Post by Chad on Sept 14, 2014 8:19:51 GMT -1
Taranis and the Atīr Widucawaros
Deep in the deepest of forests, the densest of woods, lived the Widucawarosī. They were wooden giants. They were tall and hard like large, sturdy oak. Their eyes were hollow, their limbs, tangled, woven into their frame, was that of their victims. Hair and sinew were streaked into their massive, wooden bodies.
They were vicious, as well as powerful. Remorseless in their feeding upon those who wandered into to the wooded depths beyond the horizon. In the depths where the forests were dark, the Widucawaros was an ever present threat to the farms and villages near the Dark Forest.
There were times when these horrid creatures would venture out of their forest home to feed upon any who crossed their path. These creatures would devour Men, if they had devoured all of them in the area, they would move on to livestock. Cattle and swine, along with anything else they could grasp.
Due to this, the people gathered to find a way to vanquish the foul Widucawarosī. The Tribe of Men sent their strongest and bravest warriors. Thirty of the strongest warriors of the nearby Tribe. The thirty warriors made their way into the Dark Forest.
As they entered, they heard the crunching of leaves under foot. Beyond this, all in the Forest was silent. Then, the warriors felt the ground quake beneath their feet. As the warriors readied their axes, maces, swords, spears, and bows, the Widucawaros appeared, with several of his kin. The first group of warriors, igniting their bows, rained fiery arrows down upon the Widucawarosī,
The fire did not burn deeply enough, thus enraging them further. With their massive wooden limbs, they charged against the warriors, swinging their massive arms. The brave warriors charged in against their foes. One man attempted to thrust his blade into the the Widucawaros’ flesh, only to find its flesh too strong, the warrior was then lifted, and torn apart, his flesh and blood showering the other warriors. They continued their brave charge against the odds.
Another warrior attempted to force a spear into her giant, wooden foe, meeting a similar fate that befell the swordsman. One warrior charged in with their mace. Their strike was more successful, leaving a small crack in his flesh. Yet, the heavy arm of the Widucawaros came down and crushed the brave warrior. A full blown slaughter ensued. In the aftermath, and consequently, the feeding, only three warriors survived. They were hidden under the pile of corpses, put together by the Widucawaros.
The three warriors, after making sure the creatures had left, made their way back to the village. There, they told the gruesome tale of their defeat. The widows wept, and the villagers mourned the loss of their finest warriors.
---
In the Otherworld, Taranis watched from above. He wanted to intervene. Yet there are some things even a god cannot do. Since no one requested his help, all he could really do was watch. Waiting for his help to be sought, he grew impatient. It takes a lot to stir the patience of Taranis! So he awaited the time when his assistance may be requested…
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So it was, the three survivors appealed to the Chieftain for a solution. Not that the Chieftain needed much convincing. ‘’It is in these times that we ought seek assistance from the Gods.’’, he spoke to the warriors. As much as they had wished it were they who had slain the creatures, they were happy to find any means necessary to defeat their new enemies.
It just so happened, a small group of Priests had set foot in the village. They wore long, grey robes. Not as colourful as what was normally worn in the area, but magnificent robes, nonetheless. Each had a necklace made of twisted metal wire, holding a charm in the shape of a wheel. At this point, it was not to be mistaken that these strange folks were part of the Cult of Taranis.
The warriors spoke with one of the members of the Cult. When asked for assistance, the Priest replied, ‘’An offering must be made, of course. A portion of your finest meat shall be burned in offering to Taranis. Prior to this, we shall invoke him. Perhaps he will help you.’’. With this information, the warriors brought the finest cut of meat they could find, along with a drink to appease Taranis as well.
The Priests of the Cult of Taranis awaited the three warriors. As they had returned with an appropriate offering, they commenced the ceremony to call upon Taranis. With this, they started:
We call upon you, the Nemosatīr.
Taranis, Lord of Sky and Storm!
Please hear the cries of we who need you.
Please vanquish the forests of these foul creatures.
Taranis, Lord of Sky and Storm!
We call upon you, Sky Father.
---
Taranis, now propitiated with offering, made his descent into our world. The three warriors, and the priests of the Cult, watched as clouds gathered in the sky. One Priestess looked up, and smiled, saying to the Warriors, ‘’There is your answer.’’.
From the otherworld, under the cover of a mighty storm, Taranis descended upon our world. His long, coarse hair, billowing in the wind, his staff in hand, he made his way into the Dark Forest. A mighty gale followed Taranis inside. The wind rustled and weaved through the trees. This brought the attention of three Widucawarosī. They sneered at the God of Thunder. The first charged, one strike from Taranis’ staff knocked the creature to the ground.
This enraged the other two giants. The blast of another gale took the remaining pair down. As they all were lying on the ground, Taranis forced his staff through an eye of each of the giants, killing them, one by one. Taranis then ventured in further.
In the depths of the Dark Forest, two more Widucawarosī appeared. One heavy wooden arm swung down upon Taranis, the clashing of the wood together, arm to staff, was heard throughout the forest. Then, with a powerful strike from his staff, slammed the first creature to the ground, striking it repeatedly, until its head was shattered.
The second creature attempted to flee, however, Taranis would not allow the creature to escape for all of its misdeeds. His staff struck the back of the creature’s head. At this point, Taranis was furious. He unleashed strike after strike, at first cracking, and then breaking the flesh of the Widucawaros. Taranis then ventured to the heart of the forest.
Once Taranis arrived, he encountered the Father of the Widucawarosī, who rose to see the Thunderer, spoke, ‘’You who hath slain my sons, shall reap the same fate. I do not fear you, or any other god.’’. To which, Taranis spoke, ‘’You may not fear me, but you cannot kill me. You will pay for what you have done. You are the last of your kind. you shall be vanquished forever more.’’. The Atīr Widucawarosī bellowed, ‘’You will find I cannot be killed, either!’’.
So, Taranis and the Atīr Widucawaros faced one another. Glaring into each other’s eyes, Atīr Widucawaros struck first. His arm, striking Taranis, and knocking him down. Taranis jumped up, staff in hand, and struck him in the head. The massive creature attempted to kick Taranis, but missed. Taranis struck him again with his staff. This enraged the Atīr Widucawaros, he started to swing his arms wildly, scratching Taranis with his wooden claws.
The Warriors and the Cult Priests went into the forest, following the intensity of the storm, and the path Taranis left. They came to witness the great battle.The storm was quite distracting, and the rain heavy, they could barely see what was going on. Yet it was enough for them to catch a glimpse of the battle.
Taranis met the strikes against him with that of his staff. His anger had reached its peak. He unleashed his fury in a single bolt of lightning that he directed from the sky. The strike caused the Atīr Widucawaros to burst into flames. He burned to ash, after which the flames were extinguished by the rain. Taranis took but a moment to admire his work, then he returned to the Otherworld to reflect upon the great battle he had fought.
With the departure of Taranis, the storm ended. The Cult and the Warriors, still in awe of the great event that had transpired, rushed back to the village to tell the tale. The Cult of Taranis then decided that every now and again, they would build a wooden giant and ignite it. This way they could remember and relive the tale. With the memory of this great battle in the minds of the people, the Widucawarosī were eliminated from the world. Taranis, the Nemosatīr, had prevailed.
