Within the pages of a plain leather-bound book was a legend written in a wispy, angular hand. The tale was first written in Gallwech, with a Common translation following. A note at the top of the entry read "Tale of the Night-Hunter - A Legend of the Talahm-Gall Highlands - Translated and Transcribed by Rionna Declan - May 22, 311"
In centuries long past, when the gods were young and people new to the world, before the approach of Nelfin ships, men and gods lived upon the same soil. Under their protection and guidance, men began to grow and thrive, but they were not yet ready to protect themselves from outside threats. One of these threats came in the form of Othluv, a powerful godly hunter who roamed the mountains with an insatiable hunger, picking off the fattest and most lazy of the mortals that wandered into his grasp. When Glaed came to him, shining and resplendent with the rays of the Sun, and told Othluv that he could no longer continue to hunt mortal men, Othluv protested that he had done it for the good of the mortals, who must learn to be cunning and strong if they wished to survive in the coming winters. The Prince of the Sun accepted this explanation and forgave Othluv, allowing him to go in peace so long as he promised not to feast upon mortal flesh again.
Days passed and it seemed that Glaed's kindly words had thawed Othluv's heart, for no reports of disappearances or mangled bodies were to be heard. But first one, then two, then three pleas reached the ears of the gods and, once again, Glaed went to Othluv, who he pitied for being excluded and disliked by the Vanir and wished for him to be made welcome. He reiterated again that to consume mortal flesh broke the laws of the gods and encouraged Othluv to hunt the beasts of the fields and forests instead, for they were fat and plentiful in those young days, and even placed some of his own light into Othluv's eyes so that he could see better in the dark. But Othluv could see the pity in the other god's eyes and resented him for it, hardening his heart and declaring that he would not stoop to hunt the forests like a mere beast, that he deserved to roam and take what he wished as his godly birthright. Glaed's expression hardened and storm clouds darkened the horizon as he warned Othluv that he could not be allowed to break the law again, but Othluv was undaunted.
It was not yet a week before evidence of Othluv's hunts once again became apparent. No longer did the gods have to wait for the begging prayers of mortal men to reach them, for their mangled bodies were left right upon the bases of the mountains where they dwelt. Finally, Glaed's anger hardened and, as the flash of lightning replaced the glow of the Sun, he rolled forth to do battle with Othluv. Othluv was standing ready, clad in a fur cloak of midnight black and wielding long, steel claws. The two gods crashed together with the force of thunder and earth, causing the shadows about them to flicker and dance as shadow and light vied together for supremacy. For many days and nights they fought, with Glaed's light banishing the darkness when he gained advantage and Othluv shrouding the world in endless night when the battle-tide favored him, but neither could fully overpower the other.
When it became apparent that he would be unable to defeat Othluv alone, Glaed called upon his fellow Vanir to aid him and Godsun answered in defense of the mortals he favored. Othluv fought hard against the two gods, even managing to wound them, but ultimately he could not defeat them both and was subdued. He was bound and brought up the mountain to stand judgment before Brom, the Wolf-King, who decreed that, if Othluv wished to act like a beast, he would be forced to live as one. Othluv was banished to the wilderness and forbidden to show his face in the daylight, with Godsun causing the Lynx's Silver Eye to keep watch on him by night. The gods believed that, banished from the comfort and security of their godly halls, Othluv would wither and weaken in his seclusion, but this would not be the case.
Cast out into the wilderness, Othluv would not weaken, but grow stronger. He howled his defiance to the sky, echoing from the mountains, and his fury pumped greater strength into his veins until he stood twice the height of a mortal man. Over time, even his shape began to change, taking the form of a black wolf in defiance of the Wolf-King's decree. Even though he could no longer appear by day, word of his strength and power spread throughout the villages and, as the world aged and hardships increased, mortals that had once shunned him began to heed his call. They came to him by night with tales of their plights - predators stealing their livestock, roving warbands slaughtering their people, a neighbor stealing their spouse - and he would offer them the choice to accept his gift of power if they dedicated their souls to him and not Brom. Many did come to accept this choice and, slowly, Othluv began to grow in power, becoming the Lord of Midnight, but still he resented the watchful light of the Moon.
With the aid of his followers, who could travel by day and hide in plain sight, Othluv learned of the mountain where the Moon slept. Slowly, quietly, he crept up the side of the mountain and prepared to lay an ambush for the sacred silver lynx. Black claws met white fur and, for a time, the Moon's light was hidden from the earth. But once again, Othluv was forced back into the shadows as the Eye woke, though he would always return each month when it slumbered. Such it has been since the earliest days, the Moon darkening each month before returning again, but it is said that each passing darkness becomes just a moment longer and that, one day, the rage of the spurned Lord of Midnight may well become powerful enough to overcome his bindings.
((Rionna told this story at an event the other day, so here it is posted for easier reading. I'm thinking I may post more scholarly writings on occasion, so keep an eye out for them!))
-x-
In centuries long past, when the gods were young and people new to the world, before the approach of Nelfin ships, men and gods lived upon the same soil. Under their protection and guidance, men began to grow and thrive, but they were not yet ready to protect themselves from outside threats. One of these threats came in the form of Othluv, a powerful godly hunter who roamed the mountains with an insatiable hunger, picking off the fattest and most lazy of the mortals that wandered into his grasp. When Glaed came to him, shining and resplendent with the rays of the Sun, and told Othluv that he could no longer continue to hunt mortal men, Othluv protested that he had done it for the good of the mortals, who must learn to be cunning and strong if they wished to survive in the coming winters. The Prince of the Sun accepted this explanation and forgave Othluv, allowing him to go in peace so long as he promised not to feast upon mortal flesh again.
Days passed and it seemed that Glaed's kindly words had thawed Othluv's heart, for no reports of disappearances or mangled bodies were to be heard. But first one, then two, then three pleas reached the ears of the gods and, once again, Glaed went to Othluv, who he pitied for being excluded and disliked by the Vanir and wished for him to be made welcome. He reiterated again that to consume mortal flesh broke the laws of the gods and encouraged Othluv to hunt the beasts of the fields and forests instead, for they were fat and plentiful in those young days, and even placed some of his own light into Othluv's eyes so that he could see better in the dark. But Othluv could see the pity in the other god's eyes and resented him for it, hardening his heart and declaring that he would not stoop to hunt the forests like a mere beast, that he deserved to roam and take what he wished as his godly birthright. Glaed's expression hardened and storm clouds darkened the horizon as he warned Othluv that he could not be allowed to break the law again, but Othluv was undaunted.
It was not yet a week before evidence of Othluv's hunts once again became apparent. No longer did the gods have to wait for the begging prayers of mortal men to reach them, for their mangled bodies were left right upon the bases of the mountains where they dwelt. Finally, Glaed's anger hardened and, as the flash of lightning replaced the glow of the Sun, he rolled forth to do battle with Othluv. Othluv was standing ready, clad in a fur cloak of midnight black and wielding long, steel claws. The two gods crashed together with the force of thunder and earth, causing the shadows about them to flicker and dance as shadow and light vied together for supremacy. For many days and nights they fought, with Glaed's light banishing the darkness when he gained advantage and Othluv shrouding the world in endless night when the battle-tide favored him, but neither could fully overpower the other.
When it became apparent that he would be unable to defeat Othluv alone, Glaed called upon his fellow Vanir to aid him and Godsun answered in defense of the mortals he favored. Othluv fought hard against the two gods, even managing to wound them, but ultimately he could not defeat them both and was subdued. He was bound and brought up the mountain to stand judgment before Brom, the Wolf-King, who decreed that, if Othluv wished to act like a beast, he would be forced to live as one. Othluv was banished to the wilderness and forbidden to show his face in the daylight, with Godsun causing the Lynx's Silver Eye to keep watch on him by night. The gods believed that, banished from the comfort and security of their godly halls, Othluv would wither and weaken in his seclusion, but this would not be the case.
Cast out into the wilderness, Othluv would not weaken, but grow stronger. He howled his defiance to the sky, echoing from the mountains, and his fury pumped greater strength into his veins until he stood twice the height of a mortal man. Over time, even his shape began to change, taking the form of a black wolf in defiance of the Wolf-King's decree. Even though he could no longer appear by day, word of his strength and power spread throughout the villages and, as the world aged and hardships increased, mortals that had once shunned him began to heed his call. They came to him by night with tales of their plights - predators stealing their livestock, roving warbands slaughtering their people, a neighbor stealing their spouse - and he would offer them the choice to accept his gift of power if they dedicated their souls to him and not Brom. Many did come to accept this choice and, slowly, Othluv began to grow in power, becoming the Lord of Midnight, but still he resented the watchful light of the Moon.
With the aid of his followers, who could travel by day and hide in plain sight, Othluv learned of the mountain where the Moon slept. Slowly, quietly, he crept up the side of the mountain and prepared to lay an ambush for the sacred silver lynx. Black claws met white fur and, for a time, the Moon's light was hidden from the earth. But once again, Othluv was forced back into the shadows as the Eye woke, though he would always return each month when it slumbered. Such it has been since the earliest days, the Moon darkening each month before returning again, but it is said that each passing darkness becomes just a moment longer and that, one day, the rage of the spurned Lord of Midnight may well become powerful enough to overcome his bindings.
((Rionna told this story at an event the other day, so here it is posted for easier reading. I'm thinking I may post more scholarly writings on occasion, so keep an eye out for them!))
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