The Knotted Hock

During an era of Isturoth's formation known as the "Creation Cycle", gods of the Isturian pantheon walked among people, often conversing and interacting with them and each other.   In one such encounter, an old man named Orzu approached Xasan, god of agriculture, asking for them for more meat, so the fledgling Isturian people could grow strong.   Xasan was hesitant and look at their scraps: the people ate only the most succulent meat and left the rest of the body for carrion and scavengers. As a challenge, Xasan said, "I will give you meat. And you will make it last for a year, for you will get no other provisions until that year is up. Do so, and you will have as much meat as you desire." Spurred on, the people grew excited to recieve a year's worth of meat, only to look on in shock as Xasan pulled a blade and removed their own left leg.   The people were given Xasan's own hock, which was not only sparse with meat, but ropey and knotted, tough as leather. Initially, they fought tooth and nail to be the sole possessor of this meager morsel. They began to lose hope, until Orzu appeared again. He said, "Give this to me, and I can make a broth that will feed an army."   Desperate, they gave Orzu the tough, paltry hock of Xasan. He retrieved the largest cauldron he had and boiled the hock for days. True to his word, he fed many people his hearty, flavourful broth, expecting it to stop giving flavour after, yet it continued to flavour boil after boil of meaty broth.   One year later, the hock remained as it was given, wrapped in sparse, knotted muscles, that continued to endlessly season Orzu's stews and soups. Xasan arrived and retrieved their leg, surprised at the resourcefulness of the Isturian people. When the time came to give bountiful meat to the people of Isturoth, the god was true to their word, though their lesson had already been well-absorbed. Never again was a carcass left to rot.

This story feeds directly into and off of the cultural identity of the Isturian people, who pride themselves on their cooking ability and their versatility in the kitchen. It is an insult to imply that any modern Isturian would be capable of such careless culinary waste, which those within the story displayed.   There have even been attempts to re-create the knotted hock as an homage, with some chefs boiling the largest leg bone they can find (along with many other herbs, spices and stock ingredients) for as many days as possible. This often accompanies harvest feasts and festivals, as well as dinner parties and family celebrations, though none have yet come across one as long-lasting as the fabled knotted hock.