The Tale of the Three Kings and the Panlong

(The following is an old folktale from Kanoshu, its origin is a mystery, though it is often told around the time of the new year.)

Long ago, in ages past, before the land between sea and mountain was named, there existed three kings who warred with one another endlessly for the right to rule over the lands of men.
In those ancient times, a single year would last for what we would now call a century. Summer would last decades, and during this time the crops would flourish, and the people would live well. But to balance this, the winter years would be dark and cruel. In those days the people were not as they are now, they wore scales of blue and green instead of skin, and their eyes were serpentine and glowing. Like the lizards of today, when the long winter came, the people would retreat to great caves beneath the earth to slumber, until the bitter cold had passed.
As the year drew to a close, and the first frost began to fall, the three kings did come together under the flag of truce to discuss their situation and how they might move forward into the next year. Each king’s heart was full of greed and deceit, and each worried that the other would sneak into their sleeping cave and slit their throat as they slept during the long winter. So the three kings decided that they would settle who among them would be ruler once and for all, so that they may sleep without paranoia, and the people would awaken in spring to be ruled by a single king and prosper in peace.
The three could not decide amongst themselves who alone should rule, and so it was decided that the three would trek together to the top of the tallest mountain that reached up into the clouds. For atop this mountain lived a great and wise Panlong, and each king in their vanity believed the beast, in its infinite wisdom, would choose them alone to rule.
The path to the cave amongst the clouds, where the mighty creature made its home, was long and full of danger, so the three kings enlisted the aid of a druid who had spent his life living in solitude amongst the peaks to act as their guide. After many weeks of travel, and failed attempts to betray one another, the party did arrive at the mouth of a great cave.
In those days before time, when the world was still young and the energies of creation ran through the earth, the Panlongs were truly colossal beasts that towered over even the mightiest structures of man. In those days, they could soar amongst the clouds even without wings, and their breath was a green flame that made flower and plant alike bloom in its wake. The earth trembled and rock bounced as the great creature made its way to the mouth of the cave to greet its visitors. Being a creature of magic, not flesh and blood, when the Panlong spoke its voice echoed in the air around them, seemingly from every direction at once, and some directions beyond description nor imagination.
‘For what purpose is my slumber disturbed?’ the mighty dragon asked, its voice was filled with mirth not rage, but no less terrifying for it.
The kings’ guide dropped to his knees before the beast, and his head touched the ground in respect. The three kings, believing themselves above such piety, merely bowed lightly, careful not to bend lower than any other – lest it be seen as weakness.
The first of the kings stepped forward and spoke, ‘Oh mighty creature, your wisdom is known far and wide! We seek your counsel, to determine which of us is fittest to rule the lands of men below!’
The ruby eyes of the creature regarded each of the three in turn, before replying. ‘Tell me, why it is that each of you can claim rulership over the lands of men?’
The first puffed their chest out proudly and exclaimed, ‘My armies are the largest and most well equipped in all the lands. By the virtue of might I claim my title!’ The king spoke truly, for indeed his armies were capable of vanquishing any foe, and it was only by virtue of the other two uniting against him from time to time, that he had thus far not conquered the land.
The second stepped forward and vainly proclaimed, ‘My treasury is the envy of the world! Gold and gems from every continent fill my castle walls. By the virtue of wealth I claim my title!’ Again, the words were true, for the vaults of the king were filled to the ceilings with treasures never seen before or since.
The third then stepped forward and arrogantly proclaimed, ‘My knowledge is beyond what the others can comprehend! There is no phenomenon, natural or magical, I cannot explain! By virtue of wisdom I claim my title!’ The words were as truthful as those that came before, for the king’s library was filled with tomes from every corner of the earth, and he had been tutored by the greatest minds of the age.
The Panlong considered their words, stroking its chin with a razor talon. ‘I will test each of you in turn’ he spoke, his voice like thunder, ‘through these tests I shall see who among you is most worthy of rulership.’
The three kings nodded in agreement, each sure beyond doubt that they alone would succeed. Their guide simply watched in silence, for he was familiar with the dragons and knew their tests were not to be embarked upon lightly.
Three great orbs appeared before the beast, growing in size, and shining with the energies of creation. ‘I will create three worlds inside these orbs, similar to your own, though much smaller and finite in size. Each of you will rule over a world of your own, and from this I will see who is best suited to rule the one that lies beneath us.’
The three eagerly agreed, and their guide watched as one by one the kings disappeared into an orb. True to the dragon’s word, each found themselves in a castle that mirrored their own back home, surrounded by a kingdom, enclosed within a sphere of glass.
The first king was quick to muster their armies from the barracks and marched out across the new world, displaying his might, and causing man and beast alike to bow before him in terror, proclaiming him their sovereign for eternity on pain of death. Satisfied, the king returned to his castle, certain of his victory in the trial. Weeks became months and the king was content, any threat against his rule was soon put to the sword and vanquished. One day however a great plague did come to the kingdom. One by one the beasts and peasants alike fell before it, and not even his greatest warriors could stand against it – for how does one slay a pestilence?
At last only the king stood alone in the world, all others having fell, and it was then the Panlong appeared before him. ‘Foolish creature’ it spoke with fury. The Panlong exhaled from its nostrils and the king was blown away, his body becoming dust.
The second king, also finding himself in a kingdom within a glass sphere, was quick to use his reserves of gold and silver to buy every luxury from across this new land and adorn his palace with them. The people bowed in awe before his opulence, and great statues of purest gold, beset with diamonds, celebrated his rule in every village square. But then a great and bitter cold did come to the kingdom, and the king learned that one cannot burn gems nor gold to keep one's home warm, nor consume them when hunger struck. An angry and starving mob did gather at his gates and no amount of bribery could persuade them to leave, for they did not seek riches but bread. The castle guards, themselves starving, no longer accepted their wages as adequate motivation to keep their starving brethren out, and opened the gate, descending along with the people upon the king's stores of fine wine and food.
As the mob was about to break down his chamber doors and devour the king himself, the Panlong appeared before him. ‘Foolish king!’ The Panlong stamped its feet, and the king was turned to solid diamond, which then shattered upon the floor.
The third king, finding himself in the same situation as his predecessors, set about to travel his new kingdom. He found the new world's natural functions and society followed the same rules and logic as in his own and was pleased. He impressed the inhabitants by predicting the motion of the moon and stars and gathered all the greatest philosophers and thinkers in his halls. There was no question he could not answer, no phenomenon he could not explain, and the people looked to him as an all-knowing ruler. But then, a great and dreadful famine did ravage the land. The people came to their leader for help, and he explained in detail the natural events and causes that had led to such a disaster. Though, having lived a sheltered and luxurious life, he could offer no practical aid beyond explanation. As the kingdom wilted and faded around them, the Panlong appeared in his hall.
‘Foolish ruler!’ it bellowed. Before the king could protest, the dragon bent down and consumed him in a single movement.
Back in the cave atop the world, the guide had watched the events take place one by one within the orbs, their events playing out in mere moments before him. For time was only a matter of opinion for the great dragons in those days.
The Panlong again appeared in the world of men, and spoke to the humble guide, asking him what he had witnessed.
Again bowing low in respect, the guide offered his observations. ‘The first relied on brute force alone, but not even the greatest army can hope to conquer nature. The second relied on wealth and treasure, but their value only existed in the minds of men, gems and coin are no aid in crisis. The third thought himself above all with his knowledge and books, but what use are books and scrolls if you have not the will nor experience to use what knowledge they contain.’ The Panlong watched him with a smile as he continued, ‘Perhaps if the three had put aside their vanity and rivalry, and ruled together, sharing their strengths. they might have avoided their fates.’
The Panlong was pleased and nodded solemnly. ‘Your words are true, your heart has the strength of an army, your treasure is your kindness, and you have the wisdom to put to use the knowledge in your mind. Yet despite this you bow lowest before me, and wear only rags, you are humble and do not seek rulership over others – and this is why I give you dominion over the lands of men.’
The dragon exhaled dark smoke, and the smoke coalesced into a crown upon the simple guide’s head. ‘Go now, with my blessing, oh king of men! Guide your people with kindness and humility as you guided those kings to my abode. Remember the lessons you have witnessed here today, and your reign will be long and prosperous!’
Before the new king departed, the great dragon offered a final gift: He would give up his magic and divinity so that the seasons would be shortened, and the people would not have to hide during the long winter.
And so it was that a new year, and indeed era, began; and the people rejoiced in song and dance. And so it is today, upon the new year, that we give thanks to the dragons for their gift, and remember to banish arrogance and deceit from our homes, vowing to be kind and humble in the year to come.