The Slaying of Menam

Summary

Marduk Zikar was one of the most martially powerful mortals to ever live and Menam was one of the strongest and most monstrous titans. In the earliest days of civilization Menam was a recurring scourge preventing the continued flourishing and development of that civilization until finally Marduk rose up and destroyed him in a cataclysmic battle, allowing civilization to finally bloom.

Historical Basis

The Slaying of Menam is one of the most historically grounded myths known to Khthon. Marduk Zikar was a real man of undetermined species but commonly assumed to be a giant. Menam was a real monster, perhaps the greatest of the titans, themselves the greatest children of Elendra. These two great forces did in fact clash, leading the the end of Menam and his interference in the growth of civilization.

Spread

The baseline legend about the great hero Marduk Zikar slaying the horrible monster Menam and saving the newly created civilization is nearly universally told and known. What is desperately prevented from being widely known is the truer version where Marduk failed to slay Menam and Menam later died after his last believer forsook him, in great part due to the widespread belief in his loss to Marduk. There are a great many myths which have a significant departure from the facts, but none have as dedicated and systematized a campaign to suppress the truth and promote the myth. While a significant amount of this comes from the predictable motivations of supporting civilization's foundation, preserving the legacy of a great hero, and preventing fear of the remaining titans there is a deeper motivation at play. Menam was a titan, but also something of a demigod. Belief affects his being and it is feared that the belief that he was killed may in fact be the thing keeping him dead, though not as feared as the thought that the revelation he wasn't may return him to life.

Date of First Recording

34,671 Bliss

Date of Setting

31,000 Bliss