Honeyland | Lore
The Origin of the Golden Spatula
(Chapter 5: A Cocarro Tale)
*** The Year 6424 — 800 years ago ***
Epistimos, Chieftain of the Rice Grains, walked into The Tomato Fruit, a little bell ringing over the door as he entered. Instantly, his nose was full of the most comforting smells wafting out of the little kitchen. He headed to his usual table and nodded to some of the other patrons he passed. Among them were two of his mortal enemies, Challa of the Foosball and Frosty from the Snowglobe Tribe. They respectfully nodded in return. All three of them, in fact, all patrons of this restaurant knew that this eating house was a neutral location, a safe zone in their long-standing war.
The reason for this safe zone was the food being produced by the genius chef in the kitchen. While the food was being eaten, all thoughts of rage, anger, hate and fear were put at ease. Instead, customers were filled with hope and happiness. Even the smell of the food as it cooked was enough to calm and create peace amongst all who it reached.
Epistimos was tired of the fighting, tired of having to pour so much energy and effort into maintaining his borders and protecting his people. As he ordered the soup of the day, seaweed and mutton, he thought about how wonderful it would be if all of Cocarro could share in the peace brought about by the food produced in The Tomato Fruit.
Suddenly, it hit him. Maybe they could share in it! He remembered an old legend that he’d heard as a young grain, describing the power found in the pollen of the Foow-Foow tree’s flowers. Any item that was crafted using the rare golden pollen would be incredibly powerful and, melded with the intent of its holder, could be legendary in the right hands.
Epistimos determined right then and there that he would craft a legendary spatula for the chef of The Tomato Fruit. Cooking with this spatula would spread peace and unity throughout the land of Cocarro. He began to plan.
Episitmos had spent the previous month researching all that he could about the Foow-Foow tree and its phenomenal pollen. Where it would grow, how it could be found, and how to harvest the magical material. It’s a good thing he was chief of a large and resourceful clan, anyone with lesser resources would surely have struggled to find out what he found out. Eventually, he uncovered everything that he needed to know and began his preparations.
He learned that the Foow-Foow tree only grows in the deepest depths of the Haunted Forest. It must be surrounded by at least three Bucupa bushes and only see sunlight for ten minutes a day, when the Bucupa bushes haven’t yet fully unfurled their leaves from the night. Its flowers only bloom once every fifteen leap years, but some of the records indicated that this year could be the perfect timing. He hoped it was so.
The pollen of the flowers could only be harvested with specific tools, as the stamens were delicate enough to break and destroy the valuable pollen inside. Detailed in a long-forgotten text were the schematics of how to make these tools. Epistimos directed them to his chief of craft for immediate production.
Summoning his ten bravest and most capable Grains, Epistimos charged them to locate a Foow-Foow tree and harvest the priceless treasure once the flowers had bloomed. Among them was Sumomi, his champion. Undefeated in unarmed combat throughout her career, and able to track a Chocdrop through a bowl of soup, he expected it to be Sumomi who found the Foow-Foow tree, but he split his bets just in case.
** Ten months later ***
Pushing the vast, green leaves of the overhanging Bucupa bush aside, Sumomi finally saw what she’d been searching for, a Foow-Foow tree. Thanking her lucky sea stars, she’d timed her journey perfectly as the tree wasn’t yet in full bloom. She gathered her things and set up camp to wait for the precious flowers to produce their priceless pollen.
After waiting for two weeks, camped next to the Foow-Foow tree, Sumomi saw the first of the flowers start to ripen and bloom. Knowing that the other flowers would quickly follow, she set to work. With each flower only set to bloom for 15 hours and each one taking 30 minutes to harvest, due to the robustness of the flower, Sumomi knew she had her work cut out for her for a maximum harvest. She prepared her tools and waited, thinking about all the events that had led to her being here on this mission.
It was time. The first dozen or so flowers were ready, and it wouldn’t be long before the whole tree was in bloom. She attempted to harvest pollen from the first one but crushed the petals and lost the pollen. By the third one, she’d figured it out, and by the seventh one, she was in a rhythm. She worked quickly and efficiently, never wasting an ounce of effort so she could maximize the harvest. Whatever Epistimos wanted the pollen for, she figured it was best to get as much of it as possible.
By the end of the day, she’d managed to harvest 90% of the flowers on the tree and her bags were full. She headed back to Cheongju, their main town, tired but content with her work. Along the way, she encountered the other Grains that Epistimos had sent out, none of them as successful on their quest as she had been.
Upon Sumoshi’s return, Epistimos rejoiced. He had been worried that all his research had been for nothing. Now, with the haul of pollen that Sumoshi had collected, he could create the spatula for the cook. It took a further three months for the spatula to be crafted, as talented as the craftsman was, he’d never worked with a material like this before. After a few small test pieces, to get a feel for it, he began his work.
To shape the spatula’s powers, the craftsman had to create it with intent in his mind and heart. Thinking of Epistimos’ dream, the craftsman held the image of a united Cocarro, of all tribes and clans sharing together in a communal meal. A meal full of joy and laughter, of camaraderie and peace. As he carefully shaped the handle, he thought of the care that was required to cook a perfect meal. While working on the blade, he held the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment that comes when eating such a meal.
And finally, the day arrived. The Golden Spatula was created. The craftsman handed it over to Epistimos with pride, for it was his greatest work. Epistimos took hold of the spatula with reverence. This held the potential to bring peace to the land. He could feel the warmth and goodwill radiating out from it.
The next day, he brought it to The Tomato Fruit and called for the cook to come out. The cook, whose name was Nushala, came out shyly. Epistimos took the center of the dining area and announced loudly,
“I, Epistimos, truly cherish the food here at The Tomato Fruit. Never have I seen such a haven, where all who come are welcome and fed. I tire of the constant warring that we have experienced in Cocarro, and so I took it upon myself to craft for you, Nushala, this Golden Spatula. With it, I believe that the power of your food will be extended across Cocarro! Please, accept this gift and continue to bring peace to our lands.”
Once Nushala accepted the Spatula and began cooking with it, the food she was producing was multiplied and magically delivered throughout the land. Nushala would fulfill an order of two jellyburgers, with a side of fries and a cola, only to see one hundred burgers with accompaniments created. The incredible thing was, she required no further ingredients, and no further energy. She just kept cooking as she had always done, and the food was made.
Epistimos’ gift brought peace to Cocarro, and all was well. For a time…
*** Footnote ***
Some time around the turn of the year 6584, the Golden Spatula was stolen from Nushala’s care. While peace continued for some time afterwards, Cocarro saw an increase in tensions from that point on. Nobody knows who stole the Golden Spatula, only that it’s out there somewhere, and that it has the power to bring peace back to Cocarro.
*** Second Footnote ***
With no Foow-Foow pollen left over, rumor has it that Epistimos requested other powerful items be made from the surplus. No one knows for sure what they are, or what their powers are, but these artifacts must exist somewhere. Perhaps they shall appear one day in the future…
Read the previous story: Chapter 4: Report from Cocarro — Universe 2
Read the next story: Chapter 6: A Cocarro Tale - Victoria Sponge Meets Sergeant Pepper and the Isolated Souls Motorcycle Club
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