Artagus the Oracle

In the times of the Ancient, there was a severe famine. The famine cut through the land like an iron sword. Even the rich in the land, their wealth was quickly drying up. They consulted the king and complained about their situation. The King heard so much that he refused to allow anyone before his presence. He thought it would passed if he continued to ignore it but the famine ate away much of the vegetation. And soon the soldiers begin to argue with their commanders. The commanders complained to the king and the king was much distressed. He felt an overthrow of power might be at hand with his nation. His fathers before him warned of riotous people and uncommon disasters hoping he would wise up to the ocassion before he took the throne. As sole ruler of the land, the King sought numerous requests to the Oracle to tell him a time when the famine will cease. The Oracle predicted that only war can end the famine and that at the hand of a warrior will there be peace in the land. The king tried to plead with the Oracle that he did not want to go to war. His people have not warred since decades and he did not have a plan for battle. The Oracle refused to relent his predictions, so the king made the Oracle stated their prediction in front of the commanders and the wealthy of the land.

Artagus, the Oracle complied and said, hear the words of the land. Hear the words of the Heavens and earth. War is the only answer. If you want to free the land of the famine then you will have to fight your enemies. The peace and truce have ended. Your lives depend on this prediction. Kill me if you must but this is the true destiny of this land. You can no longer watched and waste away. We must plan at once.

The crowd of commanders and wealthy went into an uproar and divided amongst themselves into the old versus the young. The young wanted war and they were fierce for battle. They complained that they have all this youth and nothing to do with it. Peace is boring and the truce had worn out their defense. They agreed with the Oracle. The older population warned that there will be much death and chaos. They forcefully wanted to stay at peace. They warned about losing everything. When both sides saw that they were not getting heard, they appealled to the king. The king did not know and told his commanders to come together and devise a plan if for war or if for peace.

The head commander said, if I must my lord, the king. Let us divide up the army. Let some of those who want war be in the spy camp with those who want peace. If the Oracle could tell us which enemy and who will we be able to subdue and give us knowledge about them then we will go on with war but if not then we should find another Oracle.

And both sides agreed with the king and head commander, the Oracle submitted and asked for nine nights. It happened that during eight nights. The first night, Artagus travelled around the region gong on a quest to find the weakest enemy with much wealth.He dreamed of a sparrow and its nest high in the air with multiple color eggs. Next he dreamed of a fish living deep in the sea and in its unknown. Next he dreamed of a bear with only a few teeth nesting in the forest. Next he dreamed of a lion without any mane wandering with many homes. Then he dreamed of a snake with many holes and hiding in the mountains. Then he dreamed of a beaver controlling its own damn. Then he dreamed of a goat surviving high in the hills eating on strange fruits. And last he dreamed of a monkey habitating in the forest with all the wealth surrounding him. The Oracle travelled a different direction each night on the compass and he dreamed about a different animal. Each animal leadiing to a different people. On the ninth day, he prepared to meet the council of commanders and the wealthy. He wrote down his dreams and consulted his fellow Oracles to interpret the dreams and he had them to present their thoughts at his meeting with the council.

That night, the king sitting next to the head commander withheld the celebration until they decided what to do about the Oracle's predictions. Artagus stated what happened to him within the eight days and nights. He had his fellow Oracles presented and explained to the people the eight different types of people and asked the council to choose which people they wanted to war with. The commanders questioned the Oracle on certain people and asked what made them strong and what makes them weak. Artagus and his fellow oracles explained to them what they believed that the commanders must do in order to victor over the people. The head commander suppose we choose to outright war against three of these peoples. Do you think we can win?

And Artagus explained that it depends on their distance from each other, one might escape and retreat or they might band together. We can travelled with you and perceived what they might do.

The king interfered and praised the Oracle. You seem well and well studied. You presented a solid case for war. Will you be willing to place the head of your fellows as well as yourself for this war that must happen. This will assure me that you are to the upmost serious and faithful to our nation.

Artagus replied, O king I love this land and my nation is my home. I will lay down my life for this cause and you will see that will be successful. It will not be perfect. It will not be easy but we will subdue these nations who take for granted their home. And what other choice do we have? Our nation is dying and our people are starving. We can take each step by victory. I will lead the fight.

And the king kept the head commander to the nation and let Artagus lead the fight. At first the commanders resisted however the young and old agreed to work together in excahnge for sharing the wealth equally, which Artagus proclaimed warriors will have an extra potion of the goods. Artagus had a truce with the first battle and won several battles after that being lead by oracles and commanders. Artagus ended the war after he conquered many lands and brought the king news of his victories. In response, the king made Artagus his new head commander and made the head commander into his third in power.