The Wicker Man

As told by Lorekeeper Laisren   This is the tale of the wicker man, a story to remember, lest we forget and the sacrifice be forgotten.  Back in times long forgotten, the peoples of the world had few problems, the days were always pleasant and all things grew and prospered, all had everything they could wish for provided to them. Because of this all the peoples grew fat and lazy, and began to bicker and whine over trivialities. Seeing and hearing this Mother winter was irritated, she allowed her seasons to be mild so that all could prosper and this is how the creatures of the land repaid her? No she would not have it, Mother winter then went and spoke with Mother summer, and told her that it was time for her to take a long rest so that Mother winter could do what must be done. And so mother winter cast her cloak over the land, and all was cast into darkness, true winter had come for the first time in a long time, and did not look like it was going to be ending soon. The soft and weak creatures of the world called out in fear and dismay, why was this happening, what had they done, oh wouldn’t mother winter relent and allow the people to return to their happy lives. But mother winter was not swayed. And over time the land died and many of the people and creatures with it. The ones who remained were the hardy and strong, the smart and resourceful. Together these creatures gathered together and knew that they must do something or eventually even they would die as well. The creatures of the land all decided to meet, all factions and former disagreements put aside in the goal of solving the problem that plagued them all. When they met the leaders of all the factions gathered together in the center of the camp within a large tent with a bonfire at the center. They began discussing the problems they each had. This gathering went on for days, and soon the camp ran out of things to burn and what little food there had been was all gone, this last gathering would soon end with the deaths of all of all those there   During this time there was one of the leaders who spoke little during the meeting. He was a very old elf king, of a small kingdom with little influence. The day after the camp had run out of its last piece of firewood and scrap of crust. This unnamed king stood up and spoke with authority to the other leaders and said "We are well and truly out of options, we shall all die within the week, and I for one am not planning on going out quietly, falling asleep in my bed never to get up again. This meeting is useless and I am going to return to my people." And so the king left the stunned group of monarchs and went back to his camp. Upon arriving at his camp he told his people to break up the wooden supports for his own tent and to use the cloth as tinder to get a fire started. He knew this fire would not last for long and most other people did too but all gathered around to bask in the brief warmth. The king arrived soon afterwards and approached the fire, he turned and spoke to his people then and said, "I am sick and tired of being so damn cold and I know you all are as well, so enjoy what warmth I can provide for you all for as long as it lasts" the king then threw off his cloak and with a quick prayer of "mother winter please forgive us" he threw himself atop The fire and exploded into flames burning to death with a scream. The king's shocked followers didn't know what to do but huddled close to the flames, and absorbed the brief burst of heat granted to them by their leader.   Soon however they realized that the fire was not dying down and in fact it was only getting stronger and larger. More and more people began to gather around the growing flames until the entire camp was being warmed up by the kings pyre.   Once the entire camp had gathered the voice of mother winter spoke to the people "Be thankful for this kings sacrifice, he has saved you all, and may you never forget the mercy of the mother, or I shall have to teach you again." And after that the winter broke, the following morning there was a thaw and mother summer was woken up again and mother winter began getting ready to sleep once more.