Simurgh/Stories

General Stories Misc

Quotes

When Entering Dragon's Roost

After Receiving a Gift

After Bond Level Increase

Idle After Bond Level 1

Idle After Bond Level 10

Idle After Bond Level 20

Dragon Story Episodes
Trading Favors

Once, many years ago,

a man became lost in a

dense and tangled forest.

He had ventured to gather food

for his wife, who was with child.

Determined to find aliment befitting

of his family, he drove

ever deeper into the woods.

After some time, he came

across a fearsome serpent

circling a small creature,

its fangs bared.

The prey was near the size of a

human child, its wings flecked

with brilliant color.

Urged by instinct, the man threw

himself over the young creature,

shielding it as if were his own child.

The serpent poised to strike--but

in that instant a dragon descended

from the sky, crashing through the

trees and blowing the serpent away.

It was Simurgh, mother to the

creature the man had protected

so selflessly. She had come to

save her youngling.

The dragon believed deeply in

repaying her debts, and carried the

man back to his village as thanks

for his efforts. Once there, she

offered him one of her feathers.

"This should ensure your wife a

healthy birth," she said, and turned

to leave--but the man stopped her.

"You have shown your thanks," the

man began, "now please, allow me

to show you mine. You spared my

wife and child immeasurable grief,

and now leave me with an extra gift."

"That is far from necessary.

I was merely repaying you

for protecting my child."

"By flying me home, yes. But with

this feather, I am now in YOUR debt."

Simurgh was taken aback.

She had never met anyone

as adamant as her when it

came to repaying kindnesses.

And so began a curious struggle--

one which did now involve the

trading of blows, but of favors.

Long ago, a man lost in the woods

rescued the child of Simurgh, a kind

and beautiful dragon. To repay the

man, Simurgh flew him home and

gifted him one of her feathers.

But the man felt HE had a debt

to repay. "Please, allow me to feed

both you and your child this night."

"You need not trouble yourself,"

said Simurgh, preparing to leave.

The man insisted, however, and

in the end Simurgh accepted his

hospitality. In return, the dragon

resolved to protect the man's village.

There were fiends in the surrounding

area, and the man worried for his

crops. So Simurgh made slaying

them here first act--and the man

enjoyed his greatest-ever yield.

"I am in your debt yet again,

great dragon," he said. And so

every year after, the man proffered

some of his produce to Simurgh.

The crops were raised with

love and care, and were thus

replete with nutrients. Simurgh

knew they would help her child

grow swift and strong.

"Once again I am indebted

this man," she thought. And so

the cycle of kindness continued,

seemingly without end.

But human lives are fleeting,

and after many years the man's

seemed set to flicker out.

His son, who had received the

blessings of Simurgh's feather,

went to the dragon with news of

the man's imminent death.

Simurgh had anticipated this day,

but still found herself cursing the

brevity of such a fine life as she

hastened to the village. Once there,

she heard the man's final words.

"Great Simurgh... It is thanks to you

that my family--no, my entire village

--has prospered so. I know not how

to repay a debt of this mangitude."

"So in lieu of that answer, I have

bade my son, and all my future

descendants, to serve you--and

they will no doubt be willing."

After the man's passing, his family

carried on as he had asked.

But the dragon did not understand

the nature of the relationship

between servant and master.

She thought on it for a time,

and realized the man's children

and people had become like

her own children--and from there,

the exchange of favors ceased.

For there is no need for requital

when one is helping their family,

and no expectations besides.