The Heron's Feathers - Heronian Myth

Heronian Myth

"The Heron's Feathers" is a story told by the Heronian people. It explains the reason it is always raining in the kingdom of Heronis.

Summary

"The Heron's Feathers" Once, there was a beautiful heron that dwelled by the shores of the lake Vargos. The heron possessed magical feathers that would bring good fortune to anyone in their task, and she could control the rains themselves. Few creatures knew of this magical bird. Only the humans of Heronis, the kingdom just a few miles from the lake, were aware of the Heron's existence. At this time, Heronis was a dry and sunny place, and they had good weather every day. There were almost no rains. One day, a goblin who had heard whispers of the magical heron arrived at the lake Vargos. He asked the Heron, "May I please take just the tiniest of your beautiful blue feathers? I wish to gain immeasurable amounts of gold in my travels." The heron stared. She did not answer. "In return, I shall give you ten percent of my earnings. You will be the richest bird in the world!" The goblin said. The heron stared. The goblin was greedy. He did not deserve her magical feathers. She told him to leave this place, and never come back. He would have no feathers of hers. Instead, she cursed him with a personal rain cloud, so that he would never be dry. Another day, a dryad who had heard whispers of the magical heron arrived at the lake Vargos. She asked the heron, "May I please have just the tiniest of your beautiful blue feathers? I wish to make a man fall in love with me." The heron stared. She did not answer. "In return, I will give you one of our children. You will be the happiest bird in the world!" The heron stared. The dryad was impatient and full of lust. She did not deserve her magical feathers. She told her to leave this place and never come back. She would have no feathers of hers. Instead, she cursed her with no rain at all. She would shrivel up and die, just like the tree she inhabited. Another day, a Heronian man who had heard whispers of the magical heron arrived at the lake Vargos. "Do you wish for one of my feathers as well?" The heron asked the man. "No," he told her, "I have only come to admire your beautiful blue feathers. People speak of how wondrous and graceful you are, and I could not resist the journey." The heron was flattered. She had never met anyone who did not want her magical feathers. The man stayed all day and watched the heron go about her business. He was captivated by the graceful bird. And then, at the end of the day, he left, and went back home to Heronis, uncursed. He came back the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next. The heron had come to trust him, and one day, she offered him a gift. "You have gained my trust, and showed me that you are not as greedy as the others that have paid me visits. You may have one of my feathers." She plucked one from her chest, and dropped it in the man's hands. The man took the feather humbly and hurried back home to Heronis. The next day, he did not come back to the lake. The heron was saddened by this and missed the man dearly. She wondered where he was and why he had not come back to see her. At nightfall, the heron was delighted to see the Heronian man return to her home. "Where have you been, my friend?" She asked. The man apologized and said he had been teaching his son to sail. The heron grew fearful to see many men gathered behind him, all with fire and nets. "Why have you brought so many men with you?" the heron asked, though she knew the answer to this question. Anger stirred inside her at the knowledge that the man had betrayed her. "I must bring you to Heronis, the king has decreed it," he said tearfully. The men, aided by the magic feather's power, were able to capture the bird and haul her back to Heronis. They brought her before the king, who stared at her longingly. "You want my feathers too, I assume," she told him. "If you wish to steal what is mine, it will come at a great price. You can kill me for my bounty if you please, but be prepared for the consequences." That very day, the king had the heron beheaded and her feathers contained in the castle. Her death released an abundance of terrible curses on the kingdom. The man that betrayed her died in a storm while he was on the ocean. The king's bloodline was cursed - no one ever knew what that curse was. The sky, mourning the loss of one of its beautiful birds, began to cry. It cried and cried, rained and rained, and to this very day, it still rains in the kingdom of Heronis.

Historical Basis

It is more like a story than a historical event. There is no actual proof of this happening, it was just a way that the heronians used to explain a natural phenomenon. It is true that an abundance of herons and wading birds live in the marshlands northwest of Heronis, but no one actually knows if there truly is a magical being living there.

Spread

This myth is only known by the Heronian people.

Variations & Mutation

Depending on who you hear it from, there are a few different variations of this story - little things, though, like how the heron was killed, how or if she cursed her victims, and who came to visit her (like changing the greedy goblin to a paladin fighting for his kingdom). Younger generations tend to tell versions less violent/negative, like changing the beheading to dying peacefully, or not having her curse the others that visited her.

Cultural Reception

The myth is viewed with a grain of salt - few Heronians actually believe it happened. It is used more as a joke or idiom. For example, someone fed up with the non-stop rain would say something like, "I'm going to kill the person that angered that heron!" Some of the older Heronians believe it has some religious significance, being that Heronis's whole religion revolves around the birds that inhabit their kingdom.

In Literature

This story is briefly mentioned in some religious texts, but not paid a great amount of attention to (religion-wise). In other literature, though, there are many common allusions to this story.

In Art

Many artists like to depict scenes from this story - you will see it everywhere, on tapestries, in paintings, even in stained glass. It is a very common artistic topic, for everyone knows the story.

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