Storyteller Anon Pt.3

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Summary: Anon had adventured across this new world for years, and has reached old age. Still wanting to travel the world but having no money to do so Anon tells stories to get food at each stop.

Last Chapter: While traveling to the Griffon lands Anon was confronted by a dragon. Anon tells the story of The Black Thief and the Knight of Glen in exchange for safe passage.

Posted in Thread 845
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>At last the Griffon lands.
>The burning of your tired muscles gave way to dreams of recovery as the large stone walls came into view.
>For awhile a Griffon patrol had followed you in the skies, their sharp vision focused on you from miles away.
>The walls were excessively large, grandiose even, but in the mountains stone is a common commodity.
>From the ground it seemed as if even with wings you could not reach the top, but the stationed guards had no trouble keeping watch.
>The heavy gates remained open, had you been a threat they would have long since been closed.
>And so you slowly enter the hold.

>The hold bustled with activity, the citizens all conversing publicly.
>Despite the appearance of the fortifications the Griffons prefer to be out in the open.
>They rarely went inside save for protection and the night.
>All walked and flew in groups, sometimes as large as 20, and many would jump from group to group throughout the day.
>Their social culture was a varied mix.
>Within the groups Griffons would speak openly and honestly, but had hushed tones when close to another group.
>They were particularly wary of strangers, and those without a group had yet to prove themselves.

>Without a friend one would get nowhere in Griffon lands.
>It took many trips and many years for you to eventually be welcomed by a band.
>But a Griffon friend is a friend for life.

>When you were still youthful and naïve of their ways you had come expecting curiosity from the Griffons like the other races, but instead they held disdain.
>You had no flock or pride, and there was little to your name.
>Another such youngster had been wandering alone only just having come of age.
>They noticed you sharing their situation and sought to form a bond.
>A tie you were receptive to as your only friend in Griffon lands.


>For a time they joined you in adventuring.
>The two of you got into a lot of trouble and escaped many dangers together.
>For the most part they remained cool and reserved, but snapped in anger when pressed every now and then.
>Harsh words sometimes followed, but they were always truly sorry once they had cooled down.
>So long as you accepted their forgiveness and realized they were truly sorry things were amended.
>It was usually some of your fault as well and acknowledging that built respect.

>Each time you two returned to the hold more youths would join your little band, and more established Griffons would take note.
>Eventually your partner decided to remain home and build their group.
>There was still much to see and so the two of you parted ways, catching up every now and then.
>How long ago that was, to realize how much has changed in that time.
>The once outcast now the ruler of these lands.

>You make your way to the citadel, the true heart of the hold.
>There are no individual houses or shops; everyone lived in the single gigantic structure.
>Different branches of stone marked station and rank, the higher tiers residing closer to the top.
>Between the citadel and walls was only open land for the Griffons to roam.
>Several of the guards recognize you and nod at your approach.
>The younger ones share a look of disbelief and excitement in seeing a legend.
>The long time friend of the most powerful Griffon for whom they serve.

>The interior is eerily quiet with most of the populace outside for the day.
>Mostly only mothers with chicks remain alongside the chefs and servants.
>The stone ramps to the top originally built for the minotaurs and their goods are your only means of progress.
>Your climbing isn’t done yet.


>Although winded you make it to the top, internally cursing your friend’s success.
>The High Perch is a short distance away, but you have to take a sit to rest.
>A servant comes out from the grand door carrying a plate of food.
>They make to one of the open windows and take off.
>Past the door you can barely make out the figure on the far off throne.
>Instantly they shoot up and rush towards your position.

>”Anonymous, how long it’s been! Please come in and sit with me.”
“Hello friend, it has been too long indeed. Give me a minute to catch my breath.”
>”Time has not been kind to you has it?”
“We can’t all become kings and queens.”
>”Ha, where’s the Anonymous I once knew? The one who outran the Zebras in a cross country race? The one who wouldn’t stop walking for 3 days straight while rambling about some tortoise and hare?”
“I’ll have you recall that the Zebra lands are flat. These cliffs are a strain on my limbs. Surely you remember how hard it was to climb when you were too afraid to fly with the dragons about.”
>”And I remember how well you flew when that minotaur threw you out of the tavern.”
“Yeah, yeah.”

>You give a dismissive wave while you both recall the old days.
>Age showed in their face, but not nearly as heavily as in yours.
>Though you were at a disadvantage in that regard since you came here with some years already.

>”Servants! Quick! Bring a table, a cushion, a minotaur chair, and whatever else my guest requires.”
“Just give me a minute will ya, I’ll get to the room in a sec.”
>”Nonsense, we’ll just sit right here.”
>In a snap the servants had brought all that was requested along with food and drink.
>The followers of your old band had become royal attendants and advisors.
>They too joined you at the top of the ramp.


>”Now my friend drink and be merry, and share with us one of your many stories.”
>You once told them the story of Beowulf finding it appropriate for the Griffons.
>Their hate of dragons and love of honor and oath fit well in the setting.
>Though you can’t retell the same tale, perhaps a variant will do.

“Very well, I shall share the story of Sigurd the Volsung who took the shattered pieces of his father’s sword to be recast as a great blade which brought him glory.”
>A part of you never really understood how these familiar weapons came to be in this land, but that was of little matter.

“Sigmund, father of Sigurd, had fallen in battle. His wife, the Queen, had found his body on the field in the night and to her surprise he remained alive. His last request was for her to take care of their future son and to give him the fragments of his sword as his birthright. She did so and Sigurd once born was tutored by a wise blacksmith. The smith taught him well, but also taunted him with harsh words.
‘Are you really satisfied just playing in the castle grounds? Have you not the strength and courage to go out and earn glory like your father?’”
>Young Griffon’s faced similar situations from their families.
>In a society where one must prove themselves each day that passed was seen as a fault in character.

“But, the reasons for the smith’s words were for revenge rather than Sigurd’s fame. The smith told Sigurd of a dragon who had shamed him, and told that it was for this reason he raised the lad so well. Brave Sigurd agreed to slay the dragon, but in turn the smith had to recast his father’s sword. The smith gladly did so, and his skill was worthy of praise. Armed with this sword they left to where the dragon lived.”
>The group of Griffon’s all sat around patiently, fully encapsulated.
>On their graying faces you could see the past joys of yesteryear when you all would make camp much like this while adventuring.


“The wise smith had devised a clever plan to strike at the softened belly of the dragon. He told Sigurd to dig a trench and lie in it, and when the Dragon crossed to thrust into its exposed stomach. Young Sigurd did as was asked while the smith ran away to safety. While digging a stranger came up asking what he was doing.
‘Greetings Sigurd the Volsung, why do you dig this trench?’
‘Sir, I aim to slay the dragon from this pit.’
‘Then you should build a second trench or else you will drown in the blood.’
Without another word the stranger left. Realizing the stranger was most wise Sigurd made a second hole and laid down in wait.”
>You wonder if they have any gods like Odin.

“When the Dragon came he thrust into its soft underside and thanks to the second trench survived. The smith came back for the dragon’s corpse and noticed Sigurd still alive. Sigurd could tell the smith was not entirely pleased, but when the smith asked him to cook the dragon’s heart so that he may eat it Sigurd did so.
While cooking the heart he tested to see if it was done, and when the flavor met his tongue he could understand the birds.
‘He should eat the heart himself, then he would be the wisest of them all.’
‘The smith seeks to betray him, Sigurd should cut off his head.’
Hearing their words Sigurd ate the heart, and then slew the smith.”
>Hopefully this doesn’t start a new delicacy.


“In his travels he came upon an endless fire surrounding a castle. Braving the fire he found it empty save for a sleeping woman. He broke the sleeping curse and she told him her tale. Brunhild was a warrior of legends but when her king asked her to aid a warrior she instead aided the opponent. In an uproar she was cursed to lose her station and sleep until a hero beat the fire. She taught Sigurd many things and he decided to marry her, but she told him that fate deemed he forget her and marry another. He swore that it would not be the case and they gave oath to each other.”
>When you asked if they had a version of a valkyrie you were surprised to hear that they didn’t.
>A winged deity taking them to a land of endless battle seemed right up their alley.

“But her words were true. As she had left to fight one war Sigurd had went to meet another King. While they feasted the Queen decided that Sigurd would make a fine husband for her daughter and so poisoned his drink with a spell making him forget about his wife. He chose to marry the King’s daughter and become a brother to the King’s son Gunnar. Gunnar longed for a worthy wife and aided by the Queen’s magic Sigurd tricked Brunhild into marrying him.”
>Deceit through magic mixed with the breaking of oaths ruffled the Griffon’s feathers.
>Despite their beaks you could see the hint of disgust on their lips.

“Brunhild learned of this and demanded that Gunnar prove himself by killing Sigurd. Gunnar could not think to break the oath of brotherhood, but Brunhild was precious to him. The youngest brother was not bound to the same oath, and so using similar magic Gunnar poisoned him. Under Gunnar’s command he entered Sigurd’s room and stabbed him in the night.”
>There was a complex mix of loyalties being tested.
>All had done wrong to one another save the youngest who was used as a tool.
>Griffon politics had hints of such scheming, though they’d never admit it.


“Although Brunhild had her revenge she still loved Sigurd and ended her own life in a fit of grief. Before she truly perished she requested to be burned alongside Sigurd on the same funeral pyre. It was granted and although the smoke signaled the end of the hero his fame and glory lived on.”
>There was a lot more to the story, both beginning and end, but they could best connect with this part.
>A fact clearly visible in their uneasy tails and thoughtful faces.

>Your friend was the first to speak.
>”A somber tale Anonymous. Will you stay awhile and help lighten the mood, or will you be off again?”
“You know I could never stay in one place for long but I’ll stay the night with you and leave in the morning.”
>”At your age you should really settle down though I am all too familiar with your ways. Come let us drink late into the night!”
>Although your friend’s words were true there is still so much to see.
>And there’s still even more friends to revisit.


Source: The Saga of the Volsungs/ The Nibelungenlied
Origin: Nordic/ Germanic
The Sage of the Volsungs short version: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/volsungsaga.html
The Sage of the Volsungs full version: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13486
The Nibelungenlied short version: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/nibelungenlied.html
The Nibelungenlied full version: http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/nibelung_armour.pdf

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As usual with old myths there are several versions. Some attribute Beowulf to this story and vice versa. I put in 2 sources for this one, though it largely follows the Volsungs/Nordic version. These are long and some versions aren’t enjoyable to read so I gave a short version as well.
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