Mythology

Many myths and legends are told on Asmir, of ancient heroes and powerful gods.

## Myths from Asmir

### The Forest and the Trees

As the door flew open and the fire was abruptly blown out, Khuzdal looked up from his forge. Oberist was standing in the door frame, holding his staff in one hand and a strange item in another. "What", he said, "is *this*?! What have you tinkered up this time, my little brother?"

Khuzdal put down his hammer, and took a deep breath. As he wiped the sweat of his face with one of his arms, he cracked a smile. "Ah, I take it my new invention is being put to good use by the people? They should be laboring hard by now; on other things, I mean."

Oberist let out a deep sigh. He dropped his hand, and the object fell onto the ground with a loud, metallic \*clink\*. "Yes, it's been put to good use, alright. This, *axe*, as you call it? The people have been cutting down trees left and right! My trees didn't stand a chance; don't stand a chance."

"You worry too much, old man" said Khuzdal. "This will only make life easier for all both people. All our people. Like my ores in the grounds, your trees on the ground are put there for them. The people have always mined my mountains, and foraged from your forests. My inventions will make those tasks easier, and the people will move on to other pursuits."

"You are young", Oberist replied, "and short-sighted: your bright eyes only see what's directly in front of you. Yes, it will make life easier for the people. And people will move on to other pursuits than the cutting of wood. But those pursuits will require wood. When the Miners and Blacksmiths start to pursue warfare, they will only require more metals, not less. Look at this very invention of yours: a metal blade on a wooden handle, and the people will want to make many more of them."

"Though what you say is true, and my forests exist for the people much like your mountains do. But your mountains are made of hard rock, and my forests of brittle wood and delicate leaves. With the tools you have given them, the reach of the people will surpass their grasp. Nature will be chopped down faster than it can regrow, until none of it remains. I cannot let that come to pass."

### The Vessels of Khuzdal

When he descended into the Sheltered Bay, Ulmon taught the people there the ways of the water: to read its dangerous currents, and hunt for the fish that swim them. Satisfied they would be able to sustain themselves, he left them in the sanctuary of the Sheltered Bay and returned to the Middle Ocean. Time passed, and Ulmon stayed in in the depths of his realm.

On a clear day, Ulmon noticed something came passing into the Middle Ocean. A strange formation of wood, far from the lands, navigating the Western Strait. Drawing to the surface, Ulmon went to inspect the intruder at his border: a sturdy vessel made out of wood, bearing large sails made of cloth by which the winds push it forwards. Such a thing could only be devised by his brother, Khuzdal, and it came towards the Ocean as in to challenge its might.

Furious at this disrespect, Ulmon speeds towards the impudent vessel. Around the small boat, the waters start to swirl, the waves rising higher and higher. Lightning strikes the water from a clear sky, and Ulmon appears before the sailors on the boat in a terrible visage, eyes flashing with lightning as the skies above darken in in an instance.

"Who are you, to search for my domain? To move atop my waters, as a challenge to my rule? Speak quickly, before I return you to the depths where you belong!"

When Ulmon appeared, the people aboard the boat were terrified, and quickly threw themselves on the deck in submission. Now one of them rose her head, and replied: "Lord of the Waters, me and my crew have labored hard to reach this place, the deep Ocean across the impassable Western Strait. We are the descendants of the people of the Sheltered Bay, who were taught the ways of the water by you."

The woman stood up, and Ulmon could see she spoke true. As she rose up, she revealed a fine tunic colored a deep blue, wearing a large pearl pendant on her chest,

"Many generations have passed", she continued, "since your departure from the sanctuary you left for us. Our people live content lives, but our hearts yearned for our Lord, and the Deep Waters you had returned to. We do not come as a challenge to your rule, Lord of Oceans, but to prove our worth to you. By using the skills you taught us, we have navigated the maelstrom of the Western Strait, and now we humbly beg of you to return."

At hearing this tale, Ulmon's anger slowly ebbed away. The waves around them settled, and clouds faded from the sky. His face was still grim, but there was a sparkle of pride in his eyes. "You and your people have done well", he said, "to accomplish this feat: the ways leading to the Middle Ocean are not easily passed. But you did not do this without help. So tell me about this contraption, for I see the hands of my Brother on it."

"It is true", the woman admitted, "these ships are a design of Khuzdal your Brother, who gave us the gift of Shipwright. You taught us to swim and safely navigate the waters of the Sheltered Bay, but unlike the denizens in your realm, our people cannot swim far, or remain underwater for long. Seeing us struggle at the edge of the water, Khuzdal allowed us to travel the vast distances of the seas. With his tools, we were able to master the skills we were gifted by you."

Ulmon, still tempting to strike the vessel down, reflected on these matters. Eventually he bowed his head, and smiled. "My Brother is kind, and generous. He saw your struggles, and helped you attain your desires. And for desiring to travel the waters, I can blame none of your people. The Sailorshave risen beyond what I thought them capable of, as evidence by your arrival here. For this you deserve praise, not punishment, and I shall accompany you back through the Western Strait."

"But let it be known among the Sailors: I cannot allow this impudence from my Little Brother, undermining my rule. Those who use their own strengths and abilities to travel the Middle Ocean may do so, but those who are dependent on the Gift of Khuzdal shall be stricken down, until they sink into the depths alongside the wreckage of their vessel."

## Myths from Korela

### The Dispute Between Queens

When Unas returned, and found her beloved realm thrown into chaos, she set out to rebuilt. She gathered her Minor Gods of Korela, and laid down her new rule before them. She demanded each of them to swear their loyalty, and one by one they bowed to their Prime Queen.

When Unas stepped before the Queen of the Oceans, she said onto her "In my new realms, people shall no longer be sent to their deaths with indifference. You may have your raging storms and tempest seas, if that is what you wish for your domain, but you will grant my people the protection they require."

The Queen of the Oceans went quiet, her face calm and still as the sea after a storm, or leading up to one. "My Queen, I am the Ocean: calm, gentle, and giving, but also fierce and without mercy. Such is my Being, and my people love me because of it, not in spite of it. Do not ask me to be someone other than who I am."

At this Unas gave pause, and spent a moment in thought. Eventually, she replied, "I shall not ask you to be someone other than who you are. The truth of what you say is evident in the adoration of your people, and I will not demand mercy for them if they themselves do not with it. But other people live in my realm also, and many of them do not love your cruel ways, yet still find themselves in need to travel your waters. Would you not consider offering sanctuary for those innocent souls?"

"I have my own ways," replied the Queen of the Ocean, "but I am not beyond reason. As you say, the truth of my words is evident, and all who thread on my waters know the risks they take. I feel no responsibility for the fate they choose. However, I may be persuaded to offer sanctuary, to any of the people whose Gods are willing to bargain for them; be it by one of my brothers and sisters, my cousins, or you yourself my Queen."