Moongul: Food Phenomenon

Mimi: Ergh... I feel like my stomach is about to rip out...
Taegrin: Stay in form please, you know they'll kick us out if you turn into water while we're here
Mimi: Blurrrrrr *scribbles*
Jim: Would you like us to come back another time?
Mimi: *scribbles* nooooo... I wanna eat.... stupid food makes me feel like punching a hole in my stomache...

Among the records Taegrin brought back from the Elven Royal Palace Library and Private Collections, there was note of a food of the Nymphs that I haven't ever eaten before. Taegrin didn't think much of it at first, as it was a KLO in training's literature review of Nymph stories about a particular food, and even note by the author as a 'mythical food that sends rain'. Given the amount of stories they would have had to go through, and the large appendix they compiled, Taegrin gave it a second look. There are a number of pages that are blurred - the usual Forbiddings would have done that - but a large part of the summarised literature review is in tact.

As the review was about food, Taegrin thought I might like it, so he brought a copy. Which was handy as the literature review was on 'Moongul'. Although it a food, the name has a double meaning. So the story is both about a food and about a particular sky phenomenon.

The sky phenomenon is an unusual rain specific to the Great Forest regions around the River Tam. But looking at the mists of Delusional Isle (which was commented on in 4 stories, although their stories have been blurred by probable Forbiddings) and the rain-like abilities Naiads can create of themselves, there's a large chance that the phemonmenon wasn't a myth from over-dramatisied stories, but an actual happening of some Naiads. Especially as this happened before the River was split.

And the food was probably something that was Forbidden for some reason. Given the Artifact Sickness I currently have (with just wanting to be water and breaking up my own water particles into multiple puddles makes is easier to not feel like I've been ripped apart) there's a chance they could be related.

THE MYTH

The literature review states that a certain melon of potato size, Moongul, is the favourite food of the Nymphs. They have festivals to celebrate their love of the food, spreading petals around to decorate the area and dance in multi-colored rain. The multi-coloured rain only happens once a year, and so they have the Moongul festival at this time. They have food stalls around the River in the morning and share recipes of Moongul. Then they dance in the multi-coloured rain until night and eat roasted moongul that have been steaming in fire pots all day at the end.

Some versions add that children who don't dance get eaten by the River Monster (basically a Sea Monster that lives in the River) and some versions say that the ones who dance the most turn into the River Monster. My favourite version says that the one who dances the best gets to meet the River Monster and dance with them, and they give the best dancer the best roasted Moongul.

My Interpretation

I would like to eat Moongul. But not while I'm sick.

I don't think Moongul caused the Artifact Sickness, but I think it made it worse.

The festival only happened once a year because of the Moongul. It was proably a food that took a whole year to grow. If it took that long, and was very tasty, then it makes sense to have a festival. I would have a festival every month for Spice that takes that long to make, so it makes sense. There are a couple of foods along the River that take between a month and a year to grow, so it's possible. And there are a couple sections in the lower parts of the River that have been kind of empty for Cycles.

The reason why Moongul would have been Forbidden, is probably why Naids were not allowed to absorb magic pills. The Moongul sounds like it added extra magic into a person, so much so that they split into their petals and water seeded forms. Hence, the petal decorations and multi-coloured rains that were only in certain areas. If a Nymph has too much magic, they do back into their seeded forms, and spread out a lot in order to try and dissipate the magical energy... But it a lot of them did it at once, getting oneself back together may prove difficult. There are stories...

It doesn't explain why it wasn't all Nymphs that had the magic insertion Forbidden from them, so there must be more to the story...

Jim: Even I realise that Mimi would rather eat food than read about it.
Taegrin: There was only so much I could find! Besides, not like you could sneak in there and grab as much as you wanted without being noticed.
Jim: ...
Mimi: ...
Taegrin: ... I'll take you both not looking at me as that you just won't admit you can't do better than me, not a witholding of secrets.

Jim: Why does it matter that this happened before the River was split?
Mimi: Um, Naiads talked to each other better then?
Taegrin: There is no evidence that Naiad stories were more or less additive after the River split, so I too, do not understand the importance.
Mimi: Can't you just trust me?
Taegrin: ... She doesn't seem like she's getting worse?
Jim: Indeed, even her nightmares seem to lessening so I don't think we have to worry about hallucinations.
Mimi: ...
Taegrin: Unless it's about food, or another strange romance story, I don't think you would be that interested.
Jim: I don't her romance stories are strange.
Mimi: ... Taegrin. What if I knew you were gonna make fun of me and I didn't tell the story?
Taegrin: I suppose I could accept that.
Jim: Didn't she still eat the pizza even though you were making fun of her?
Mimi: FOOD IS PRECIOUS... erghghuh, my stomach...

Mini: Hmm,mmm. I need to dissipate... Can you guys come back later?
Jim: Alright. I'll bring dinner later.
Taegrin: Tch. I have to work, so I'll only be able to come tomorrow. Rest up and get better, okay?
Mimi: Mhm