The Serpent of the Sundial
"...the sundial spun, round and round, opposite of the sun." -The Serpent of the Sundial
An ancient tale that is on the mind of every modern Hrundarian, the Serpent of the Sundial tells of a cursed dragon who brought near ruin to Hrundar through his hubris.
Summary
Sit now, let me tell you a tale. Let me tell you a tale of the first dragon who cast aside his pure form to turn to hate. In the olden days, before the sea waved and the land quaked, there was Hrundar and none else. And in Hrundar, the original dragons lived in their glory and fame. These dragons were of all shape and size and color, and they lived as one. All except for one, a copper dragon whose name will not be spoken on fear he may once again know recognition, who wanted more than he was offered. This copper dragon wished to not live equal to others, he wished to live above them. Above the dragons, above Hrundar, above the gods. The copper dragon spat his dreams to all who would hear, and before long the gods themselves heard his intentions. The copper dragon's words angered the gods and they prepared themselves to annihilate the copper dragon and his hubris, but one god took interest in the young dragon's dreams. The god wished to teach the copper dragon the error of his ways and make an example out of him for any other who defied the word of the world, and the god concocted a plan.
The copper dragon continued to spew his rotten core to any who would hear it, no matter their thoughts on them. The copper dragon would especially enjoying preaching his message to those who visited the sundial that the dragons used, believing that any who have the effort to check the time will also have the time to listen to him. And so the copper dragon sat at the sundial as if it was his den, telling any who approached of his dreams. One day, however, the copper dragon was approached by one of the gods disguised as a 7 headed snake. The god spoke to the copper dragon, indulging his words and increasing his pride. The god told the copper dragon that he could help him rule the world, however a deal would have to be made. The copper dragon would rule for eternity without the gods interference, he could indulge his own hubris and rule the world as he saw fit, finally rising above the others. However, if he was to ever fail in his power, the god would take what was most important to the copper dragon. The copper dragon adamantly accepted the deal, not believing himself capable of losing. The god plucked a tooth from one of the snakes many heads and placed it in the sundial, telling the copper dragon that once the deal was finished he would return to collect his debt.
The copper dragon rose to power in Hrundar, ruling the land with an iron fist. And, for a time, Hrundar was at peace. The dragons continued their lives in peace, ignoring the copper dragon, who did nothing but speak of his greatness and power without doing any. And for a time, this was the way. However, as the years went by and the seasons began to change, the copper dragon grew bored with his power. He wished to do something powerful with it, and ordered his subjects to construct a giant copper statue of him. The dragons obeyed, and the statue slowly began to take form. However, the copper dragon's greed was not yet quenched. He ordered the dragons to bring all their foot to him and allow him to indulge. And the dragons, again, obeyed. The copper dragon lived this way for some time, indulging himself as the others suffered, until he was once again inclined to ascend his power further. He ordered the dragons to drain the ocean, to dig a hole so deep that the ocean would lay inside. And they obeyed, powerless before him. Many dragons died before the hole was done, and the copper dragon continued to indulge himself as those around him starved and fell out of exhaustion. Finally, the statue was done. In the end there were only two dragons left, the copper dragon and the exhausted, youngest of the dragons, who was on the brink of his death. The day finally came for the final dirt to move and for the copper dragon's dream to arrive. He ordered the young dragon to move the final dirt. As his claws pushed the dirt, he succumbed to his exhaustion and fell to the ground, dead.
As the young dragon fell, so did the water, pouring into the hole. The copper dragon watched on in pride as the water continued to pour and pour... until the water met the edge. But then the copper dragon was terrified to see the water continue to pour and pour, overflowing the hole. He looked down the abyss, and saw not the muddy bottom of a dug out hole, but the thousands of bodies of his dead subjects. The water poured and poured out, covering the land. The copper dragon flew as his island, his kingdom, and his people sunk down, until finally there was only one final land: the sundial. As the copper dragon climbed up the sundial, the water did as well, until the dragon was sat on the tip. But the water continued to rise, rise up and over the tip. As the water ascended the tip, a blinding flash sent the copper dragon into the air as the sundial spun, round and round, opposite of the sun. The water slowly receded and the land was brought back to before the copper dragon's rule. The dead dragon's slowly climbed out of the hole, healthy and good again. The copper dragon's statue slowly disappeared, as if the building process was reversed. Finally, there was no mention of the copper dragon's reign besides the crown the copper dragon wore, which slowly faded as well.
The 7 headed snake returned, scolding the copper dragon. However, the copper dragon still did not learn, yelling and screaming at the god that he had cheated in some way. The god, tired of the copper dragon's spew of dirt, boomed down at him: "I DID NOT FORSAKE THESE PEOPLE! I DID NOT CHEAT! YOU! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CHEATED. BUT NOT AT OUR DEAL, BUT NOT AT YOUR RULES, BUT AT YOUR OWN WORTH!" And as the god promised, he took the one thing important to the copper dragon: his joy. He ripped the copper from the dragon's scales and pulled any joy from his heart until, in the end, the first red dragon was born. The now red dragon cursed the gods and the dragons, vowing to rise to power once again, before flying into the horizon. The gods, happy of the punishment, allowed the red dragon to live his days a greedy shell of his former self, knowing that no matter how much he hoarded he would never find joy again.
The copper dragon continued to spew his rotten core to any who would hear it, no matter their thoughts on them. The copper dragon would especially enjoying preaching his message to those who visited the sundial that the dragons used, believing that any who have the effort to check the time will also have the time to listen to him. And so the copper dragon sat at the sundial as if it was his den, telling any who approached of his dreams. One day, however, the copper dragon was approached by one of the gods disguised as a 7 headed snake. The god spoke to the copper dragon, indulging his words and increasing his pride. The god told the copper dragon that he could help him rule the world, however a deal would have to be made. The copper dragon would rule for eternity without the gods interference, he could indulge his own hubris and rule the world as he saw fit, finally rising above the others. However, if he was to ever fail in his power, the god would take what was most important to the copper dragon. The copper dragon adamantly accepted the deal, not believing himself capable of losing. The god plucked a tooth from one of the snakes many heads and placed it in the sundial, telling the copper dragon that once the deal was finished he would return to collect his debt.
The copper dragon rose to power in Hrundar, ruling the land with an iron fist. And, for a time, Hrundar was at peace. The dragons continued their lives in peace, ignoring the copper dragon, who did nothing but speak of his greatness and power without doing any. And for a time, this was the way. However, as the years went by and the seasons began to change, the copper dragon grew bored with his power. He wished to do something powerful with it, and ordered his subjects to construct a giant copper statue of him. The dragons obeyed, and the statue slowly began to take form. However, the copper dragon's greed was not yet quenched. He ordered the dragons to bring all their foot to him and allow him to indulge. And the dragons, again, obeyed. The copper dragon lived this way for some time, indulging himself as the others suffered, until he was once again inclined to ascend his power further. He ordered the dragons to drain the ocean, to dig a hole so deep that the ocean would lay inside. And they obeyed, powerless before him. Many dragons died before the hole was done, and the copper dragon continued to indulge himself as those around him starved and fell out of exhaustion. Finally, the statue was done. In the end there were only two dragons left, the copper dragon and the exhausted, youngest of the dragons, who was on the brink of his death. The day finally came for the final dirt to move and for the copper dragon's dream to arrive. He ordered the young dragon to move the final dirt. As his claws pushed the dirt, he succumbed to his exhaustion and fell to the ground, dead.
As the young dragon fell, so did the water, pouring into the hole. The copper dragon watched on in pride as the water continued to pour and pour... until the water met the edge. But then the copper dragon was terrified to see the water continue to pour and pour, overflowing the hole. He looked down the abyss, and saw not the muddy bottom of a dug out hole, but the thousands of bodies of his dead subjects. The water poured and poured out, covering the land. The copper dragon flew as his island, his kingdom, and his people sunk down, until finally there was only one final land: the sundial. As the copper dragon climbed up the sundial, the water did as well, until the dragon was sat on the tip. But the water continued to rise, rise up and over the tip. As the water ascended the tip, a blinding flash sent the copper dragon into the air as the sundial spun, round and round, opposite of the sun. The water slowly receded and the land was brought back to before the copper dragon's rule. The dead dragon's slowly climbed out of the hole, healthy and good again. The copper dragon's statue slowly disappeared, as if the building process was reversed. Finally, there was no mention of the copper dragon's reign besides the crown the copper dragon wore, which slowly faded as well.
The 7 headed snake returned, scolding the copper dragon. However, the copper dragon still did not learn, yelling and screaming at the god that he had cheated in some way. The god, tired of the copper dragon's spew of dirt, boomed down at him: "I DID NOT FORSAKE THESE PEOPLE! I DID NOT CHEAT! YOU! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CHEATED. BUT NOT AT OUR DEAL, BUT NOT AT YOUR RULES, BUT AT YOUR OWN WORTH!" And as the god promised, he took the one thing important to the copper dragon: his joy. He ripped the copper from the dragon's scales and pulled any joy from his heart until, in the end, the first red dragon was born. The now red dragon cursed the gods and the dragons, vowing to rise to power once again, before flying into the horizon. The gods, happy of the punishment, allowed the red dragon to live his days a greedy shell of his former self, knowing that no matter how much he hoarded he would never find joy again.
Historical Basis
The story of the Serpent of the Sundial has been a heavy debate for scholars for centuries. While the story is clearly fabricated, or at the very best exaggerated, ancient texts in Hrundar do speak of a great flood thousands of years ago as well as a sudden drop and then boom in the population. Whether these are proof of the myth being real or the myth being fabricated is up to the believer
Spread
The Serpent of the Sundial is a common story told in Hrundar. Originally told by the dragons and dragonborn of Bachela as a story to combat greed and lust, the story eventually travelled to Astor where it was treated as a religious teaching. Astor treats the Serpent of the Sundial as a god in and of itself, believing that it protects Astor and the people from greed and lust by changing the course of history.
The Holy Church of the Gods eventually caught wind of the story and, believing it to be heretical teachings, banned any of those who believe it from the island, citing that "no God would allow innocents to fall to prove a point to one." This, however, has not stopped Astor from worshipping the Serpent of the Sundial.
The Holy Church of the Gods eventually caught wind of the story and, believing it to be heretical teachings, banned any of those who believe it from the island, citing that "no God would allow innocents to fall to prove a point to one." This, however, has not stopped Astor from worshipping the Serpent of the Sundial.
Variations & Mutation
The Magical Sundial:
A variation of the Serpent of the Sundial exists, only spoken of in small tribes in Astor. In this variation, the gods played no part in the copper dragon's fall, instead saying that the sundial itself was magical and the copper dragon used it to revert the damage he caused to the people, giving up his joy in the process. This variation is heavily criticized by both believers of the original myth and the Holy Church of the Gods, with original believers citing the copper dragon's greed would not allow him to admit defeat and the Holy Church of the Gods refusing to believe any item could have powers that of a god.
Cultural Reception
Astor:
The myth of the Serpent of the Sundial has led to Astor adopting it as it's main religion. Astor's deep tribal roots with the forest has led many to see the sundial as a metaphor for the heart of the forest, if not the forest itself, which has led many to treat the story as a religious teaching. This has led to deep strains with the Holy Church of the Gods, who believe the story to be heretical.
The Holy Church of the Gods: The Holy Church of the Gods has long treated the Serpent of the Sundial as a heretical teaching, going as far as to ban those who believe it from the island. Due to this deep hatred of the story, Astor and the Church have had strained relations for some time
Desvla: Desvla has, since 743, accepted followers of the Serpent of the Sundial as a protected religion. Because of this, the Holy Church has further removed themselves from relations with the country.
The Holy Church of the Gods: The Holy Church of the Gods has long treated the Serpent of the Sundial as a heretical teaching, going as far as to ban those who believe it from the island. Due to this deep hatred of the story, Astor and the Church have had strained relations for some time
Desvla: Desvla has, since 743, accepted followers of the Serpent of the Sundial as a protected religion. Because of this, the Holy Church has further removed themselves from relations with the country.
In Art
The Sundial:
The University of Magic, Insistia, in Kojark has long owned the one and only painting of the missing sundial. In the painting, a brilliant golden sundial can be seen in a sun kissed pond. Beautiful vined flowers hug the bottom of the sundial as a bird floats around. The sundial itself is a beautiful golden color, covered in beautiful purple crystals, with a purple tooth at the tip, bouncing rays of light. The school has long treated the painting as proof there is still unknown anomalies in Dasani, and uses the painting as proof as to why curiosity and dedication are required to find the artifacts others cannot.
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