Geminon the Unbeaten

Summary

The legend of Geminon the Unbeaten is one that supposedly takes place after the fall of the Drucilar, but many years before the Congregation came to be.

The story says that Geminon lived in the lands that would one day come to be called the Western Second circle. In those days, there was far less trade between islands, and sailing technology was still new, meaning that journeys in between islands were a lot less common.

Geminon grew up as a humble sheep farmer, though unbeknownst to him he had a heritage unlike anyone else. He was the son of one of the celestial servants of Shari, God of Freedom , which in some interpretations of scripture would imply him to be something akin to a grandson to the god. This meant that Geminon had a far greater destiny than raising sheep, which was revealed to him in a dream that told him to go west and find the edge of all lands.

Though reluctant at first, Geminon did as he was told and took up his spear, before taking a small boat and sailing west.

The grandest portion of his story is dedicated to many of the encounters that Geminon had while he was on his journey. His exact deeds are too plentiful to list, but some of the highlights include a battle with a Kraken which he defeated after an intense battle, settling a conflict between two rival tribes by killing both of their leaders in a free for all combat, and leaping into a chasm of death to close it from the inside.

This last deed created the most well-known image of Geminon: the image depicts him, as a tall and well-built figure, holding together two edges of a cliff while a small point on his chest spreads golden light and keeps the darkness below at bay.

At the end of the story, Geminon finally reaches the edge of the Outer Lands and looks out over the endless ocean. Tellings differ in his reasonings for doing so, but he takes his boat and tries to sail further than anyone has gone before. Years later, his body washes ashore. No-one knows what he found out in the waves or how he survived for so long when others did not, but by now his legend was a great one across the archipelago as the Unbeaten, unflinching hero.

Historical Basis

Like many legends, there is some truth to the tale of Geminon. Certainly he existed, for his tomb can be found on his home island, later named Weyde. The tomb carries the relief that is most associated with him, and his story is carved into the walls.

There is an aspect of the story which wasn't touched on in the summary that is exceptionally interesting. It is a short few sentences in which Geminon is said to have encountered something called an automaton which was supposedly created by the Drucilar and defeated it. This is one of the oldest sources that mentions the Drucilar having existed, as well as giving a name to one of their technologies. Furthermore, the fact that the reference is so brief as to have expected those at the time to recognise it seems to provide evidence for the existence of the Drucilar.

Back to Geminon, most of the individual claims of his deeds are difficult to confirm as they give little detail as to where they took place. The locations are sometimes named, but the names are not the same as the current names of the islands, so only a few locations have been tracked through the centuries, and their personal histories give no reference to the events.

One exception is the story of the chasm of darkness. On the island of Istigal, there is a strange geographical formation where no plant life will grow in a section of land approximately two metres wide and seventy metres long. Animals have also been noted to avoid this section of land. Some have suggested that this is what remains of the chasm of darkness.

Variations & Mutation

The original myth was transcribed on the walls of Geminon's tomb, though in a language that none in the modern day speak. As a result, there have been several different translations, which alter several details of the story. One translation calls Geminon the son of Shari rather than of one of his celestials. Another posits that he was actually descended from Theninda, the Goddess of Death. A third has claimed that the god in question is actually meant to be translated as Shira, implying a lost religion that predates the Old Gods, or existed alongside it at some point.

Other versions add or take out certain encounters that Geminon was said to have had. A popular addition is a short arc in which Geminon is almost married to a princess after accidentally entering a competition for her hand without reading the full article. This is especially interesting as it characterises Geminon as a somewhat airheaded figure, when in the base version of the story he is somewhat devoid of personality.

Another popular addition to the story is a longer section in which Geminon visits a temple to Shari, or whoever his godly relative is in that version of the story. This is usually added in versions told by The Church of the Old Gods, and typically turn Geminon into a far more pious figure than he was in the original version, where his heritage rarely comes up outside of the beginning of the story.

Cultural Reception

Geminon is fairly well known across the entire Salynas Archipelago. He is especially important on Weyde, where there is a festival celebrating him every autumn. On other islands his importance varies: he tends to be beloved by children, typically young boys, as a heroic figure that many want to be when they grow up. Large cultural festivals in the high cluster and other large islands typically have readings of his story, and he appears as a supporting character in many contemporary legends set around the same time.

There is also a musical about his life, called Geminon: All Singing and Dancing. It was created by the members of the Golden Theatre on Banoa and was critically panned.

Date of First Recording

Unknown

Date of Setting

564 Preceding Congregation