Tale of the Stone Sword
The Tale of the Stone Sword is a legend that tells of how a poor mason named Gellam of Caisel became the King of Tightland.
Summary
After the death of young King Anaeb, there was unrest in the land and quabbles between many petty nobles as to who would take his place.
After unsuccessfully trying to find a compromise, an unnamed oad curses the land and goes out to a large stone in the centre of a rural village.
She prophecises that he who will pull forth a sword from the stone will be the righteous heir to the throne, before putting herself in hiding.
All the nation is baffled, since there is no sword in the stone to pull forth, and the land is plunged into a time of misery and uncertainty.
One day a young mason hears of this prophesy and searches the land to find this stone.
Upon finding it he causes the inhabitants to temporarly flee the town with the help of friends he gathered along the way, before seting to work.
After a day has passed, the villagers return to find the young mason triumfantly brandishing a sword carved from the very stone prophesised.
The oad emerges and instantiates the mason as king of the land, he prospers and has an heir and all live well under his reign.
After unsuccessfully trying to find a compromise, an unnamed oad curses the land and goes out to a large stone in the centre of a rural village.
She prophecises that he who will pull forth a sword from the stone will be the righteous heir to the throne, before putting herself in hiding.
All the nation is baffled, since there is no sword in the stone to pull forth, and the land is plunged into a time of misery and uncertainty.
One day a young mason hears of this prophesy and searches the land to find this stone.
Upon finding it he causes the inhabitants to temporarly flee the town with the help of friends he gathered along the way, before seting to work.
After a day has passed, the villagers return to find the young mason triumfantly brandishing a sword carved from the very stone prophesised.
The oad emerges and instantiates the mason as king of the land, he prospers and has an heir and all live well under his reign.
Historical Basis
It is believed that, since the historical documentation on this incident is widespread and covered from multiple perspectives, the legend is largely true, although certain embellishments as well as details on the people and locations involved vary greatly, leading it to be classified as a legend.
In particular it is not believed that the sword was of any value and that the friends made along the journey were all human.
In particular it is not believed that the sword was of any value and that the friends made along the journey were all human.
Spread
The tale is known across the island and there are many local varieties of the legend.
It is a popular tale to tell to children, often emphasising many attributes in the young mason that are deemed worthy to aspire to, but also carrying other stories of morality in the friends met on the way and their interactions.
It is a popular tale to tell to children, often emphasising many attributes in the young mason that are deemed worthy to aspire to, but also carrying other stories of morality in the friends met on the way and their interactions.
Variations & Mutation
Variations on the tale are manyfold, with almost every locality claiming the young mason has passed through their village or a local landmark on his journey to whichever village is referenced.
There are quite a number of villages which have a large stone as a central point, usually in a market square, and all of them have been told to be the place where the mason carved his sword and even some which haven't such a stone.
The friends he met along the way vary in number as well as in character and species, for in some tales all his helpers are animals whereas in others they are criminals or orphans, some joining by faith and others by coertion. A common point of debate is the description of the sword itself, as well as how it was carved.
Some claim he laboured a week under the toiling sun, others that the stone 'revealed itself to him' and became a sword due to the magic that the oad had laid upon it.
Then again the descriptions of the sword and its properties range from a sword of white crystal, that would heal a friend but slice a foe, to a sword of precious metal, inlaid with jewels that would show the king path to the future, to a sword of granite with no inherent value whatsoever.
In some versions of the tale the oad had disguised herself as one of the friends, whereas in others she remains hidden in the village after the villagers are driven out.
What is also rather curious is that in some stories the oad becomes queen to the mason, whereas some believe one of the friends or a woman from his village of origin became his queen.
There are quite a number of villages which have a large stone as a central point, usually in a market square, and all of them have been told to be the place where the mason carved his sword and even some which haven't such a stone.
The friends he met along the way vary in number as well as in character and species, for in some tales all his helpers are animals whereas in others they are criminals or orphans, some joining by faith and others by coertion. A common point of debate is the description of the sword itself, as well as how it was carved.
Some claim he laboured a week under the toiling sun, others that the stone 'revealed itself to him' and became a sword due to the magic that the oad had laid upon it.
Then again the descriptions of the sword and its properties range from a sword of white crystal, that would heal a friend but slice a foe, to a sword of precious metal, inlaid with jewels that would show the king path to the future, to a sword of granite with no inherent value whatsoever.
In some versions of the tale the oad had disguised herself as one of the friends, whereas in others she remains hidden in the village after the villagers are driven out.
What is also rather curious is that in some stories the oad becomes queen to the mason, whereas some believe one of the friends or a woman from his village of origin became his queen.
In Art
The carving of the stone and its transformation into a sword are perhaps the most common depictions arising from this legend, with the common stone being transformed into a sword, often told to be infused with magical powers and incredible strength.
Many artists interpret the story as being one where the apparent common stone was molded into a masterpiece, reflecting how all things have potential when placed in the right hands.
Some artists have taken to mind the version where the stone carves itself, and how we, as regular human beings, may also shape ourselves to become magnificent beings in any manner of ways.
Many artists interpret the story as being one where the apparent common stone was molded into a masterpiece, reflecting how all things have potential when placed in the right hands.
Some artists have taken to mind the version where the stone carves itself, and how we, as regular human beings, may also shape ourselves to become magnificent beings in any manner of ways.
Date of First Recording
~1520 BE
Date of Setting
1520 - 1530 BE
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