Cleas

## Background

Cleas is a reoccurring figure in Brigantine mythology and folklore who is well known for causing trouble for others. His earliest tales can be traced back to the founding of the Avon clan but as his stories grew in popularity amongst the other Brigantine clans so too did the many interpretations of his character. For example while the Avon can believe Cleas to be a deity who's goal is to test the faith of mortals, other clans believe Cleas is just a powerful, mortal warlock who likes to pull tricks on others.

## Myths

### OLVAS OATH

200 years after the great flooding of Brigantine, there lived a sheep hoarder by the name of Olva. One day the local nornir (a elderly lady who is known for having visions of the future) for told that Olvas sheep would grow sickly and die causing her way of life would be lost by the end of the year.

Olva would seek out a council from a high priest to save her Sheep from such a fate. The high priest would tell Olva to seek out their Goddess Brigantia and make a oath with her. The priest would advise that she sacrifices one creature to the goddess so her sheep may live. Olva would agree and set out to find another animal to sacrifice.

Eventually she came across two animals. A cow and a nest of bees. The priest had told Olva to sacrifice the cow before leaving as a cow has more value due to it being able to providing milk and leather. But as she approached the cow an old man appeared saying that this cow was his and the bees nest is much more valuable a gift than a cow as bees spread life. Olva would take the old mans advise and by the years end she would sacrifice the bees to the goddess Brigantia.

Olva was content that she had saved the sheep by exchanging a nest of bees and for a while the sheep thrived. But soon the sheep got sicker and grew weaker. By the years end they had all died. Confused, Olva would curse her goddess for breaking their oath but as she did the old man who told her to take the bees nest instead would appear.

The old man would reveal himself to be the elderly nornir who predicted the vision of her sheep dying to Olva from the start before finally changing into his true form. Cleas The warlock trickster. He would explain how without the bees around no life could continue meaning no fresh grass to keep Olvas sheep alive. Cleas would mock Olva for her poor judgment in trusting a stranger over a high priest before vanishing as he laughed in the distance after how Olva had fell for his cruel tricks.

### THE BOY AND THE FOX

One day a young boy was stuck watching over a flock of sheep while the other town children played. He would watch from afar as the other kids played wishing he was there instead of here but he still had one more hour until he could leave. That is when Cleas disguised as a farmer would approach the boy. He told the boy that he would watch the flock while the boy played for an hour. The boy would agreed and without a second thought abandoned his flock to go play. When the boy had returned after playing the farmer was nowhere to be found. all that was left was a fox picking his teeth from the wool of the flock he had just eaten. A punishment from Cleas on the boy for not being patient and putting responsibility upon another.

### THE END OF DAYS

Before the end of days Cleas would trick four men into his service. A farmer, a warrior, a chieftain and a priest. He would give each of theses four men a flock of sheep to look after until the end of days begin. On the first day of the end of the world the farmer will abandon his flock and famine will consume the land.On the second day, the warrior will abandon his flock and war will consume the land. On the third day, the chieftain will abandon his flock and conquest will consume the land. On the fourth day, The priest will abandon his flock and death will consume the land. On the fifth and final day of this event, The mortals that the goddess Brigantia deemed worthy to survive the end of days will guid them to the abandon flock the four men left behind so that they can start anew when Brigantia remakes the world.