2920, Evening Star2920, First Seed2920, FrostFall2920, Hearth Fire2920, Last Seed2920, MidYear2920, Morning Star2920, Rain's Hand2920, Second Seed2920, Sun's Dawn2920, Sun's Dusk2920, Sun's Height36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1936 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2936 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 9A Dance in Fire, Chapter 1A Dance in Fire, Chapter 2A Dance in Fire, Chapter 3A Dance in Fire, Chapter 4A Dance in Fire, Chapter 5A Dance in Fire, Chapter 6A Dance in Fire, Chapter 7A dying man's last wordsA Fair WarningA Game at DinnerA Hypothetical TreacheryA Less Rude SongA scroll written in bloodA Short History of MorrowindA worn and weathered noteAedra and DaedraAjira's Flower ReportAjira's Mushroom ReportAncestors and the DunmerAntecedants of Dwemer LawArcana RestoredArkay the EnemyAzura and the BoxBiography of Barenziah v IBiography of Barenziah v IIBiography of Barenziah v IIIBiography of the Wolf QueenBlasphemous RevenantsBone, Part OneBone, Part TwoBreathing WaterBrief History of the Empire v 1Brief History of the Empire v 2Brief History of the Empire v 3Brief History of the Empire v 4Brown Book of 3E 426Chance's FollyCharwich-Koniinge, Volume 1Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 2Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 3Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 4Cherim's Heart of AnequinaChildren of the SkyChimarvamidiumChronicles of NchuleftConfessions of a Skooma-EaterCorpse Preparation v ICorpse Preparation v ICorpse Preparation v IICorpse Preparation v IIIDagoth Ur's PlansDarkest DarknessDeath Blow of Abernanitdecoded packageDirections to Caius CosadesElante's NotesElone's Directions to BalmoraFellowship of the TempleFeyfolken IFeyfolken IIFeyfolken IIIFighters Guild CharterFive Songs of King WulfharthFor my Gods and EmperorFragment: On ArtaeumFrontier, Conquest...Galerion The MysticGalur Rithari's PapersGhost-Free PapersGrasping FortuneGreat Houses of MorrowindGuide to Ald'ruhnGuide to BalmoraGuide to Sadrith MoraGuide to VivecGuide to VvardenfellGuylaine's ArchitectureHallgerd's TaleHanging Gardens...Hanin's WakeHanin's WakeHomilies of Blessed AlmalexiaHonor Among ThievesHospitality PapersHow Orsinium Passed to the OrcsIce and ChitonIncident in NecromInvocation of AzuraKagrenac's ToolsLast Scabbard of AkrashLegions of the DeadLives of the SaintsLord Jornibret's Last DanceMages Guild CharterMaster Zoaraym's TaleMessage from Dagoth UrMessage from Master AryonMission to Vivec -- from CaiusMixed Unit Tactics v1Mysterious AkavirMystery of Talara, Part 1Mystery of Talara, Part 2Mystery of Talara, Part 3Mystery of Talara, Part 3Mystery of Talara, Part 4Mystery of Talara, Part 5MysticismNchunak's Fire and FaithNerevar at Red MountainNerevar Moon-and-StarNerevarine cult notesN'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!Night Falls On Sentinelnote from the ArchcanonNotes from HuleeyaNotes on Racial PhylogenyOdral's History of the Empire 1Odral's History of the Empire 2Odral's History of the Empire 3Odral's History of the Empire 4On MorrowindOn OblivionOrdo LegionisOrigin of the Mages GuildOverview of Gods and WorshipPackage for Caius CosadesPalla, Book IPalla, Book IIPeke Utchoo's last wordsPlan to Defeat Dagoth UrPoison Song IPoison Song IIPoison Song IIIPoison Song IVPoison Song VPoison Song VIPoison Song VIIProgress of TruthProvinces of TamrielRealizations of AcrobacyRed Book of 3E 426Redoran Cooking SecretsReflections on Cult WorshipRels Tenim Journal PageResponse to Bero's SpeechSaryoni's SermonsSaryoni's Sermons ManuscriptScroll of TyroniusSenilius' ReportSharn's Legions of the DeadSilenceSithisSmuggler's IslandSong of the AlchemistsSpecial Flora of TamrielSpirit of the DaedraStarlover's LogSurfeit of ThievesTal Marog Ker's ResearchesTamrielic LoreTarer's Aedra and DaedraThe Affairs of WizardsThe Alchemists FormularyThe Annotated AnuadThe Annotated AnuadThe AnticipationsThe Arcturian HeresyThe Armorer's ChallengeThe Art of War MagicThe Axe ManThe Battle of Red MountainThe Black Arrow, Volume 1The Black Arrow, Volume IIThe Black GloveThe Book of DaedraThe Book of Dawn and DuskThe Brothers of DarknessThe Buying GameThe Cake and the DiamondThe Cantatas of VivecThe Changed OnesThe Consolations of PrayerThe Doors of the SpiritThe DowryThe Dragon Break Re-ExaminedThe Eastern Provinces...The Final LessonThe FirmamentThe Firsthold RevoltThe Four Suitors of BenitahThe Gold Ribbon of MeritThe Hope of the RedoranThe Horror of Castle XyrThe House of TroublesThe House of TroublesThe Importance of WhereThe Legendary ScourgeThe Locked RoomThe Lost ProphecyThe Lunar LorkhanThe Madness of PelagiusThe Marksmanship LessonThe MirrorThe MonomythThe Old WaysThe Pig ChildrenThe Pilgrim's PathThe Posting of the HuntThe Prayers of BaranatThe Ransom of ZarekThe Real Barenziah v IThe Real Barenziah v IIThe Real Barenziah v IIIThe Real Barenziah v IVThe Real Barenziah v VThe Real NerevarThe Rear GuardThe Red Book of RiddlesThe Ruins of Kemel-ZeThe SeedThe Seven CursesThe Seven VisionsThe Third DoorThe True Nature of OrcsThe True Noble's CodeThe War of the First CouncilThe Waters of OblivionThe Wild ElvesThe Wolf Queen, Book IThe Wolf Queen, Book IIThe Wolf Queen, Book IIIThe Wolf Queen, Book IVThe Wolf Queen, Book VThe Wolf Queen, Book VIThe Wolf Queen, Book VIIThe Wolf Queen, Book VIIIThe Wraith's Wedding DowryThe Yellow Book of Riddlestradehouse noticeTrapUnnamed BookVampires of Vvardenfell, v IVampires of Vvardenfell, v IIVarieties of Faith...Vernaccus and BourlorVivec and MephalaWhere Were You ... Dragon BrokeWithershinsWords and PhilosophyWords of Clan Mother AhnissiYellow Book of 3E 426Zainsubani's Notes |
|
The Importance of Where Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part III By Marobar Sul
The chieftain of Othrobar gathered his wise men together and said, Every morning a tenfold of my flock are found butchered. What is the cause?
Fangbith the Warleader said, A Monster may be coming down from the Mountain and devouring your flock.
Ghorick the Healer said, A strange new disease perhaps is to blame.
Beran the Priest said, We must sacrifice to the Goddess for her to save us.
The wise men made sacrifices, and while they waited for their answers from the Goddess, Fangbith went to Mentor Joltereg and said, You taught me well how to forge the cudgel of Zolia, and how to wield it in combat, but I must know now when it is wise to use my skill. Do I wait for the Goddess to reply, or the medicine to work, or do I hunt the Monster which I know is in the Mountain?
When is not important, said Joltereg. Where is all that is important.
So Fangbith took his Zolic cudgel in hand and walked far through the dark forest until he came to the base of the Great Mountain. There he met two Monsters. One bloodied with the flesh of the chieftain of Othrobar's flock fought him while its mate fled. Fangbith remembered what his master had taught him, that where was all that was important.
He struck the Monster on each of its five vital points: head, groin, throat, back, and chest. Five blows to the five points and the Monster was slain. It was too heavy to carry with him, but still triumphant, Fangbith returned to Othrobar.
I say I have slain the Monster that ate your flock, he cried.
What proof have you that you have slain any Monster? asked the chieftain.
I say I have saved the flock with my medicine, said Ghorick the Healer.
I say The Goddess has saved the flock by my sacrifices, said Beran the Priest.
Two mornings went by and the flocks were safe, but on the morning of the third day, another tenfold of the chieftain's flock was found butchered. Ghorick the Healer went to his study to find a new medicine. Beran the Priest prepared more sacrifices. Fangbith took his Zolic cudgel in hand, again, and walked far through the dark forest until he came to the base of the Great Mountain. There he met the other Monster, bloodied with the flesh of the chieftain of Othrobar's flock. They did battle, and again Fangbith remembered what his master had taught him, that where was all that was important.
He struck the Monster five times on the head and it fled. Chasing it along the mountain, he struck it five times in the groin and it fled. Running through the forest, Fangbith overtook the Monster and struck it five times in the throat and it fled. Entering into the fields of Othrobar, Fangbith overtook the Monster and struck it five times in the back and it fled. At the foot of the stronghold, the chieftain and his wise men emerged to the sound of the Monster wailing. There they beheld the Monster that had slain the chieftain's flock. Fangbith struck the Monster five times in the chest and it was slain.
A great feast was held in Fangbith's honor, and the flock of Othrobar was never again slain. Joltereg embraced his student and said, You have at last learned the importance of where you strike your blows.
Publisher's Note:
This tale is another, which has an obvious origin among the Ashlander tribes of Vvardenfell and is one of their oldest tales. Marobar Sul merely changed the names of the character to sound more Dwarven and resold it as part of his collection. The Great Mountain in the tale is clearly Red Mountain, despite its description of being forested. The Star-Fall and later eruptions destroyed the vegetation on Red Mountain, giving it the wasted appearance it has today.
This tale does have some scholarly interest, as it suggests a primitive Ashlander culture, but it talks of living in strongholds much like the ruined strongholds on Vvardenfell today. There are even references to a stronghold of Othrobar somewhere between Vvardenfell and Skyrim, but few strongholds outside of sparsely-settled Vvardenfell have survived to the present. Scholars do not agree on who built these strongholds or when, but I believe it is clear from this story and other evidence that the Ashlander tribes used these strongholds in the ancient past instead of making camps of wickwheat huts as they do today.
The play on words that forms the lesson of the fable -- that it is as important to know where the monster should be slain, at the stronghold, as it is to know where the monster must be struck on its body to be slain -- is typical of many Ashlander tales. Riddles, even ones as simple as this one, are loved by both the Ashlanders and the vanished Dwemer. Although the Dwemer are usually portrayed as presenting the riddles, rather than being the ones who solve it as in Ashlander tales.
|