Hello,
Here is the history of the Tarasque, that lived a long time ago on earth.
The following story comes from two sources:
http://members.tripod.com/~dck_outsider/dragtext.html
http://www27.brinkster.com/blackdrago/famous2.htm
History: There is an ancient legend that tells how, in the high Middle Ages, there lived in a lake in the south of France a huge blue water dragon covered in steely scales, known as the Tarasque. The local population was terrorized by the presence of the monster, who would emerge from the lake from time to time to devour a virgin, as is customary among water dragons.
Nobody was brave enough to fight against the beast, nor was there anyone who would dare even speak with him to negotiate a truce. In the end, the people decided to send emissaries to the court of the King of France, but the King had other more serious problems to deal with and was not interested in the troubles of a village so far from the capital. Nor were the knights of the court interested in the problem. The dragon did not guard any treasure that would make the challenge worth their while, nor was he holding a princess prisoner whom they could free to gain honour and glory. "The dragon only devours humble ignorant and filthy peasants. The tournaments and jousts are much more profitable", thought the "valiant" knights.
The villagers did not know what to do to free themselves of the Tarasque.
In desperation, the local people gathered to discuss the possibility of abandoning the village, given that they were unable to rid themselves of the monster. The discussions were becoming heated when St Martha, a beautiful yound woman who was known and worshipped in the region for her goodness and bounty, happened to be passing that way.
The people took her appearance as a sign from the Heavens and they begged her to help them.
In response to the villagers' urgent entreaties, the young woman offered to capture the Tarasque, but on one condition.
"Tell us what you require, good Saint", agreed the local people.
"I just want you to wish me luck for three days, asking Her to help me overcome the Tarasque", replied Martha.
The elders accepted her condition, and waited full of faith that a miracle would happen which would save them forever from the curse.
So, one morning, the Saint made her way to the lake where the Tarasque lived. The dragon was a great music lover despite his ferocity.
The beautiful young woman stood on the shore and began to sing a lovely song praising the dragon and his greatness. Enchanted by the sweetness of the song, The dragon emerged from the lake and lay down at her feet, completely docile.
She then put a belt around his neck and lead him into town. There, the dragon was easily killed and offered little resistance.
In memory of this feat, the region where the Tarasque lived was known after that as Tarascon.
Why am I posting that here:
two reasons:
I like the fact that the things were the same on earth as they are now on Rubi-ka:
"Nor were the knights of the court interested in the problem. The dragon did not guard any treasure that would make the challenge worth their while, nor was he holding a princess prisoner whom they could free to gain honour and glory. "
Seems the same with our moderns soldiers, enforcers, ..
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The beautiful young woman stood on the shore and began to sing a lovely song praising the dragon and his greatness. Enchanted by the sweetness of the song, The dragon emerged from the lake and lay down at her feet, completely docile.
She then put a belt around his neck and lead him into town.
I just realized I am, as a bureaucrat, the new St Martha.
http://www.multimania.com/leetdolls/tarasque01.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/leetdolls/tarasque02.jpg
If you ever need the help of a bureaucrat to get rid of a dragon, don't hesitate to /tell me..
And I will not ask any money, I will only require you to wish me good luck
As I really think, our speeches are powerful weapons, sometimes better than guns or nano formulas.
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Saint Amanite
Tarasque Charmer - waiting for an Amanitown
Ps: for the french-speaking people, there is another link really intersting:
http://pages.infinit.net/celte/contes/tarasque.html
- La gadeù, Lagadigadeù, la trascou !
- La gadeù, Lagadigadeù, lou casteù
- Avec toi, pour la première fois, j'ai senti mon coeur se vider de sa haine, mon souffle devenir pur, mes yeux devenir tendres... Un instant, j'ai même cru que je pouvais devenir belle 
my french has gotten so bad I can't really understand that line. It's awesome that you charmed the Tarasque though. I didn't know that it was from a myth, I thought they stole it from Dungeons and Dragons, where the Tarasque is the most powerful monster ever.
