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Yes, I believe you are correct Meilyr. If I may be so bold I believe I
have a tale which will make you smile...
[Malcrus stands, pauses for effect while people settle themselves and
then begins]
"The Tale of Morrigan...
Once there was a mighty she-wolf, who wandered the land purely for the
enjoyment of wandering.
Through her travels, the she-wolf found a beautiful valley nestled
between the peaks of seven hills. A river meandered through the valley
and the banks of the river in the day were golden with fields of corn.
The valley was bountiful with tasty tidbits, including men in their wood
and straw huts, upon which she slaked her hunger. To the West of the
valley, many other wolves dwelled that, although of a different breed to
the she-wolf, gave her companionship when she wanted it. As such, the
she-wolf decided to stay there for a while...
Years passed and then one-night a weasel entered the valley. The weasel
was a nasty, ugly, little creature that had heard of the she-wolf and
her valley and intended to learn her secrets and use them against her.
He intended to have the valley for himself. As the weasel limped along
in the shadows he saw a hole in the ground and being a nosy little
creature he had to find out what it contained.
As the weasel leaned over the edge of the hole, his eagerness to see
what was at the bottom overcame any common sense he possessed to keep
back and he lost his balance. He tumbled into the pit and was never seen
again - his skeleton lying with those of several cats which had also
fallen into the pit...
The she-wolf watched from a distance and laughed at the weasel's
stupidity.
Some time later, a peacock entered the valley. The peacock was a vain
bird, which paraded around with its big, colorful tale so that everyone
it met would see what a beautiful bird it was and then tell it so. The
peacock had also heard of the she-wolf's valley and intended to have it
for itself. It intended to trick the she-wolf by stunning her with its
beauty so that it could quickly nip in and peck her eyes out.
As the peacock flounced along the riverbank, it caught sight of its own
reflection in the moonlit water and couldn't help but admire how
beautiful it was. The peacock was so enamored by its own image that it
could do nothing but stand and stare. It completely forgot about the
necessity of eating and died of hunger...
The she-wolf watched from a distance and laughed at the peacock's
stupidity.
In March of a year some time after that, a hare entered the valley. The
hare was gifted with insight and had seen the valley in a vision. It was
also mad - yet, despite this, it too wanted the valley for itself. The
hare intended to play a trick on the she-wolf and somehow kill her - it
hadn't worked out the details of the trick, but it would worry about
that when it got there!
As the hare pranced along, humming and singing to itself, it heard a
voice in it's head. The voice told it that it should jump in the river
and have a swim, so it did. Unfortunately, the hare had forgotten that
it couldn't swim and it quickly drowned as it sank to the bottom of the
river...
The she-wolf watched from a distance and laughed at the hare's
stupidity.
News of the place traveled fast and a short time later a huge,
impressive looking bull entered the valley. The bull was quick and
strong and was certain that he could easily kill the she-wolf by goring
her on his horns. He had argued with someone else the other night on
that very subject... the bull liked to argue.
Alas, the bull kept looking in the most unlikely of places to find the
she-wolf and, as time passed, he became more and more angry and
frustrated at not finding her. Eventually he just had to hit something!
He saw a sheep standing a little away off who was looked at him a bit
funny. Enraged, the bull lowered his head and charged at the sheep.
Unfortunately for the bull, he had been mistaken and the "sheep" was
merely a shadow on a wall. As the bull ran into the solid rock he split
his thick skull right open and died instantly.
The she-wolf watched from a distance and laughed at the bull's
stupidity.
By this time, the valley was known of, and considered a worthy prize by,
many animals in that land who were jealous of the she-wolf. From the
North of the valley, a mighty lion entered. The lion was proud and knew
it could command the she-wolf to relinquish the valley to him, for it
was a lord among the animals of that land and was used to having his
orders followed.
At the same time from the South, a dragon entered the valley. The dragon
was also used to telling others what to do but in addition, the dragon
was a powerful spell maker! So great was the dragon's ability to hone
magic that he could even spew forth fire and it was by this fashion that
he intended to burn the she-wolf if she did not give in to his rule.
It was interesting that the two should enter the valley at the same time
for the lion and dragon had fought with each other for many years over
various tracts of land. When the two embittered enemies caught site of
each other they forgot all about the she-wolf and began to fight each
other to the death! The battle seemed to drag on and on... One of the
foes would take the lead only to then lose that lead and have their
opponent gain the edge... and so on. Eventually, the lion and dragon
were each struck a fatal blow and they both died.
The she-wolf watched from a distance and laughed at the lion's and the
dragon's stupidity.
Other wolves had also heard of the valley, but they were not stupid and
so did not enter.
The brothers and sisters of the weasel, the peacock, the hare, the bull,
the lion and the dragon were enraged with the she-wolf at the deaths of
their family and blamed her for them. They decided to use their combined
cunning and strengths to kill the she-wolf and claim the valley for
themselves.
Together they employed their tactics and sent many of their number in to
attack the valley... but the she-wolf was ready for them and somehow got
behind them. She assailed the surprised intruders with tooth and claw
and sent them into disarray. Her fury was awesome yet she controlled it
and used it to her advantage. Their blows reigned down upon her yet her
pelt was too thick and they made no mark upon her skin. Her claws were
long and sharp and they easily tore through the flesh of the other
beasts.
Soon, it was over. Some of the animals tried to run away from the
terrifying she-wolf but she chased them down and ate them before they
could escape the valley. The animals who had not entered the valley
watched from the distance in stunned silence and fear at the deaths of
their relatives. The she-wolf stopped and looked straight at them. With
a howl she told them that if any of their kind tried to enter her valley
again she would do the same. The valley was hers and hers alone...
In silence the animals turned and walked away. Between them they agreed
that the she-wolf could keep the valley (still convincing themselves
that they had a choice in the matter!) and that they would tell others
of their kind not to venture near the she-wolf's domain.
The she-wolf howled at the other wolves that were nearby and told them
that because they had honored her wishes they may pass through her
valley, if they so wished.
Licking the blood from her paws, the she-wolf was content. And so she
remained as she ruled there for many, many years... That is, until the
growth of men in the valley had covered the land with their stone and
clay huts and poisoned the river with their tool making. Eventually, the
valley was no longer green and beautiful even though the supply of food
had flourished.
Never the less, it was no longer the valley in which she had first
arrived and so she left... the wanderlust calling to her once more...
...Only her cub remained and it was he, Messias, who opened Sheffield to
the Camarilla..."
[When Malcrus has finished he bows and retakes his seat]
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