Tale of the Storm Warden

Old wives' tale and myth.

"Do not play outside in a storm for the Storm Warden will spirit you away."

Summary

The origin of the myth seems to be an old wives' tale. A single sentence to keep the children inside during storms. This was later expanded upon to become a story which still maintains the same core idea as the maxim; stay away from storms and believe your parents.
In the story, a child goes outside to retrieve a forgotten toy during a storm despite warnings from their parents. While searching for the toy, they are approached by the Storm Warden who offers to take them to the toy. After the child agrees they are never heard from again.

Historical Basis

I would not believe in this Storm Warden for a moment. If you look at where the story comes from, its origin will be revealed.

— Takalia Folk Stories of Grara, Vol. I

Scholars believe that a child, or several, were once playing in a storm and fell off the edge of the island. The myth is common in a region where there is a long skycoast and such an event would be feasible. No being described as the Storm Warden is thought to exist in the academic community.
Among skysailors, it is a different story. Many sailors caught in a storm say that they see an unusual creature within the dark clouds. The creature with a head of lightning who steals sailors from the deck of the ship.

Spread

The saying and the tale are common in Upper Grara.

Variations & Mutation

The myth found in its traditional area features a being with a silver tongue who would draw children to it with words before taking them away to serve at his Stormcastle. Skysailors believe in a much different version of the Warden who kills and eats the sailors it catches.

Cultural Reception

When introduced to the story most people believe it to be similar to a story in their own culture, only the characters are different. Storms are dangerous so such stories are common among various cultures.

In Literature

Takalia recorded the tale in her first work, Folk Stories of Grara, Volume I. Though she is not the first, an author lost to time wrote a poem about the Storm Warden called The Lightning Wreath.

In Art

A folk song in the area adapts the saying and the story. It presents the mother, the child, and the Storm Warden with different parts of the vocal range as well as using a narrator. In the song, the Storm Warden temps the child to come with him and the mother calls out to her child. There are various ending to the song, in one the child returns to their mother, the Storm Warden leaves, and the sky clears. In another, the child goes with the Warden and the mother weeps.

Stub Article

This article is just a stub for now and will be expanded upon later.

Old Article

This article was written in the past and does not meet my current standards for any number of article quality, layout, or content.

In-Progress Article

This article is being worked on, perhaps not at this very moment, but it is being worked on.

Storms bring rain,
and storms bring wind.
On the darkened plain,
a traveler arrives.

One whose head is lightning,
that lights the haze.
One whose thoughts are dark,
and sets all fears ablaze.

An arm reaches out and out,
to grab and take anyone it can.
With nary a time to shout,
they are whisked away.

For this act unforgiven,
one last glimpse is given,
of the smiling teeth,
and that lightning wreath.

— Unknown, The Lightning Wreath

Date of First Recording

Unknown