Story of the Grifters
The Story
There was once a person who needed a new house. They loved their house, but it was old and had been blown down and broken by the storm. So they decided to build a new house using sticks. So they gathered as many sticks as they could find and piled the sticks high where they wanted the house to be, but they couldn't get them to stay together. So they decided to build a new house using sand. So they gathered as much sand as they could and constructed several walls. The sand stayed together better than the sticks with a little water, and the person was happy with their progress. Then the rains came and their walls washed away. So they decided to build a new house using rocks. So they gathered as many rocks as they could and stacked them on top of each other. Rocks were strong so they didn't worry about the rain washing it away. But it was difficult to balance the rocks and they kept falling onto the person and hurting them. But they kept trying because they needed a house. Then, one day, another person walked passed and saw the person struggling and offered to help. The new person knew how to build houses and they showed them what to do. The house was good and stood up to rains and winds and didn't fall on either of them. Once they were done, the new person explained that they were very hungry and not good at cooking. They had been living on berries. The first person was delighted because they loved cooking, so they invited them in to eat. They agreed to help each other by doing the things they were good at. Both of them were good at making things and fixing things, but not the same things. Soon other people from the settlement joined them in their grifting, and they were happy for the rest of their days.Summary
This story is the founding myth of the Grifters within the Vellich Profession Paths. It tells of how different people are good at different things and begins to explain the different roles within the Grifters pathway, such as Heavy Grifter and Food Grifter. This story is told to children when they are growing up to help them understand the role that Grifters play in the community.
Variations & Mutation
There are some variations of this story across the continent, most of which pertain to the materials used. For example, the more central settlements which don't have beaches instead talk of the person trying to use leaves to construct their house.
Another variation is the skillset of the first person. In one version of the story they don't make food for the new person, but instead are able to construct a lock and key to help keep their tools and materials safe. This is clearly a more modern idea which introduced the concept of the Light Grifter role instead of the Food Grifter.
Related Articles
| Culture | Vellich Profession Paths, Vellich World View, Place of Spirits, Grifters |
|---|---|
| Traditions | Path Choosing, Spirit Speaking |
| Locations | Vellikka |
| Stories | Where The Spirits Come From, The Great Flood, Return of the Great Spirit |
Date of First Recording
unknown
Related Ethnicities
Related Species
Related Locations
Related Organizations
Absolutely lovely Myth! I enjoy the idea of groups of people coming together to build with their strengths, the celebration of people and their skills towards great efforts. Perfectly found here.
Thank you so much! Exactly! Capturing the heart of the Vellich. :)