Congratulations to Admiral Van Tromp, winner of TotW 257! Winning story is here:
The Great Lion of Iskat:
And thus arose the great lion of Iskat
From the precipice upon which he sat.
Its claws clinging to ancient stone.
Its jaws eager to part meat from bone.
The monster roared, loud as thunder.
The hero looked on in fear and wonder.
Brave Uruzar warning did receive,
But he could see the silver captive.
A swan, shining like the sun in the sea
Struck by the beast on wing and knee.
Uruzar saw divinity in its silver light.
Surely it was heavenly bright.
His heart did then decide to defy
The beast that could roar courage dry.
For Uruzar shielded the weak
And he had to save a being so meek.
The lion saw that Uruzar was resolute
And wondered how much courage it took
To challenge the great terror of Iskat
Without flinching or losing his heart.
The adversaries did measure each other,
The bringer of chaos and the champion of order.
The swan looked on in doubt and pain,
Certain the noble attempt would be in vain.
The beast of Iskat over Uruzar did fly,
The hero’s spear thrusting in reply.
Piercing only air with its sharp tip,
Dodging the tail, that cracked like a whip.
He lifted the shield above his head
To block fearsome claws eager to shred.
The lion circled around his feet
And every blow did the shield meet.
Uruzar needed to find the one chance
To put an end to this deadly dance.
As the beast wouldn’t soon tire,
Its heart raging like a blinding pyre.
Fury made the terror’s strength great
Perhaps it could as easily seal its fate.
For terrible anger, if not contained
Is prey to those who keep it restrained.
Uruzar had only to wait and defend
Until the lion itself gave way to its end.
As the claws fell down on the shield,
He prayed to the gods and did not yield.
Soon its attention did momently slip
And Uruzar buried the spear deep.
He stabbed the core of the lion of Iskat,
Piercing though the monster’s heart.
The agonizing creature howled in pain.
Bathing in blood, blind and insane.
It quickly fell down over its own weight
For its own fury did its might break.
The swan waved its wings in vain,
Its body broken and trembling in pain.
But it was safe from the lion of Iskat
Whose fierce chest got torn apart.
Uruzar for the bird’s misfortune did weep
And admiring its light he did sorely sit.
He could not be ready for the surprise
That soon took place before his eyes.
For he was right when he deemed divine
The way the swan did in silver shine.
As before him arose in beauty and grace
The holy Edali, with gratitude in her face.
With great joy the hero then realised
That the silver swan was the goddess disguised.
Edali gave him her daughter’s hand for the feat,
As the monstrous lion laid dead in defeat.