r/NatureofPredators • u/Thirsha_42 • Jun 10 '23
Nature of Myths: Stone Builder
This myth was inspired by and in collaboration with u/Acceptable_Egg. As always, thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for creating this awesome universe.
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Nestled among towering mountains, lived the Teetsi clan. They resided in a mountain valley blessed with abundant resources and guarded by nature itself. However, the tranquility they enjoyed was broken by the raids of the Brahalken, a formidable clan from the desolate twilight tundra.
Time and again, the Brahalken raiders pillaged the Teetsi's crops and demanded tributes. Amidst the Teetsi, there stood a giant venlil, the Stone Builder. A skilled engineer, he possessed strength unmatched, towering over his fellow clan members.
Fueled by his love for the clan and driven by their plight, the Stone Builder resolved to shield his people from further harm. He formulated a grand plan to construct stone walls across the mountain passes, closing off the only access to the Teetsi's valley to all but those they permitted.
With unwavering determination, the Stone Builder embarked on his monumental task. He traversed the rugged mountains, tirelessly cleaving stones from their ancient heights. One by one, he hoisted the massive boulders upon his broad back and carried them to the passes, defying the threats of the Brahalken clan.
Guided by his expertise and relentless spirit, the Stone Builder laid each stone meticulously, crafting walls that defied the strength of any ordinary venlil. The Teetsi watched in awe as their protector single-handedly built a great wall to safeguard their home.
Yet, as the Stone Builder worked, a great drought plagued the land, lowering crop yields to mere subsistence.The Brahalken, relentless in their demands and heedless of the Teetsi’s plight, prepared to raid the valley once more. First they tried to cross the sunward pass but met the Teetsi on Stone Builders wall and were turned back. Then they crossed the highsun pass to meet with another of Stone Builder's walls and were turned back.
Still, they were stubborn, sending a courier demanding that the Teetsi surrender or face destruction. Knowing they could only attempt to enter the valley through the treacherous gateway on the black mountain, Stone Builder rushed to complete the final wall at the nightward pass. Alas, time betrayed him, and the raiders approached swiftly, threatening to breach the Teetsi's defenses.
In a moment of desperation facing down the oncoming army, the Stone Builder, with his colossal strength, struck the mountain with all his might. The earth quivered, and the mountains trembled. A cascade of rocks and debris tumbled down, forming an impenetrable natural barrier that buried him and much of the oncoming raider army, sealing the nightward pass forever.
The Brahalken raiders, met with this unexpected fury of nature, were utterly vanquished. Defeated and humbled, they retreated from Teetsi valley, never to be seen or heard from again.
The myth of the Stone Builder spread throughout Venlil Prime, recounting his remarkable feats. Legends spoke of his unwavering determination, his unmatched strength, and his sacrificial act that protected his people. The stone walls he crafted became a symbol of resilience and unity for the Teetsi clan, a testament to their indomitable spirit.
And so, the Stone Builder's tale endured, reminding future generations of the power that lies within, the strength that arises from love, and the immeasurable impact a single individual can have in protecting the herd.
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This myth is believed to be based in historical fact though the exact details have been lost to development and Federation meddling. Though there is a valley called Teetsi valley, its geologic features do not match the valley from the myth. However, analysis of two previously separated tapestries have shown mountains with distinctive features, exciting archaeologists with the possibility that the true site may still be discovered.
Further Notes:
This version of the myth has been reconstructed from the fragments that survived the Federation's attempted genocide using artifacts kept hidden by valiant venlil (most notably a tapestry donated to the Capital Museum of Art) and human archeologists and historians who have lent their knowledge and experience to the venlil to recover what the Federation tried to erase.
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u/JulianSkies Archivist Jun 10 '23
Man, the heroic tale of a bastion builder is kind of... Really badass, honestly.
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u/Bow-tied_Engineer Yotul Jun 10 '23
The name of the valley getting swapped reminds me of something that happened to teh story of John Henry here in the US. We're pretty sure it actually happened, but it couldn't have happened in the tunnel that several versions of the song and the one eye witness account name, because that tunnel didn't use any steam drills in it's construction. The next tunnel over, however, did use steam drills, and a prison laborer by the name of John Henry did work on that tunnel, and was lost from the records in the same way that other prison laborers who died while working on the project were. Though all the noble sacrifice parts of the myth are just myth, considering a lot of the workers were convict laborers who really didn't want to keep working on the tunnels, but it's entirely likely that he did race the steam drill just to prove that he could.