The Fishermen and the Storm

TBA

— Quotesayer

The Fisherman and the Storm is a local legend and folktale commonly found around the Sea of Storms in the Kingdom of Morcaenan. The tale is about a fearsome giant thane who forced enslaved villages to fish until they angered the local sea goddess, and how she defeated the great giant with a large fish.
While many see the legend as a piece of pure fiction, more loyal followers of Mūn speak of it as gospel and recognize the tale as part of her overall story.

The Myth

In the seaside town of Umbridge, fisherman were given orders everyday to capture fish. This order came from the local Giant Thane Knarr Craggedstone, who was renowned for his near-bottomless hunger.
Everyday, hundreds of Cogs and Hulks set sail into the Sea of Storms to gather the many nets of fish. Soon, the Goddess Mūn began notice her children growing fewer in number and searched for them. Upon seeing the hundreds of ships, she summoned forth a mighty storm which forced all the ships and boats back to port for fear of sinking. Once all the ships were docked safely away, she threatened that any man or woman who dared to fish in her domain would suffer her wrath.
In response, Knarr Craggedstone threatened that if no fish were delivered to him that he would soon begin eating the people. Fearing Knarr's anger over Mūn's, local fishermen attempted to breach the Sea of Storms but none returned.
One day, a captain and his crew kidnapped a group of urchin children from the streets of Umbridge. Believing the children were neither men or women, their ship would be spared the wrath of Mūn. Setting sail, the storm parted for them and they slipped through the stormbank and into the sea. In celebration, the sailors began to fill their hold with as much fish as they could and, by the night, the crew became intoxicated with spirits and rum. The children, now free of the sailors' watch, began to plot their escape when they were met with a woman on the deck of the ship.
She approached the children, revealing herself as the Goddess Mūn, and asked them why they came here despite the storm. When the children told her of Knarr Craggedstone and his threats, she grew appalled that she had caused so much suffering. She told the children that she would gift them a fish, but they must tell Knarr Craggedstone that they caught it and there are more in her domain.
When the crew awoke the next morning, they discovered a large, golden fish swimming next to their boat, tied in ropes and nets. The captain, with a hearty yell, told the crew to set sail for home. Upon arriving to the docks of Umbridge, every man, woman and child stood in celebration, even Knarr Craggedstone himself. Though, try as they might, the crew could not lift the heavy fish. Growing impatient, Knarr single-handedly picked the fish up and took a deep, gnarled bite into its side.
He relished its deliciousness and proceeded to devour it in a ravenous display. When he finished, he turned to the captain and crew, asking if there were more in the sea. Before they could answer, the children came forth and told Knarr that the whole sea was filled with them but their ships could not carry more than one at a time. Knarr, still hungry, claimed that since no ship could carry these mighty fish, he would.
He attempted to load himself onto every ship in Umbridge, but none could hold his weight and his patience grew thin. After he stood off the final ship, the youngest of the children spoke to Knarr. He asked the Giant Thane, if he was so large and mighty, why he could not simply swim into the sea for the fish. Knarr, excited by the idea, quickly marched into the sea with little care.
As soon as he was neck deep in the water, Mūn's took her wrath on Knarr Craggedstone, as he disrespected her warning. A tremendous wave struck him and he tumbled out to sea. Weighed down by the giant fish, Knarr sank beneath the waves and disappeared forever. Since then, Mūn has offered her sea to the people of Umbridge, with the exception of half the year where storms weight heavy so that she can renew her domain with more children.

Historical Basis

While the events of the myth have no real basis, many scholars today believe this was a cultural answer for many living on the Sea of Storms as to the fierce, violent storms which occur half the year. It also seems to follow with Fish, Amphibian, and Tritonic mating seasons, which explains the tremendous growth of fish and sea life after the storm seasons.
However, after the Age of Giants and the collapse of the Giantdom, faith in the Goddess Mūn grew rapidly across the coastal villages of the Sea of Storms. Though there is no explanation to this spreading, scholars believe it to be due to fish tales and sailors now freely sailing from town to town. Because of this, the early days of the Age of Man shows the erection of many statues to Mūn across the Sea of Storms.

Variations & Mutation

Many local settlements which worship Mūn often change the myth to be about their towns. Because the myth has changed so many times, it is impossible to know where the myth truly originates.
In some myths, Mūn arrives on the boat with fishmen who appear similarly to the missing sailors who tried and failed before them. This is believed because Mūn never truly wanted to hurt or kill people, but merely wanted them away from her ocean, as Mūn is a Goddess of Peace.
Other changes includes the name of the giant Thane. From Snaggletooth to Ironjaw, the name of the Giant is rarely consistant and many scholars wonder if there truly was a Thane who ruled this area at all during the Age of Giants.
In other tellings, those who entered before the children were sunk and transformed into Tritons, while other tellings say the children were turned into the first Tritons for their bravery. Either way, this tale is believed to have been the first mention of Tritons in history.

Date of Setting

Age of Giants

Mūn

The Goddess, Mūn, is an ancient deity who rules over all oceans, but primarily rules the Sea of Storms. Her existence has been recorded as early as the Age of Giants, but statues and legends of her story have been recorded even before that among the islands in the Sea of Storm.
Mūn is the Goddess of Cycles, the Moon, Oceans, Peace and War. In certain myths, she is also considered a Storm Goddess, due to her ability to summon storms. In other myths, she is called "The Goddess of Oceans both calm and virolent."