Stone of Ábimi
They said it was a rock shaped like a man reaching for the sky, but the weather must've worn it down so much that it's impossible to see. Just a strangely tall lump of stone amidst the sands.The Stone of Ábimi is a curiously shaped stone in the Kixunyájel Desert in north-eastern Thurásin. According to local stories, it is not a simple stone, but the petrified form of a man named Ábimi Esetoril, who was left anchored in the desert after betraying The Divinities.
Legend
As the story goes, Ábimi Esetoril was a simple miner, toiling in the caves of the Dividing Mountains over many long days and nights. Frustrated with his lot in life, and wishing to see the whole world, he prayed to the Divinities, asking for the power to leave and see it all. To his great surprise, his call was answered by the Duality of Experience, who offered him a Divine Contract. To his distress, Ábimi had nothing to offer the deity. So Experience offered a deal - the power to explore the world, if he would be willing to seek out a great centre of learning and listen to the counsel of its keepers. He readily agreed, and with divine power secured, he left the mine behind and set out on his journey. With this, he was able to travel hundreds of miles without tiring, find food and water in hidden places, and see the land illuminated only by starlight. He explored from the coldest coasts to the highest peaks, and from the steamiest rainforest to the lowest caves. But he neglected his end of the bargain, and with each passing adventure his patron became less and less patient. No reminder of his duty spurred him to act, only to make him ask for more time, to see one more location. Finally, this became too much. As he trekked into the dry Kixunyájel Desert, Experience seized control of his body and left him rooted to the sandy stones. Though he begged for mercy, that was not within Experience's domain, and they summoned divine power to encase the disloyal man in rock and terminated the pact. Without the power of the gods by his side, he was trapped within the stones for the rest of his days, hand outstretched to the heavens.Historical Basis
Due to the story being set over two thousand years ago, any written or archaeological evidence for it is scant to non-existent. The primary source is the rock itself, which appears to be quite normal compared to those around it, barring its strange shape. Close inspection of the rock shows that it is firmly connected to the steppes below, but given the text of the myth, this is perhaps unsurprising, and doesn't deter those who believe it actually occurred.If the gods can turn mortals to stone, then how many of the craggy rocks were once people? How many have been punished this way?
Do you think that'll ever happen to us?
Date of First Recording
Date of Setting
~ 700 Origins
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Wise Pacts
While the Divinities do not meddle in mortal affairs often, their interference is not unheard of. This comes in the form of Divine Contracts, in which a deal is struck for a mortal to gain the divine's power. Typically, such deals are made using physical objects - they may offer heirlooms and trinkets, or even an arm for the power, though agreeing to do certain tasks is not unheard of. At any time, the Divinity or their mortal partner can choose to void the contract, returning things to the previous state. This is very uncommon, and usually takes the form of the mortal violating the pact in some way, forcing divine retribution. Ábimi's case, if it truly happened, is a rare instance of the god not only rescinding the contract but directly punishing the pact participant for their transgression.
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