The Fisherman's Bait

Long ago in a coastal town there lived a fisherman. Each morning, this fisherman ventured forth onto the sea to catch enough fish to feed his family and still have surplus to sell at market. For a while, the fisherman's catch was bountiful and he made quite a fortune selling his fish: enough to move him and his family to a bigger house and afford fine and luxurious clothes.

One day, when the fisherman was out at sea, he drew up his net and found it empty. He cast out again and again and each time, his net was as bare as when he had thrown it.

The man, in a fit of anger, cursed Bokoren, saying, "O Bokoren, pitiful and cruel, you have placed a spell upon the sea around me and stopped the fish from filling my nets. You are naught but a fiend of Akkolor, and nary fit to be styled a god!"

At once, the sea was made still and the winds refused to blow. When the fisherman dipped his oars into the water to row home, he found it hard and unyeilding. Bokorenhad, indeed, cursed the man for angering him.

The fisherman's worker, with the wisdom of a commoner, said to him, "Master, the Lord has found favour in you and blessed you with many gits. Yet, when His generosity wanes, you become entitled and spiteful. You forget yourself; I see you not at His shrines, nor do we offer thanks to the Sea. Verily, you are a parasite upon the Wavelord's grace."

The fisherman, heeding her words, became supplicatory and wept. He gathered all he had in his boat, including his own nets, fine clothes, and purse of gold for market and cast them into the sea. He then called out, "Behold, Bokoren, I am a sinner in your eyes and my own! See my failures and look upon me with pity! I offer these, my own possessions, to you in gratitude for all you have gifted me and my family! May it please you, and be a small accounting for my failures!"

At once, the sea produced a horn and tossed it into his craft with a splash. The horn glimmered like a fierce storm. The fisherman blew into the horn and there came like a rumbling thunder a great horde of fish that lept into his boat, and a mighty wind that pushed him to shore.

Thereafter, the man was ever grateful to the Wavelord. He gave thanks at the local shrine every morning and evening, and offered one quarter of all of his earnings at marker back to the sea, and Bokoren looked on him with favour everafter.