Tale the First: the Ladies' Game. (as known in Faerie)
The tale of the Warrior and the Dragon was one of the most ancient and sacred tales . The Dragon had many shapes and forms through the ages, yet to the North it always meant death. That is why the Norse called him the Gdyðr Gjafara, the Glory-Giver. In the old tales the great warriors, like Laxakarl, Holgi and Grettir lived a life of glorious victories until, before old age doomed them to Hel, they met the Dragon, who gave them a warrior’s death.
There was another tale, though, far more rare and obscure. It spoke of the Dragon slayer. A child that would be born in the North, and whom the Gods would arm with a weapon that could fell a Dagon.
In the Fifth age such a child was born and it was indeed armed with a God-forged sword, and during his old age he fought the Dragon, and there the tale failed.
The tale that would be either that of the Glory-Giver or that of the Dragon-Slayer, became none.
Tale the Second: Sigurd the Dragonslayer (as known in the North)
Sigurd was born in the hall of Grettir Niebglund the Ring-giver in Hansafjord. At that time a rumour came of a new race to the south. A plague of small and cunning men who spread a religion of evil, that hid behind weakness and kindness, stealing of men their afterlife.
For the eleventh birthday of Sigurd a great feast was held in the Hall and many clans had travelled to attend it. It’s said that in Hansafjord five hundred longships rested and the walls of the hall had to be brought down to accommodate the guests.
It was in the winter and the sun had gone down right after noon. The men had eaten and drunk and Grettir had given rings so that by dawn they were all drunk and Grettir was asleep on his high seat.
A strong hand shook Grettir out of his sleep, and he saw a man he had not seen in the hall before. The man wore no ring so Grettir asked of his allegiance.
“I am Har and my allegiance lies beyond the frozen sea of Hungargap. I am late, for I had to travel far. I bring a gift for your son that will be greater than yourself and will be known as the Dragonslayer.”
He held up his other hand and offered Grettir a sword, wrapped in linen.
Sigurd Grettirson became greater than Grettir and gave ring to all the clans of the North. He raided far to the South, and discovered many knew lands and continents. As he reached old age there was no enemy that would fight him and as in the winters he was troubled by sickness, a rumour came from the South that the race of the weak, small men was ruled by a great dragon, breathing blue flame. Sigurd knew that the Norns had weaved their plots to bring him his glorious warrior’s death, so with fifty seven ships he sailed South, as soon as the ice melted.
The night before he departed though, a strong hand shook him out of his sleep just before dawn.
“Awaken Sigurd, I am Har. I have come from my halls beyond the Hungargap to remind you that you are cursed. You will travel to the South, but you will not find what you seek. You are the Dragon-slayer.”
Sigurd sailed south and fought his way to the dragon, and indeed slew him and was the only one to survive from the host of the North. As the dragon fell he saw that his flame burned on and did not die out.
He took the dragon and went back to his ships, where he had a mound built. There he sealed himself and the dragon, and would not die until the dragon gave him his warrior’s death.
Tale the Third: The Book of Kings (written in the court of King Akelon, the first King of the Faith)
Liber 1.
The birth of Akelon;
His early years;
The prophecy that he would built the first church;
The death of his father, King Kishar.
King Akelon gathers astrologer and theologists in his court.
They study the traditions and the scriptures.
The people are taught about God and Thelema.
Liber 2. (Different from popular version)
In the days of King Akelon a great demon walked over the lands.
He came from the north dripping blood and misery and subjugated the Kings of the World and the religions of the Heathens.
In those dark days the astrologers of Akelon discovered a new star, sickly pale and ill omened.
They tried to study its influence upon the world but many were driven crazy and claimed the star looked back at them and tried to speak to them.
The men were stricken with fear and their faith was weakened. Many turned to the worship of the star, whom they named Ad’ar (Eye in the Sky) and the Blood dripping demon from the north.
Akelon saw their faith was weak and prayed to God for a way to subjugate this evil star to the will of the true God.
For three days he fasted and prayed to God for an answer.
On the third day an Angel of God appeared before Akelon as a bright blue flame above the desert and spoke to him.
“Behold I am the Nezach Tahariel, the Grace of God upon the Wind. As the heavens are ruled in the hierarchy of the Holy Realm, so you shall form a Hierarchy to mirror the Heavenly Realm, but as a tower mirrored on a lake the highest king shall be at lowest point. By this Pseudomonarhy you shall rule the star and drive away the demon.”
Thus Akelon had his astrologers form a ranked monarchy by which to address the star. Divided its power, in the way the Angel Tahariel directed, to Kings, Dukes and knights, all subject to the one true God like the kings of the earthly realms.
But Akelon was not content. As proof of his power he wanted a piece of the star to be brought to his court, sealed and contained, as a testament to God’s omnipotence.
He commanded the spirit Tahariel to help him cut a piece of the star and sealed it in a vessel, by which to command it.
He used its power to build a glorious temple and show the people how the star in the sky was subject to the will of God like themselves.
Liber 3.
Akelon used the power of the star piece to actually bind the Angel Tahariel.
With him and the star piece he attempted to spread the religion, through teaching, miracles and sometimes force, throughout the world.
Across the south Tahariel caused draughts and burning winds and earned the name of Pazuzu, the Wrath of the Wind. The spirit commanded the Air and other elements, who fought under it.
Akelon achieved many victories and the faith was spread far and wide across the world and the Kingdoms flourished, while the demon of the north was seen no more across the horizon.
Liber 4. (Different from the popular version)
Then the host of the north came. Mighty giants with icy weapons attacked from the north and plundered the lands of the faithful.
Some even reached the Temple, pillaged it and brought it to ruin. There King Akelon stood and faced a great warrior of the Host, Sigurd, Enemy of the Faith, and by his sword King Akelon fell.
Mortally wounded he was asked how his people would fare without his wise reign. How could they face the evil that he was keeping sealed?
“You will know it when the star walks the earth again, for again the West will come to the East, and the North to the South.”
Thus he died, Akelon the Wise, King of the First Church.
Sigurd took his body to the eastern coast; he had a mound made where he sealed it.
His spirit was bound, though, with that of Tahariel and then King could not die. The two spirits lingered above the world.
Liber 5. (Different form the popular version)
After the death of king Akelon his astrologers tried to use the star piece in the Vessel as he did, but for personal gain.
Akelon saw this and appeared in front of his astrologers and spoke to them.
“You have betrayed the faith and God. I shall take the vessel with the star with me and I shall use it to punish your heresy. I will let the piece of the star fall upon the earth and grow and I shall use the vessel to feed the piece and I shall not let it die, so that you don’t forget how the world was when the Blood Dripping Demon walked the earth and the Heathen Faiths flourished. It will herald your fall and the division of the church.”
The astrologers dropped to their knees and begged for forgiveness. They prayed to the Angel Tahariel to stop the King. The Angel Tahariel could not oppose the King for his spirit was bound by the power of the Vessel, so he spoke:
I cannot stop what is to be done, but you will know that I shall be watching, for every time innocent blood is spilled in the wake of the star I shall come to alleviate your pain.”
Liber 6. (Different from the popular version)
Since then the piece of Ad’ar treads the earth, and since it is free from the Vessel of Akelon, its power grew and it reanimated the old faiths of the Earth that where subject to the blood dripping demon.
Men that are strong in faith and wise become bound to the star piece’s power and become its apostles that will take the piece around the world and spread its influence over more of the lost faiths, until the kingdom of heavens is free of infidels.
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