In-Game Book: The Great Storm


 * Author: Cody

The Great Storm There was once a tenacious sailor named Garo. His exploits were well known throughout his village, where they even claimed he was without parallel. He, however, balked at being known as such a savant. One day, a traveler stopped through the town. He'd learned of Garo's exploits, and offered a bet: If Garo could sail his way through a coming storm, and return alive, the traveler would grant a gift to the village. Knowing the village was down on its luck despite his best efforts, Garo accepted. Setting out to sea, Garo could already tell from the horizon this was no mere storm. The clouds were black as pitch, and the thunder itself threatened to tip Garo's small skiff over. A roiling vortex of water shot from below, narrowly missing the boat... and to Garo's surprise, the traveler rose with it. Garo was amazed as the traveler doffed his coat to reveal himself as the god of the sea, Eadro. Eadro looked haughtily at Garo. "You grow too bold, fisherman. None may claim to master the sea but I, Eadro. You and your village shall face my wroth waves for your arrogance!" But to this, Garo could only laugh. "You've made one mistake, god of the seas. Ne'er once have I claimed myself master of the waves. That falls to my village. What I can say, however, is that I am good enough to best you." Garo pulled roughly left on the rudder, the small skiff narrowly avoiding the vortex below Eadro. The god, now furious at the thought of being bested by a mortal, twirled his hand, summoning a wave of fearsome size. Despite the danger, Garo knew his only course was to crest the wave. Steeling himself, he turned his rudder true toward the great wall of water. It rose above him, many times the height of his little skiff. The boat began to climb up the wave as Eadro watched, grinning all the while. "Such a small ship cannot begin to hope to survive the full might of the ocean. Goodbye, Garo." Then it happened. Whether it was a conspiracy of fate or the blessing of some god, the crest of the wave began to falter. Garo saw this, and took his chance. Garo pulled with all his might to adjust the sails, forcing the skiff to carve its way through the water until finally sliding down the back of the great wave. As Garo and his boat reached the trough at the end of the wave, he fell down on his back, his energy spent. Yet as he stared up at the sky, the clouds began to part, and the sun filled the sea once more. Eadro spoke once more. "Very well. I can admit when I have been beaten. I am a god of my word, and my gift is my blessing; the bounty of the seas is now your village's right to claim. But know this, Garo. Should your town ever become so prideful again, they shall be tested as you have. Be sure they are not found wanting." Garo sat up in his boat, looking for the bested god. However, there was no sign of Eadro. He made his way home, and called them to meet. There, he made a declaration to them all: "So long as we draw breath, we will be blessed by the seas. However, forget the pride on your tongue, and replace it with valor instead. This is how we shall carry ourselves forward from now - a port of valor, rather than arrogance."
 * Google Document