Just two websites to check out.
www.sportsfilter.com is a communtiy web blog for sports fans.
www.maddox.xmission.com is a satirical web site authored by the same man (Maddox) who wrote The Alphabet of Manliness which is available in bookstores and online.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Just a Little Myth About Death
There was once a time where no animal, beast or man, had to face death. All were at peace in the world, Death’s presence was unnecessary. This was the world the gods had created for mankind, and it was a blissful world. There was only one condition to living without death. The gods mandated that no beast or man shall steal from another for whatever reason. If they did so, the wrath of the gods would be terrible to behold. For as long as anyone could remember, all beings abided by this rule. Crops were bountiful and the weather wonderful, neighbors were pleasant and all was peaceful. Alas, this would not always be so.
Death is not the most pleasant of creatures, and when it is left out it becomes rather moody. The decision by the gods to exclude it from their world made in very unhappy indeed. It was consumed with a loathing for the other gods; knowing how they despised it he decided to ravage the one thing they held dear more than anything else. Death resolved that it must make its presence known on the earth. In order to do so, it knew that it must make some beast or man commit the forbidden crime as mandated by the gods. Pleased with its maliciousness, Death decided to formulate its plan.
One can only look to fate as the reason Death looked to man as the unsuspecting victim for its plot. The gods had given man many gifts, but with many gifts come many faults. It would be susceptibility to manipulation that would lead man to suffering. While Death is by far the most malicious of creatures, even it could spot this glaring fault. With its devious plan prepared, it descended to earth.
It chose a poor Sheppard living on the foot of Mt. Cithaeron as its unsuspecting victim. This Sheppard had lived a good life, abiding by the rules of the gods and living off the land. It would be fates that lead Death to him, and being human he possessed the fault Death was looking for; thus becoming the one that would give Death power in this world. Death has many tricks and powers, and it used many of them to turn the Sheppard against the god’s will. It first descended as a plague upon the Sheppard’s flock, killing all that it touched. It then spread blight across Mt. Cithaeron, killing the meager crops that the Sheppard survived on. Finally, it sent a storm more dreadful than ever known that destroyed the Sheppard’s home and possessions. With the Sheppard physically and morally crushed, Death moved on to the next phase of its plan.
The Sheppard was lying against a stump of a tree exhausted, cursing the gods for the harm that had befallen him. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his ear.
“
I see everything you’ve ever worked for has been destroyed” it said. “All your life’s work is now for naught. You must have been cursed by the gods to suffer such a tragedy.”
Bewildered at the source of this voice, but still curious, the Sheppard replied. “Indeed all I have ever strived to achieve has been destroyed and now I have nothing. But what may I do? If the gods have willed it, then this must be my destiny. There is nothing I can do.”
“Ah but there is” the voice purred. “You have never been on the other side of the mountain. There is a mighty king who lives there, bountiful riches fill his household. The storm that has so ravaged you did not even scar him. If you so desire, I may lead you there.”
Intrigued and somewhat angered by this revelation, the Sheppard agreed with the voice. The Sheppard was unaware that he was only part of an elaborate plan, an evil web of deception that would change the entire world. Unknowing to the evil surrounding him, the innocent Sheppard traveled to the other side of the mountain. When he arrived there, he could not believe what he saw. There was a mansion, a house bigger than he had ever seen. Surrounding it was beautiful orchards and gardens, and the weather was perfect. The Sheppard could not believe that fate had allowed this man’s wealth to be untouched while his was destroyed. Seeing this, Death moved on with the final stage of its plan.
“I see you do not understand why the gods have cursed you and blessed this man” it whispered. “If you so desire, I can show you a way to rectify their mistakes. All you need to do is go down to the mansion and the king will greet you like an old friend. After you have eaten at his table and enjoyed his hospitality, you must deceive him. Tell him you are tired and wish to rest. When you do, he will allow you to sleep in his quarters. When you retire, open the chest at the foot of the bed and take the precious gems inside. That is the way you can fix the mistakes of the gods.”
Perhaps if the Sheppard had not been so blinded by the words of Death, he would have remembered that the gods would damn the entire world if he stole the gems. Satisfied with the voice’s plan, he walked down the grassy slope and walked to the door of the king’s house. When he arrived there, he was welcomed in with open arms. The king allowed him to rest in his own den, and when it was dinner time the Sheppard was at his right hand. The meal was the best the Sheppard had ever eaten, fruits and meats adorned the table. Once the Sheppard had eaten his fill he told the king he was tired. Just as the voice had predicted, the generous king offered his very own bedchamber for the Sheppard to use. There wasn’t a better room in the mansion, as the bedchamber had a four poster bed and a balcony with a magnificent view. However, the Sheppard noticed neither of these things. When he retired to the bedchamber, his sole focus was on the chest at the foot of the bed, and what was inside. Opening the chest, he saw sparkling jewels in all the colors of the rainbow. Greedily, he snatched some up and rubbed them around in his hands. Satisfied that he had finally rectified the god’s mistake, he shoved the jewels in his cloak. Once the jewels entered his cloak however, there was a terrible clap of thunder.
All of a sudden, the voice of the highest god could be heard throughout the earth. “When we created this world, we granted upon you eternal bliss!” it thundered “The only condition we had was that neither man nor beast was to steal the possessions of another. That pact has now been broken! You can keep the petty possessions of your neighbors, for we have no use for them but from this moment on, the horrible creature of Death will descend upon the earth and ravage you, sowing pain and sorrow wherever it steps!”
Hearing these words the Sheppard realized he had been deceived. Crying out in agony, he ripped at his hair and collapsed on the ground. Then he heard a noise more terrible than ever before. Opening the door, he saw a black shadow consuming the king that had been so hospitable to him. Feasting, it turned toward him.
“Thanksss” it hissed. “You have done me a great service.” It then leaped at the Sheppard, and with one final, bloodcurdling scream; the Sheppard was no more.
The unleashing of Death was not the only punishment sent down upon earth by the gods. It was decided that Death itself would not suffice, as eventually creatures would become accustomed to it and accept it as a part of life. Therefore, they unleashed another creature upon the earth, Necrophobia. This creature would descend on a victim of its choice, and without warning impress upon it a pathological fear of Death. By doing this, Necrophobia ensured that the world would never be able to accept Death, and some would always have no choice but to fear it. Together with Death itself, they wreaked a fiery vengeance upon the creatures of the earth.
Death is not the most pleasant of creatures, and when it is left out it becomes rather moody. The decision by the gods to exclude it from their world made in very unhappy indeed. It was consumed with a loathing for the other gods; knowing how they despised it he decided to ravage the one thing they held dear more than anything else. Death resolved that it must make its presence known on the earth. In order to do so, it knew that it must make some beast or man commit the forbidden crime as mandated by the gods. Pleased with its maliciousness, Death decided to formulate its plan.
One can only look to fate as the reason Death looked to man as the unsuspecting victim for its plot. The gods had given man many gifts, but with many gifts come many faults. It would be susceptibility to manipulation that would lead man to suffering. While Death is by far the most malicious of creatures, even it could spot this glaring fault. With its devious plan prepared, it descended to earth.
It chose a poor Sheppard living on the foot of Mt. Cithaeron as its unsuspecting victim. This Sheppard had lived a good life, abiding by the rules of the gods and living off the land. It would be fates that lead Death to him, and being human he possessed the fault Death was looking for; thus becoming the one that would give Death power in this world. Death has many tricks and powers, and it used many of them to turn the Sheppard against the god’s will. It first descended as a plague upon the Sheppard’s flock, killing all that it touched. It then spread blight across Mt. Cithaeron, killing the meager crops that the Sheppard survived on. Finally, it sent a storm more dreadful than ever known that destroyed the Sheppard’s home and possessions. With the Sheppard physically and morally crushed, Death moved on to the next phase of its plan.
The Sheppard was lying against a stump of a tree exhausted, cursing the gods for the harm that had befallen him. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his ear.
“
I see everything you’ve ever worked for has been destroyed” it said. “All your life’s work is now for naught. You must have been cursed by the gods to suffer such a tragedy.”
Bewildered at the source of this voice, but still curious, the Sheppard replied. “Indeed all I have ever strived to achieve has been destroyed and now I have nothing. But what may I do? If the gods have willed it, then this must be my destiny. There is nothing I can do.”
“Ah but there is” the voice purred. “You have never been on the other side of the mountain. There is a mighty king who lives there, bountiful riches fill his household. The storm that has so ravaged you did not even scar him. If you so desire, I may lead you there.”
Intrigued and somewhat angered by this revelation, the Sheppard agreed with the voice. The Sheppard was unaware that he was only part of an elaborate plan, an evil web of deception that would change the entire world. Unknowing to the evil surrounding him, the innocent Sheppard traveled to the other side of the mountain. When he arrived there, he could not believe what he saw. There was a mansion, a house bigger than he had ever seen. Surrounding it was beautiful orchards and gardens, and the weather was perfect. The Sheppard could not believe that fate had allowed this man’s wealth to be untouched while his was destroyed. Seeing this, Death moved on with the final stage of its plan.
“I see you do not understand why the gods have cursed you and blessed this man” it whispered. “If you so desire, I can show you a way to rectify their mistakes. All you need to do is go down to the mansion and the king will greet you like an old friend. After you have eaten at his table and enjoyed his hospitality, you must deceive him. Tell him you are tired and wish to rest. When you do, he will allow you to sleep in his quarters. When you retire, open the chest at the foot of the bed and take the precious gems inside. That is the way you can fix the mistakes of the gods.”
Perhaps if the Sheppard had not been so blinded by the words of Death, he would have remembered that the gods would damn the entire world if he stole the gems. Satisfied with the voice’s plan, he walked down the grassy slope and walked to the door of the king’s house. When he arrived there, he was welcomed in with open arms. The king allowed him to rest in his own den, and when it was dinner time the Sheppard was at his right hand. The meal was the best the Sheppard had ever eaten, fruits and meats adorned the table. Once the Sheppard had eaten his fill he told the king he was tired. Just as the voice had predicted, the generous king offered his very own bedchamber for the Sheppard to use. There wasn’t a better room in the mansion, as the bedchamber had a four poster bed and a balcony with a magnificent view. However, the Sheppard noticed neither of these things. When he retired to the bedchamber, his sole focus was on the chest at the foot of the bed, and what was inside. Opening the chest, he saw sparkling jewels in all the colors of the rainbow. Greedily, he snatched some up and rubbed them around in his hands. Satisfied that he had finally rectified the god’s mistake, he shoved the jewels in his cloak. Once the jewels entered his cloak however, there was a terrible clap of thunder.
All of a sudden, the voice of the highest god could be heard throughout the earth. “When we created this world, we granted upon you eternal bliss!” it thundered “The only condition we had was that neither man nor beast was to steal the possessions of another. That pact has now been broken! You can keep the petty possessions of your neighbors, for we have no use for them but from this moment on, the horrible creature of Death will descend upon the earth and ravage you, sowing pain and sorrow wherever it steps!”
Hearing these words the Sheppard realized he had been deceived. Crying out in agony, he ripped at his hair and collapsed on the ground. Then he heard a noise more terrible than ever before. Opening the door, he saw a black shadow consuming the king that had been so hospitable to him. Feasting, it turned toward him.
“Thanksss” it hissed. “You have done me a great service.” It then leaped at the Sheppard, and with one final, bloodcurdling scream; the Sheppard was no more.
The unleashing of Death was not the only punishment sent down upon earth by the gods. It was decided that Death itself would not suffice, as eventually creatures would become accustomed to it and accept it as a part of life. Therefore, they unleashed another creature upon the earth, Necrophobia. This creature would descend on a victim of its choice, and without warning impress upon it a pathological fear of Death. By doing this, Necrophobia ensured that the world would never be able to accept Death, and some would always have no choice but to fear it. Together with Death itself, they wreaked a fiery vengeance upon the creatures of the earth.
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