Turtles Without Their Shells
The Turtles Without Their Shells is a fable told within Tel'Varna and the greater Greenwood Culture, though it traces its roots back to the Aéldelinians well before The Separation. The fable tells the story of a community attempting to properly dispose of a dead Golden River Turtle that was born without it's shell. The story is meant to teach the lesson that life in the forest is cyclical, and that no one can opt out without consequences.
Summary
In the tale of the Turtles Without Their Shells, a young fisher in the Elderwood comes across a Golder River Turtle without its shell on the riverbank near his community. He brings this to the attention of one of the Elders, who then brings it before the community. Everyone seems to have their own idea of how to best dispose of this turtle and no consensus can be reached. Amidst the chaos, the Elders give a random person in the crowd a chance to solve it. But after they fail, another turtle is found, and another, then another. The first suggestion was to let the turtle decompose where it was, which lead to the death of virtually all vegetation within a 10' radius of the turtle. This circle of death repeated, despite attempting burial, ritual pyre, or religious offering. On the fifth night, an old man took the turtle home with him. When asked the next morning what he had done, he stated simply, "I ate it." Despite the community's disbelief, the turtles without shells ceased appearing near the community, and the old man never got sick.
Many years later, not long after the old man dies, a Golden River Turtle is found by a young community member without its shell. Remembering the old man, one of the Elders offers to eat the turtle in the same way the old man had claimed to have done. After consuming this meal, the Elder remained in good health, and no issues befell the forest or community. The old man had not lied - that all cycles within the Elderwood must close somehow.
Historical Basis
Dating to ancient times with the Aéldelinians, the origin of the Turtles Without Their Shells fable reaches back further than any records exist, written or otherwise, leaving historians unable to confirm whether there is any historical accuracy behind the myth. Despite this, the culinary traditions surrounding Golden River Turtles have not changed. In the over four millennia since the Separation, Golden River Turtles are not to be hunted (other than for a simple sighting) and consuming one is meant to occur exclusively when found without its shell.
Spread
Though the Golden River Turtle's territory barely stretched beyond the limits of the modern day Greenwood, the legends and stories of the elusive creature were common throughout the entirety of the Elderwood. However, following the Separation and collapse of the Elderwood, knowledge of this turtle, and thus the tale of the Turtles Without Their Shells, shrunk considerably. Today, knowledge of Turtles Without Their Shells is limited to those of the Greenwood Culture, and the few lucky visitors who have been present during the discovery and preparation of such a turtle.
"I ate it."
Date of First Recording
2450, 1E
Date of Setting
Time Immemorial
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