Tale of Vern

Vern was a young man when he ascended the mountain to petition a wise man about his future. He was told by his father and mother that the wise man was fair but harsh and did not take to trickery, they advised he work out his own future instead of taking the risk. The young man felt he would be just fine and perused to ask his future anyway.
On his way up the mountain he found a series of precious stones to put in his pocket. Agates, jasper, jade and a color streaked blackstone. When he arrived the wise man asked him what he wanted. Vern posed his question thusly, " Old man, I want to have a successful future with lovely wife, long life, rich clothes, independence and all a man could want. How do I get that?"
The Wise man dressed in a simple robe replied, "You don't get them all, which do you prefer?"
Vern sniggered, "Maybe you aren't wise at all, if you can't guide me to all of them."
The man laughed which Vern did not expect. Then calmly stated, "If you desire a lovely wife, long life, rich clothes and all a man could want, that I can do. But can you really say that is what you want regardless of consequences?"
Vern angrily retorted, "Of course old man"
"You know nothing of age, don't speak so to your elders and betters. Give me the stones in your pocket and you will have what you desire. But don't return to me asking for anything else." The strange man replied.
Vern agreed but thought he was clever, He gave the man all but a single piece of the striped blackstone. The man vanished and Vern returned to his home. The stone turned out to be magical and he was able to sell it for a large sum of money. With his wealth he obtained the best physicians a beautiful wife and started a business that provided for all his needs. But his wife enslaved him with sorcery, making his will not his own. On his deathbed the strange man appeared and released him from his wife's magic.
"So did you enjoy all that you desired" He asked.
Vern feebly replied, " You failed to grant me my independence"
The old man laughed again, "No one can grant you independence boy, we choose our masters weather ideas passions vices or other people. You chose your wife not I. Though you cheated me of that stone instead of working your potential, so I granted your wife her magic. It was fun watching you suffer."

Cultural Reception

Generally accepted as both a reason to leave the blackstone on Sky and Sea Mountain alone but also that you should be careful of what you wish for.

Date of First Recording

Around 6800 IR

Date of Setting

Around 5000 IR

Related Locations

• Sky and Sea Mountain