Transcript of Wintertodt parable
There was a man called Dentristus, a farm hand on his lord's farm. His lord had a beautiful daughter, Arastasia, with whom he was in love, but always he knew he would never win her hand.
That winter was the Great Winter which drew down the Wintertodt from the north. It proceeded to devour the animals upon the farm and freezing the next year's crops. The lord had no food and Arastasia wept at the fear and distress caused to her people. This broke the heart of Dentristus and so he approached the lord.
'My Lord! I cannot bear to see your beautiful daughter cry so over the despair that this beast has caused. I vow that I will venture into the mountains and destroy the beast so it shall trouble us no more.'
'Dentristus, you are a brave man,' replied the lord. 'This is a dangerous undertaking and if you succeed I will grant you my daughter's hand in marriage as you will truly be the only man that can make her happy.'
Dressed in the lord's best armour and wielding his most dangerous weapon Dentristus started upon his quest.
Into the mountains Dentristus climbed, camping at night in caves to protect himself from the wind and snow in search of the Wintertodt. From devastated village to devastated village he travelled, following the carnage of the Wintertodt.
With hope in his heart and love strengthening his arm Dentristus felt invincible in his armour and powerful with his sword in his hand, he was ready when he met the Wintertodt.
One wishes you could say he put up a fight, but Dentristus lay dead before he even saw the Wintertodt, the icy wind freezing him to the bone before he could lay a blow.
The fate of Dentristus is a notable reminder that some battles cannot be fought alone.