Azhdaha

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|-|The Journal=
 
It was on the thirteenth day of the seventh month that we found the old Sea-Witch. She was living in an isolated cove hidden from the untrained eye, and from what we could tell, she had been living in this way for quite some time. 
We had heard that she was the only one who still remembered an era past when dragons were few, and scavengers even fewer. We had heard that she was the only one who might have the knowledge we so heavily sought. 
We asked her for this knowledge; for what she knew about a dragon from the past, who belonged in the past and should perhaps stay there. 
Azhdaha.
Here is what the old Sea-Witch proclaimed, on the thirteenth day of the seventh month, in an isolated cove tucked away from the rest of the world. I shudder to think of what she has said, but I have tried to record the words she spoke as faithfully as I could. 
Let this serve as a warning for future generations. May they not be as foolish as we were. 
|-|The Myth=
Listen closely, my child, that you do not make the same mistakes I did. This dragon I tell you of is a mighty being. He goes by many names. 
Azhdaha. Ezhdeha, Azhdar, Azhdahak. The great snake. The terrible serpent.
Strange legends shroud Azhdaha. Some say that if you cut off Azhdaha's head and plant it in the ground, the soil becomes good and fertile. Some say if you eat Azhdaha's heart, you will be filled with courage, and that his skin cures one of love-sickness and heartache.
I do not believe these claims. Can poor soil produce a good harvest? Will sweet fruit come from a rotted vine? For if these properties are real, then their magic is only temporary, or they will surely end in disaster.
Azhdaha is a dragon with a fierce face and bright eyes. His mouth is wide and filled with many teeth, each as long and sharp as a lance-tip. Azhdaha's wings are like the fins of a fish, and his body is that of a serpent. He lives in the water, and just as well, for by now he has grown too big for land. Azhdaha is so large, his body wraps around islands. When he moves, so does the ocean. The very earth shakes when he sets foot upon it.
All the creatures of the sea fear Azhdaha. Even the shark and the swordfish swim away in panic when they feel the waves that signify his presence.
Azhdaha terrorized the beings of the land, when he too lived on land. He took what was not rightfully his, and devoured the fruits of his neighbors. He conquered the kingdoms, and brought forth ruin and destruction upon them. Wherever he went, calamity followed. 
Many heroes fought Azhdaha, and struck Azhdaha down; but never would he stay down. For Azhdaha, you see, is not a single dragon. Azhdaha is many, and like pestilence, cannot be rid of forever. When one is removed, another takes it's place. So it was that Azhdaha would return to continue his oppressive reign. 
At last, the great hero came. He spoke words with such fervor that dragons across all tribes believed him. They rallied underneath him as one. They trusted in his words, in his strength. They trusted he would be their salvation, and free them from Azhdaha's cruelty. 
The hero lived up to their expectations. Carrying a mace shaped like an ox-head, he strode up to the palace Azhdaha had claimed for himself, having stolen it from the SeaWing queen. There, the hero fought Azhdaha.
It was a battle most violent. For many days and nights, all that could be heard in the Kingdom of Sea were the terrible blows the two aimed at each other. 
The foundation of the palace trembled, but still, they fought. The walls threatened to fall down around them, but still, they fought. Great fissures ran through the ceiling, but still, they fought. 
At last, the fight broke out from the palace, and into the sea. The hero wrestled Azhdaha in the water. The waves roared in protest, but down they went, the hero and the monster, clawing and biting deeper and deeper. 
They hit the ocean floor and continued their fight. The hero grabbed Azhdaha, and forced him into a sea-cave. With the pelts of lions did he bind Azhdaha. So beast was bound with beast. So Azhdaha was chained beneath the waters. 
So Azhdaha was punished for his crimes by being cast into the sea for eternity. 
Can you hear it? The wind, howling a vengeful song. It is his rage that gives it voice. Can you feel it? The water, crashing against the rocks. It is his anger heaving at them.
His hatred beats against the world. His hatred beats against us. And now, Azhdaha is once more. Azhdaha is free. It was in the waters that Azhdaha grew. He grew until his body coiled around islands, until the rocking of it could shake the earth, or produce waves of monstrous proportions. He grew until he was longer than a hundred gazes. He grew until, one day, his thrashing accomplished what he longed for. 
It was in the water that Azhdaha grew, and it was in the water that Azhdaha's restraints broke. But it will be on land when Azhdaha brings an end to us all. 
|-|The Trivialities=
I thank the Codemaster Himmalerin for creating her epic free formats and code guides. Without them, I would not have even known how to change the font or the colour of the text. 
This dragon was based off of the Iranian dragon, Azhdaha. Further inspiration was taken from the ancient texts of the Avesta, and from the epic poem Shanamah. Both of these feature Azhdahas who are ultimately defeated by great heroes. 
This particular Azhdaha and his accompanying story was made for the Myth-Inspired OC contest. I hope you enjoyed reading it! Have a wonderful day, you glorious swordfish. Don't let the Azhdaha bite. (:
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Category:CharactersCategory:Inspired by Fiction
Category:Males
Category:SeaWings
Category:Status (Legend)
Category:Content (LivVirtual)