Obere, the Sea Monster
The legend of Obere originated as a fisherman's tale to explain the strange geography of the islands along the edge of Southset, and the disappearance of ships on the region, but recent events have proven of its real existence.
Summary
The legend tells that a long time ago a giant creature named Obere guarded the sea of Southset. His days were spent wandering the vast oceans of Known Earth, searching for creatures to satisfy his hunger, before returning to the coast of Southset to sleep in the depths of Manacle Bay sea. It was like that for many centuries, until the first explorers arrived in the lands of Southset, so Obere chose to remain hidden in the depths of the sea, resting, waiting to see what these curious creatures would accomplish.
It is unknown what did it, but after many centuries Obere was woken up by something, and began to protect his home from pirates and explorers who dared to cross the stormy waters of Serpent's Path (a land with no name in the past) and soon had a reputation among travelers of the continent as a deadly threat. Soon, adventurers of all kinds came to the east shore of Southset to try and best the massive monster. Obere defeated all settlers who attempted to engage or set up a colony on its land. Adventurers, settlers, and warriors of all kinds then set about to create a massive battle group to kill the beast. At the same time, taking advantage that the monster would be focused on the ships arriving in his land, a small vessel with a dozen families pushed off from Redwall, heading for any landmass which may appear. They were escaping the clutches of tyranny in the north where King Ralmus Baltimorr held power; the vessel sailed straight and fast to the shores of the Manacle Bay, in the region where Obere lived. To the families' surprise, the trip was interrupted ahead of schedule, as they found a land mass in the middle of the ocean that divided the two capitals (Redwall and Manacle Bay), and set up camp there, nowadays this part of the continent is called Serpent's Path, and those who live there are a very reclusive and mysterious people.
Dozens of ships sat moored in the natural bay launching flaming arrows at the massive beast. Obere bellowed a deafening cry and launched itself into the sea, destroying all but one of the ships, The Last Order leaded by Desty Nova, who lost both of his arms. Wandering his way to the place where he had crushed the adventurers ships, Obere slipped into the water and fell under the tide. It is said that Obere still lurks in the depths of the sea, waiting to crush those who dare to attempt to traverse Serpent's Path's shore, and face his wrath.
In Art
Some artists and bards have portrayed their versions of the legend through the years.
One famous poem goes:
The Destruction of Leviathan (edit) by Gustave Doré
Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Beast sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumbered and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battening upon huge sea-worms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.
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