A Fire Bound - Sárbolc's Trickery
The Divinity and the Dragon
There are many retellings of how the divinity Sárbolc tricked the Elden Wyrm Csártuzra, and gained his strength for his people. What follows here is the most commonly accepted version, a tale of arrogance and simple trickery.
A Fire Bound - I. A Gauntlet Thrown
Back in those days, the people of the newly founded town of Sárbolszég struggled to fend off the malicious füsters, creatures of smoke and evil intent. Sárbolc spend much of his time hunting them down to protect his followers, but still some of his followers died. And more importantly, he did not get to enjoy himself at all! To the prince of passion this was inexcusable. He needed someone or something to fend off these pests, so he could walk among his people and indulge himself.
Nearby lived the Elden Wyrm Csártuzra, one of the few dragons still in existence. Why there are so few no one knows, but whatever the case may be, this one stuck to itself. It rarely left its roost, and viciously attacked anyone who came near. It is a paranoid creature, but also a boastful and arrogant one. It was no match for a major divinity like Sárbolc, but to fight would be so costly to either side that he could not risk it. But perhaps he did not need to fight. The glimmer of an idea formed in Sárbolc's mind. He wasn't certain, but he never wanted to be certain. He would try anyway.
He traveled to the mountain roost disguised as a beggar, but the dragon easily saw through him. "Leave foul impostor, I can see the blood stuck to your soul. Not even the humans carry such sin", it said. Sárbolc threw back his hood and bowed. "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, please I've come to ask for help. My people suffer and only you can save them.", he pleaded. The dragon snorted, "I know full well what your kind is capable of, you do not need me. You simply wish to use me.", it responded. But Sárbolc persistsed. "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, please I come bearing no ill will. These pests float around, they will soon bother you too. Let us get rid of them before they can do any more damage." It feigned a yawn, "Those things cannot harm me. I have nothing to gain here, why should I leave?". Sárbolc then grinned and feigned a sigh, "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, what has become of you...Ah what the birds told me is true. You've holed yourself in here out of fear. I can see the glimmer in your eyes..." A burst of flame flew past the divinity as the dragon roared, "I DO NOT FEAR ANYTHING!". The divinity ducked nimbly out of the way and continued to shake his head. "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, forgive me for asking something so foolish. That blast just now told me all I needed to know. You would be of no help to me anymore. I am sorry, I must leave.", and he started to turn. "SILENCE!", the dragon roared once more. "You. You do not get to speak to me in such a way. You cannot fool me. That fire of mine is hotter than anything even in these lands. It burns brighter than even you I daresay." The divinity tried to hide his smirk as he turned back. "Oh Csártuzra, Csártuzra. I see you've grown not only fearful, but also senile.", the divinity formed a flame in the palm of his hand, "Nothing burns brighter than I do in these lands. I am truly sorry for what you've become..." "Prove it then.", the dragon hissed. "Prove it to me. I challenge you. A contest to see whose flame burns hottest. If you win I'll aid you in clearing these pests, if I win I take half your people's wealth as an offering." The divinity seemed to weigh the decision for a moment and then said, "I accept. I will take your challenge. I will even prepare the stage for our contest." The dragon was wary and narrowed its slitted eyes, but the divinity continued. "In exchange I will allow you to judge for yourselves, for I believe the difference between us to be so overwhelming that even you will recognize it." The dragon accepted these terms and with that the stage was set.
A Fire Bound - II. Fire and Steel
Sárbolc knew the dragon was wary, so he had explained his plans. He would ask the Törpék, masters of their craft, to prepare them suitable metal targets, enchanted to resist heat. The contest would be to melt the targets.
And so he did, but he secretly made an additional request of the sons of the earth. Bindings of obsidian, enchanted with his own divine might and the craftsmanship of the Törpék combined, it would withstand any flame and sap the strength of those it bound. The divinity weakened significantly due to the creation of this object, but as long as Csártuzra was reigned by its arrogance, it would only see this as proof of its superiority. Hopefully.
Three days later when the work was finished the contest started. The targets were lined up and one by one they released blasts of flames.
Quickly Csártuzra seemed to gain the upper hand, reducing swathes of targets to molten slag and cinders. The creature taunted Sárbolc, "Hah, who is senile now? Now that I see how impotent you are, I understand why you asked for help." The divinity had endured several insults already but this last one seemed to snap his patience.
Or it seemed to at least. With calculated indignation the divinity turned to the dragon. "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, your mind must be infested by maggots. You may have burned more, but my flame burns so much brighter." The dragon laughed as it burned down a few more targets. "Hah, unwilling to admit your defeat are you? How pathetic of you exile, I know a sore loser when I see one." The divinity gave a nasty smile and responded, "Csártuzra, Csártuzra." He pointed to the last target he had burned. "Touch that for a second and you will realize your inferiority is beyond compare. You limp-winged worm." The dragon had not been insulted so in a long, long time. "Fine it said, I will stamp out your pathetic flames and end this farce of a contest." It flew down into the flames, barely bothered by them, but then it realized why the divinity's flames had been so weak. All this time the divinity had spent a portion of his magical power to hide the chains, and now when Csártuzra landed they snapped forwards as if given a life of their own. The dragon howled, which quickly turned to a whimper as its strength was sapped by the chains. It was bound. Sárbolc's nasty smile turned into an amicable one that was possibly even worse, as he strolled over calmly and patted the Elden Wyrm. "Csártuzra, Csártuzra, how grateful I am that you have decided to help my people. I will ensure they treat you well. They will treat you well, for a long, long time."
A Fire Bound - III. Epilogue
That is how the story ends, and the success of Sárbolszég began. With the Elden Wyrm's flames and blood at their disposal, they were able to make great weapons that could fend off the füsters and carve out a home for themselves. A future carved out with flames and blood.
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Myths like this one always leave me feeling inspired. It reminds me a lot of Loki and Thor's battles throughout Norse mythology, which makes it feel like a very real myth. This was a delightful read, and I look forward to seeing more of your world!