The Dereliction of Thegan
Upon his death, the soul of Thegan ascended to the upper planes and was made divine, along with Imma. The two were given great powers and allowed to roam the heavens. Thegan spent some years exploring the lands above while looking down over the Bonte assuring them fortune and good harvest. However after the years passed Thegan grew bored and returned to the material world where he was immediately struck by wanderlust. For while he was able to view the entirety of the world from above he was not able to readily see the changes that were taking place upon the world close up. Now that he walked among the mortals though he wanted to see everything, especially the newly settled lands of the Bonte.
Thegan began a long journey over mountains through dense forests and upon the wide grasslands enjoying all that he witnessed. During this time however he abandoned the care of the Bonte. Without the nourishing rains that Thegan brought the fields withered and died becoming dried patches of broken earth. Nine devastating years of drought and famine were visited upon the Bonte and the people starved. The priests and followers of Thegan continued to carry out rituals and sing prayers to the heavens but with Thegan removed the people suffered.
Although Thegan could not hear the prayers of his followers another did, the wise Flouerana, a powerful wandering sage. Flouerana was kindly young maiden who travelled between villages to use her knowledge of plants to brew healing drafts along with magical skill to remove disease. Upon visiting the Bonte though she was struck speechless by their long suffering and knew that even with her powers she would be unable to save them. Instead Flouerana tempted forth a bee and cast upon a spell to enlarge it. Thus the bee able to cover much greater area Flouerana whispered to it, asking the bee to search out Thegan.
The bee followed the orders of Flouerana and traveled for nine days crossing great strides of the land as it searched. Upon the ninth day it found Thegan relaxing in a beautiful meadow. The bee while intelligent could not speak so it attempted to buzz around Thegan thus gaining the gods attention. Thegan was not to be roused however enjoying the beauty of the grove as he was. The bee continued to buzz flying closer to Thegan, the god not understanding instead struck at the bee. This agitated the bee for it was only trying to help and it then stung Thegan hoping to draw the god out of his reverie.
Thegan having been stung by the bee flew into a rage. Unable to control his temper Thegan lashed out sending violent storms down upon the world, filled with strong winds and driving rains. The ground, parched for so long was unable to handle this deluge and soon began to flood. The Bonte even more fearful took the last of their food and livestock to the top of Thegan's temple and held a massive feast hoping their supplication would calm the god. After nine days of prayer, animal sacrifice, song, and dance Thegan finally hears the pleas of his followers. He pauses his tantrum to visit the Bonte and witness the reason for their celebration.
Upon listening to their laments he realizes the error and grief he has caused. When Thegan has finally regained his composure he calls forth Flouerana and his followers offering apologies for his absence and destruction of the Bonte. He makes a pact with the survivors promising to return to the heavens and continue his duties never to repeat his disappearance again. He then instructs them to hold a festival every nine years as a reminder so he never again loses his temper. Before departing for heaven, Thegan found the bee that stung him, having learned from Flouerana the bees true intent he offers it a portion of his divine power. In so doing, the bee became a symbol of his divine power and in a turn a servant of Thegan to help the crops and plants flourish.
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