The First Blooded

Children of Omyth are told stories by cranky old men and cunning old women of the First Blooded, the first mortal to have ever been killed on Ellecrid. It is a tale meant to scare them into behaving for fear that this spectre of the long ago age would return and upon his return drain the world dry of the blood he was forsaken of. "The First Blooded lived long ago in an ancient land. he was a common folk, working and living an honest life in a world still new and absent the widespread horrors of malcontent and maliciousness. One day, while out working, he happened upon a starving stranger who begged him for food. When he could not produce anything to generously give, the stranger lashed out and slit the First Blooded across the neck, spilling his blood upon the ground, the first mortal blood to be spilled on Ellecrid. But rather than perish, the First Blooded lived, his body taking on a horrifying form as he became a monster that would hunt and feed on those wicked deeds and thoughts of the now defamed people of Ellecrid. For an Era, he walked the earth, witnessing and devouring as he saw fit, until the advent of Charter Magic meant to shape the world in a new light. Wishing to remain in the darkness, he found a bed in which to slumber, far below the earth, until such a time as when he may walk again. Sad be the day he reawakens, for as his reddened eyes flutter open for the first time since taking his rest, seven hundred thousand souls shall perish."

Summary

In the first age, when the first mortal blood was spilled, the assailed being was transformed into a ravenous bloodthirsty monster, as a plague upon those unprepared and sorry souls who would do harm in that way to another. That monster wandered the world for an Era, gathering notoriety and folklore surrounding his being, until the advent of the Age of Charter Magic sent him deep below the earth to a slumber where he would lie in wait until such a time when the world was dark again. It is said that when this being reawakens that he will consume seven hundred thousand souls as nourishment.

Spread

The Folk legend of the First Blooded is fairly well known or spread throughout the civilized and uncivilized world of Ellecrid. It is said that even the reclusive Giants of Val Harem know the tale and do not test it's truth for themselves. Though it is mostly understood as a folk legend, detailing the first murder and the consequences set before all peoples, the record is well known, even to nobles and the more long lived folk of Ellecrid. But generally only the common folk, who lack the security to discern otherwise use the tale as a means to scare their children into behaving.

Variations & Mutation

In most versions of the story, the First Blooded was a kind and hardworking fellow who was unjustly and without reason murdered for not having bread to share with a starving stranger. Other variations describe the First Blooded to have been a tradesmen of some kind, or even a farmer who was out working the fields when the encounter occurred. The most well known deviation from the common folklore describes the First Blooded to have been a humble pacifist priest who was assailed by brigands on the road, desperate for money and food.

Cultural Reception

Most see the tale as nothing more than a tale meant to scare children. None truly know, especially in the modern Era whether or not the First Blooded, in fact, became a monster meant to haunt the footsteps of the world as a grim reminder of their violent capabilities. Simply put it is hard to say what truth exists in this tale.

In Literature

In the Ballad of Bulken, an Old Samean Epic Poem from Southern Omyth, details an encounter between Bulken, the title character and one referred to by the Blooded Beast. Scholars have theorized that this is a referrence to the First Blooded as the author describes the beast unlike any other creature documented and uses a variety of lines to reference or allude to blood in some way, shape, or form. The encounter is not long enough to be the most notable in the poem, however, it is worth noting that Bulken convinces the beast not to slay him by giving up his arms and armaments as a token of his vow to never take another life for sport or out of unjustified reasoning. The most curious line is: "Having heard such a fervent vow, the Beast bestowed a gift unto Bulken, calling him the Brave-Hearted and Blood-Blessed." Scholars have taken this line a number of way, for it does appear that after encountering the Blooded Beast, Bulken never suffers a life jeopardizing wound in the tale, when previously he had. Some believe there to be a connection, others have waved this detail as pure conjecture.

Date of Setting

37, 1E