[This took me far too long to write up, I'm crying.
ANYWAY Tuuri will take the stage, and she looks a little nervous at being in front of such a large crowd. But eventually she will clear her throat and start speaking.]
What I have for all of you tonight is an Old World legend that has been passed down through my people. My mother told it to me, as her mother told her, back and back for many generations.
Long ago, there lived a young man who was the youngest member of his family. Growing up, everyone cared for him deeply and raised him with love and affection. He was never spoiled, but he always knew that his family would be there to take care of him when he needed them the most. And in turn, this young man wanted to be strong enough to take care of his family.
Unfortunately, that kind of strength does not come easily, and this world isn't kind enough to wait for its people to be ready before bringing calamity. One horrible night, an elderly relative was killed in a horrible accident, leaving behind a grieving widow and a hole in that young man's heart. No answers as to what had happened could be found, and the young man was left feeling frustrated.
Unfortunately, the strong feelings of this young man attracted the attention of the goddess Louhi, who visited him in a dream one night. I know you're not familiar with my gods, but trust me when I say she is not one to be trifled with! Power, fame, love, money, even her daughter's hand in marriage! Whatever a mortal heart may desire, she offers it up as a prize for completing a task. As tempting as it may be, it is unwise for anyone to take her offer. The tasks she sets are difficult for mortal men to complete, and many fall in to ruin just trying.
But the young man was determined to find the truth. So he took up Louhi's offer, saying that he would complete any task she set for him, if only she would tell him the truth of what happened to his relative. So Louhi summoned up one of her familiars, which used its fangs to latch on to the man's hand and absorb into his skin, leaving its mark on his chest. "There are twelve mortals who have taken up my tasks, and yet they have delayed in finishing them time and time again," Louhi said, "I cannot allow anyone to keep my power if they won't finish my tasks. Fight them, and send them to Tuonela for me. Do this for me, and you may keep your powers, and I will tell you that which you wish to know."
The young man woke from his slumber, thinking the conversation was nothing more than a dream. But as he prepared for the day, he found many strange changes. He was much stronger and more agile than he had been before, and he found it easy to cling to walls and other surfaces a normal mortal wouldn't be able to hold onto. What's more, his memory became picturesque, and he found that he could perfectly recreate anything he had seen- even if just for a moment- with a paper and pencil. Immediately he used his newfound skills to get a job with a local news agency, providing artwork for whatever story they needed to write. He was such a talented artist that he quickly rose in prominence, and soon he was being sent out to more serious stories along with reporters to draw the art needed for the top stories. This was how he tracked down the first of the twelve mortals he had been tasked to fight, and he had a special 'sense' that let him know when he was close to the danger that those twelve brought.
He couldn't let the twelve know of his true identity, though. It would put the rest of his family at risk. So he donned a new outfit at night, one that hid who he was. With his identity hidden behind a moniker- one chosen based on the familiar that had bitten him in a dream, whose abilities he had inherited- he was able to take the information he learned working with reporters and chase down the twelve mortals he needed to fight.
no subject
ANYWAY Tuuri will take the stage, and she looks a little nervous at being in front of such a large crowd. But eventually she will clear her throat and start speaking.]
What I have for all of you tonight is an Old World legend that has been passed down through my people. My mother told it to me, as her mother told her, back and back for many generations.
Long ago, there lived a young man who was the youngest member of his family. Growing up, everyone cared for him deeply and raised him with love and affection. He was never spoiled, but he always knew that his family would be there to take care of him when he needed them the most. And in turn, this young man wanted to be strong enough to take care of his family.
Unfortunately, that kind of strength does not come easily, and this world isn't kind enough to wait for its people to be ready before bringing calamity. One horrible night, an elderly relative was killed in a horrible accident, leaving behind a grieving widow and a hole in that young man's heart. No answers as to what had happened could be found, and the young man was left feeling frustrated.
Unfortunately, the strong feelings of this young man attracted the attention of the goddess Louhi, who visited him in a dream one night. I know you're not familiar with my gods, but trust me when I say she is not one to be trifled with! Power, fame, love, money, even her daughter's hand in marriage! Whatever a mortal heart may desire, she offers it up as a prize for completing a task. As tempting as it may be, it is unwise for anyone to take her offer. The tasks she sets are difficult for mortal men to complete, and many fall in to ruin just trying.
But the young man was determined to find the truth. So he took up Louhi's offer, saying that he would complete any task she set for him, if only she would tell him the truth of what happened to his relative. So Louhi summoned up one of her familiars, which used its fangs to latch on to the man's hand and absorb into his skin, leaving its mark on his chest. "There are twelve mortals who have taken up my tasks, and yet they have delayed in finishing them time and time again," Louhi said, "I cannot allow anyone to keep my power if they won't finish my tasks. Fight them, and send them to Tuonela for me. Do this for me, and you may keep your powers, and I will tell you that which you wish to know."
The young man woke from his slumber, thinking the conversation was nothing more than a dream. But as he prepared for the day, he found many strange changes. He was much stronger and more agile than he had been before, and he found it easy to cling to walls and other surfaces a normal mortal wouldn't be able to hold onto. What's more, his memory became picturesque, and he found that he could perfectly recreate anything he had seen- even if just for a moment- with a paper and pencil. Immediately he used his newfound skills to get a job with a local news agency, providing artwork for whatever story they needed to write. He was such a talented artist that he quickly rose in prominence, and soon he was being sent out to more serious stories along with reporters to draw the art needed for the top stories. This was how he tracked down the first of the twelve mortals he had been tasked to fight, and he had a special 'sense' that let him know when he was close to the danger that those twelve brought.
He couldn't let the twelve know of his true identity, though. It would put the rest of his family at risk. So he donned a new outfit at night, one that hid who he was. With his identity hidden behind a moniker- one chosen based on the familiar that had bitten him in a dream, whose abilities he had inherited- he was able to take the information he learned working with reporters and chase down the twelve mortals he needed to fight.
And that man was known as... Bat-Man.