The 8th day of the 1st toukakan of Omsmonth in the year 672.

Buriz called the children round for the evening tale. The quickly gathered around hearth to hear the old man speak. Once they had settled he began, 'Shh sit still now, for tonight I'll tale ye the tale of Faste my ancestor.' The young'uns sat down and looked up in rapt attention. 'Faste was my Great Great Grandsire, he was a mighty sailor, explorer and hunter. My years ago now when Faste was in his prime there was a terrible Winter. The frothed and crashed in massive swells, the winds roared day and night and the rain beat sea and land unrelentenly. Our people could not supplement their stores due to the constant storms and food was running short. Faste brooded on the problem for some days and then came up with a plan.'

Buriz paused for a breath and took a drink from his tankard while the children waited for him to continue. 'Now as ye know the Great Grey Whale is the largest beast in the water. Five times the lenght of the mightiest ship none of the Gyda had ever hunted one before.' The children gasped at the implication of Faste's chosen target, Buriz shushed them with a wave of his hand. 'Now Faste knew he could never get an Great Grey back to port, never mind killing it in the first place. But he knew the Great Greys come to these waters to shelter during the winter storms and have their young. His plan was to track a pod, seperate a new born Whale from its mother in the storm and then to take it.'

Buriz took another drink, then got back to his attentive audience. 'Faste ship, the Alfrim, was a fine vessel and for this mission he selected the best crew. Together they set off into the storm seeking their prey. For hours they battled massive breakers and savage winds seeking a suitable Pod of Greys. At last they found one, but their struggle had truly only just begun. Seperating a young grey from the pod was a near impossible task, Faste battle sea and Whales both for what seemed like days. Indeed the sky was so darkened with clouds that passing days could hardly be marked. Eventually the exhausted young whale became confused and drifted from the pod. Faste himself cast the harpoon which killed the weary beast. Carefully lashing their catch to the ship the tired and filthy crew returned home.'

The children smiled thinking the tale had a happy ending, however Buriz's faced remained somber. 'Home at last the weary crew received a hero's welcome. The town feasted them for three nights running. The carcasse was indeed large enough to feed the town for weeks. Faste was honoured as Faste the Grey Slayer. Slowly the storms passed, life returned to normal for our people. Faste stayed in port for some time. His life was easy, everyone would stand him a drink or offer him a meal, just to here the tale again. Eventually though he took the Alfrim out to explore to the west. Shortly after he left harbour still within sight of land, the Alfrim was rammed by four adult Giant Greys. The Ship instaly splintered into a thousand pieces. The surviving crew desperately tried for shore. The Whales used their mighty tails to flick their bodies high into the air. Again and again the brave men were beated by the Whales until nothing but a bloody pulp remained.'

Buriz drew back a grim expression on his face as he watched the horror playing acroos the children's expressions. 'That is why no Gyda hunts the Great Greys.'