The Giant Koombah - A Bedtime Tale

The Giant Koombah was a bedtime tale told mostly in Gothai by grandparents to their children. It had it's varieties, though most involved a golem of mysterious origins that would torment children for misbehaving during the day via perpetual tickling.

Summary

The nature of the story of The Giant Koombah is that it changes based on whatever was relevant to the children that day. In this example, sweet rolls will be used to express the story.

There once was a Giant Koombah, who would wander the streets looking for nasty little children out a little past bedtime. One night, he came across a group of three children, about your size and height. In their hands were some freshly baked sweet rolls. Now, the Giant Koombah loved sweet rolls more than anything. The Giant Koombah looked at those sweet rolls, and with a growl he began to approach. And he came closer... And closer... and closer... Until he tickled them until they were dead!

For particularly nasty behavior, parents or grandparents would make the Koombah punish the children in story for more of a crime they committed. The story would usually end with the parent/guardian tickling the child, then telling them to go to bed and warning them that "the Giant Koombah might come back tomorrow night if you misbehave!"

Historical Basis

There is, of course, no actual Giant Koombah. He is a myth made up to scare children from being up late and doing any crimes. The tale is juvenile in nature, and that's the fun of it. Of course, the Giant Koombah may have at least been based off yetis in the upper mountainous region of Gothai, especially with how many describe it would look.

Spread

Lore Bards speculate that the tale originated from the northern-most regions of Gothai in the summer times when children would be out and about. It got picked up quickly by other parents and soon became a common bedtime tale in the kingdom.

Variations & Mutation

Like stated above, the story often changes to something topical when being told. Sometimes the Giant Koombah will attack the children for vandalism, sometimes it will attack them for eating sweets before dinner. It depends on what the adult wants to teach the child about.

Cultural Reception

Parents and children alike enjoy the tale. Though it is meant to be scary, many Gothain elders of this day have fond memories of their parents and guardians telling them the tale when they were younger.