, Caliph, will be my first royal patron."
"Preposterous! I am a devout believer of the Family Divine!"
"This place will act as a natural way point," said Korfu, "Caravans making their way between the Caliphate and Altai will surely pass through here. When they do, a toll will be charged equal to one-tenth the value of the goods being shipped, plus two oxen or four camels. The Caliphate will receive nine-tenths of the toll money collected. The rest of the toll and the animals will be given to the dragon. Should you ever fail to uphold this agreement, then the prison walls will vanish and Sagarwan will be free to wreak a terrible vengeance upon the Caliphate and its Caliph."
"You said you were merciful."
"I am. The dragon is not. Besides, it's only fair. Keep the dragon fed and happy in remembrance of my Great Task and the lion's share of revenue from trade with Altai is yours. Seems like a small price to pay."
Again, the Caliph's brows furrowed as he consulted with his ministers. Finally he said, "Very well, Korfu god-to-be, it shall be as you have said."
Korfu thanked the Caliph and, leaving some final instructions for his new priest, he set off to wander once more...
-- The Record of Korfu
"Blasphemy!" shouted the Caliph, "there is only the Family Divine! All other gods are merely puffed up demons and to think that a man could attain even a demon's height is sheer foolishness."
Korfu shrugged, "Then it is good that I am not a man."
"Take him away. Have him executed. Slowly."
"Are you so unsure of your own faith, your Majesty?" asked Korfu, "If I am a poor deluded mortal then I present no threat to you or your religion. If I am a god-to-be, then I must prove it."
"What proof could you offer?"
"What proof would you accept? It is easy enough for me to set my own tasks, but surely there must be some difficulty facing your caliphate that cannot be resolved by mere mortals -- something only a god-to-be could accomplish for you."
"It would only prove you a demon if you could accomplish it," said the Caliph.
"I have openly declared myself a god-to-be before the people of this land and before it's very ruler. Surely the Family Divine will not allow such a flagrant claim to go untested, here in lands of the First Hearth itself. If my claim is not just, then surely the Family Divine will exercise their power to stop me. False prophets have never flourished in the Caliphate."
The Caliph furrowed his brow in thought while his ministers conferred with him. Finally he looked up at Korfu. "Beyond the Southern Deserts lie the lands of Altai. It is a land of rare treasures and goods and we trade heavily with them. But the deserts have a terrible scourge. Sagarawan, "The Falling Sky", is a terrible dragon that strikes from the noonday sun and lays waste to caravans crossing the Southern Desert. Hardly one caravan in ten makes it through, but even so the trade is so lucrative that brave men will risk all to make the trip. Destroy this Sagarawan and you shall clearly have proven your claim."
"I'm afraid that I can't destroy Sagarawan," said Korfu, "Not because I am incapable," he added hastily, "but because I am a merciful god-to-be who respects all sentient life. Even life that doesn't return that respect. Still, if I can trap and hold this dragon (a task far more difficult than merely killing him), would you consider the task fulfilled?"
"Kill him, capture him, either way you're dead, heretic."
"I'll take that as a yes."
So Korfu, accompanied by a small squad of soldiers, official observers of the Caliph, and two caravans headed up by men with more avarice than common sense made the trek into the Southern Desert. At noon on the sixteenth day of the trip, Korfu halted the group near an oasis. "We are about to be attacked by Sagarawan," he said, "it would be best if you all dismounted so that when the fear takes you, you will be able to run freely with a minimum of fuss. Also, you will become tired quickly and it will be easier to round you all up later."
The assembled throng hardly had time to scoff at Korfu, when a terrible rising wail deafened them. With an earth-jarring crash, Sagarawan was among them and man and horse fled in all directions. Only Korfu and one of the official observers managed to stand fast.
"Sagarawn!" called Korfu, "your murder and pillaging are at an end!"
With a snort, the terrible dragon lunged forward to devour Korfu. Korfu merely cupped his hands and brought them together. From the sky, a giant, inverted bowl slammed down over Sagarwan.
"It is finished," said Korfu, "let the cosmic tablets record that I, Korfu, have completed another Great Task and so move ever closer to godhood."
"The dragon will surely dig it's way out from beneath the mound," said the observer.
"Not so," answered Korfu, "the top half of the sphere is joined to its lower half below the ground. Thus, Sand and Sky are united to trap the monster. He cannot fly away and he cannot dig himself out. Even now you can hear his frustrated roaring. There are small passageways around the perimeter so one can slip inside and view the beast. Have no fear, the dragon cannot squeeze out through the passages and portions of the passageway are clear, so you can get a good look. The whole of the sphere is impervious to magic and lightning."
After stepping inside and confirming everything that Korfu said was true, the observer cast a spell and brought the Caliph and his ministers through to see the evidence of Korfu's deed.
"Am I a god-to-be?" asked Korfu.
"Perhaps," admitted the Caliph grudgingly, "but you are not a god."
"Yet." answered Korfu. "But someday I will be and I would not have you or anyone else forget my Great Tasks. I am also a merciful god-to-be and would not see the dragon suffer when it may still be put to some good. Therefore, I declare this place to be my first temple, this observer to be my first priest, this dragon as my first temple guardian, and you, Caliph, will be my first royal patron."
"Preposterous! I am a devout believer of the Family Divine!"
"This place will act as a natural way point," said Korfu, "Caravans making their way between the Caliphate and Altai will surely pass through here. When they do, a toll will be charged equal to one-tenth the value of the goods being shipped, plus two oxen or four camels. The Caliphate will receive nine-tenths of the toll money collected. The rest of the toll and the animals will be given to the dragon. Should you ever fail to uphold this agreement, then the prison walls will vanish and Sagarwan will be free to wreak a terrible vengeance upon the Caliphate and its Caliph."
"You said you were merciful."
"I am. The dragon is not. Besides, it's only fair. Keep the dragon fed and happy in remembrance of my Great Task and the lion's share of revenue from trade with Altai is yours. Seems like a small price to pay."
Again, the Caliph's brows furrowed as he consulted with his ministers. Finally he said, "Very well, Korfu god-to-be, it shall be as you have said."
Korfu thanked the Caliph and, leaving some final instructions for his new priest, he set off to wander once more...
-- The Record of Korfu
