[Ralis] The Story of Rainbow Snake and The Devil

[Lev Lafayette]

When the people came to the land, they found water. "How delicious it
is!" they exclaimed, for before then they had only sand to drink.
Rainbow Snake, the essence of water, was glad to see people sip of
himself, and he became as proud of these tailless creations of the Great
Mother as he was of white grubs and wallabies and the rest of life, for
he gave of himself to all.

But The Devil, lord of lifelessness, grew angry as people forsook his
grit for the refreshing liquid of Rainbow Snake. Stretching his winds
everywhere, Sand Bat filled the new wells and streams with sand, and
left the land parched.

Since they had learned to love water and now were without it, the people
began to die.

Troubled by their plight, Rainbow Snake looked high and low for The
Devil. When he came to a place where endless waves of sand rippled
endlessly, there he found Sand Bat in a black cave stuck right into the
sky. 

"Devil, why are you so cruel? The people cannot drink sand", Rainbow
Snake said. "It is the stuff of me that flows in their veins and it is
the stuff of me that babies suck from their mothers. The people need
water, not sand."

"That is no concern of mine, the Devil laughed. "The people insult me.
They must return to my ways to be noticed by me."

In the dryness of the Devil's home, Rainbow Snake felt dizzy and
uncomfortable. But he had an idea. "Oh mighty Devil," he said, "why do
you chose to live in such a bad place as this? This little desert cannot
bring you much strength."

"Little desert?" gasped The Devil, "Why, this great desert is the
sandiest place in the world! I lead my clan because I hold so much
sand."

"I know of a much sandier home," Rainbow Snake swore. "That is why I am
surprised to see that you live here, in such a sandless place."

"Rainbow Snake, if there is a sandier place, I and all my clan shall
move there and make it our home," The Devil vowed.

Rainbow Snake pointed the way, and the Devil's clan eagerly went there.
Rainbow Snake had told the truth, but the sandiest place was at the
bottom of the sea in water so deep that only the Devil and a few of his
minions were strong enough to free themselves of it. To this day, many
lie trapped beneath the sea.

The Devil returned in anger and sought out Rainbow Serpent. He tore the
serpent apart, splitting him into many parts, some good and some evil.
The Devil separated the spirit of the Rainbow Snake with it's body. The
spirit was trapped inside a new demon who became Tiamat.

And now the lands are parched and dry, and many dragons seek to rule the
people.