The Millipede and the Cobbler

The Millipede and the Cobbler is a Dwarven fable, one of the most popular fables in Totania. However, its origins in writing are actually Korvian, as the Korvian known as Mover was said to have visited a Dwarven village and transcribed the story, putting his own spin on it, which became the colloquial version of the tale.

The Tale of Millipede and the Cobbler

There once was a Cobbler, respected in his village for his fine skill in the craft of shoe making. They said he could make a pair of shoes to fit anyone, and so he did.

Mover by Jarhed

However, one day, his shoemaking workshop was visited by a humble young millipede, with 400 feet by his side.
"They say you can make shoes for everyone," said the millipede, "But no shoes have ever fit my many feet. Can you protect my feet on the journeys of life?"
"That is an incredible task that you ask of me," smiled the Cobbler, "There has never been a person in this town who I could not fashion the perfect pair for. I shall craft 200 pairs to fit you. Don't you worry one bit, my friend."
It was a unique task, because all 400 feet were different. 400 problems before the Cobbler, and yet he did not fear them. He did his best to make a unique solution for each of his troubles, so that they could all be solved.
But 400 was a number too great for most men, especially when faced all at once. Many feared that the Cobbler would drown in the effort.
It was hopeless, or so everyone told the Cobbler. But the old Cobbler was not discouraged in the slightest. He had faced more than 400 problems in his long life. This was nothing.
For years, he worked, fashioning a shoe for every foot on the Millipede, and when the Millipede grew, the Cobbler had to fashion new ones for his changing feet. It was a tiresome process, and yet fulfilling in its own way, to make something with ones whole heart for someone else.
The Cobbler was old when he started, and by the end, he could hardly move. Only his hands, needed for cobbling, would continue in motion while the rest of his body was immobile.
Eventually, when the Millipede had grown enough, he came to the Cobbler and asked for one final shoe. But the Cobbler was not home.
The Millipede searched the Cobbler's house, and found no trace of the Cobbler. All that he found, sitting on a pedestal, was one final shoe, and a note that sat beside it. A note that read:

Dear Millipede,
I am pleased to say I have finally done it. I have made all the shoes for you, as I had promised so long ago. It took everything I had, but I could not be happier with the result.
You will not see me. There is little left of me to see, for I have put everything that made my spirit into those shoes.

May they carry you as far as you must go,
The Cobbler

The Millipede had no words. There was nothing to say. Instead, he placed the shoe onto his 400th foot, and carried on.

Amukk by Jarhed

The Lesson

There are many lessons one can take from the fable.
Its author, Mover, was quoted as saying,

"I don't know the lesson. The Dwarves said it had one, but I decided to focus on the narrative. What lesson you take from it, then, is your own."

— Mover

And many did take a lesson from it, but there have been various lessons.
Some say it is about not buckling under great stress, but facing ones problems and finding the solutions, no matter how hard one must work to do so.
Those who focus on the Millipede find it to be a story of accepting the sacrifices of those around you, and living for them with the gifts they have given you that allow you to live.
The God Amukk, before ascending to Heaven, was said to use this fable to describe the Justice he sought for the world.

"Everyone has their own unique justice, and we cannot push our own idea of that onto everyone.
We must fashion a shoe for every just person, where they are not forced into a system that contradicts their way of life.
We must support them and make a world for them, not just for ourselves, the few that wield the blades capable of shaping the future."

— Amukk