The saga of Karkemish
When you come to the ancient city Ur, look upon its wall and its magnificent buildings.
Beloved Ur has one King, the mighty king Karkemish.
The hero of the people and the protector of Ur.
Mighty Karkemish has been blessed by Rūh, who is one of the cherubim.
Rūh has blessed Karkemish with the power of legends and mythos.
This power grants Karkemish the ability to take on the power and abilities from legends from mythos.
This power has also made it so, that mighty Karkemish is too strong and powerful, which means that there are few who can match the King of Ur, in terms of strength, there is but one who can match the King, and that man is Samson.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson are indeed friends, some of the people within Ur, would also say that they are more than friends.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson have gone on many adventures, and they both hope that they can continue to go on many more.
Our story picks up within Ur.
Where mighty Karkemish sits atop his throne.
" What seems to bother you, my friend? " said humble Samson.
Karkemish looked at his dear friend.
Karkemish then opened his mouth and said
" My friend, I am bored out of my mind, my body longs for the thrill of battle, my heart and soul cry out for adventure "
" Dear friend, your people and kingdom prosper, what more could a King long for " said Samson.
" I do not mean to be rude to my people, for God knows that I would do anything for my people and kingdom, but, all of them are so dull, none amongst my people seek adventure like you and I do "
" I know that you harbor no ill will towards your people, and if you truly can find no rest here in your beloved Ur, then what say you, that we partake of another adventure " said Samson with a smile.
Karkemish smiled and said
" I say, when do we begin "
Before the journey began.
Many counselors to the King, advised their King not to go on this adventure, but the King was determined.
At the gates that lead to the beautiful city that is Ur.
Mighty King Karkemish and humble Samson, stood both at the gates ready to embark on their adventure.
" My dear friend Samson, are you ready? " said Karkemish.
" Always and forever " said Samson.
But before they could start, someone who Karkemish knew well, appeared.
A white, warm light appeared and from it come Rūh, who is one of the Cherubim.
Rūh was wearing the head of a lion on his right shoulder as armor, the head of a Ox on his left shoulder as armor and was wearing the face of a eagle on his chestplate.
Karkemish looked up at his dear old friend, for it was Rūh who helped rise Karkemish when he was but a boy.
" Rūh! My dear friend, I hope all is well " said Karkemish with a smile.
" Everything is well my friend " said Rūh with a warm look in his eyes.
" But my dear friend, I must ask, where is it that you and humble Samson adventure to? " said Rūh.
" We wish to find and battle the Behemoth " said Karkemish.
" You wish to fight the Behemoth…. " said Rūh.
Rūh then looked at Samson, and Samson just nodded.
" I see, I am well aware that I can not stop you from going on this journey, for I can see the determination in your eyes " said Rūh.
" Indeed, but my dear friend, I have a favor to ask, we were hoping that you would tell us where we might find the prophet Noah " said Karkemish.
" And why do you wish to find prophet Noah? " said Rūh.
" For it is prophet Noah who knows where the Behemoth can be fund, so we wish to speak with him " said Karkemish.
" I see, and is this truly something you both want to do? " said Rūh while looking at Samson.
Samson walked up to Karkemish and Rūh.
Samson then placed his hand on Karkemish's shoulder, and then said
" It is "
" Very well, but I must warrend you both, the path to Noah brings with it, dangers all on its own " said Rūh.
Karkemish and Samson looked at each other, then the both of them said
" We will face those dangers together "
Rūh just looked at the two unwavering men, Rūh then smiled, Rūh then said
" Okay then, I shall now tell you both where you may find the great prophet Noah "
The saga of Karkemish, part 2
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson left beautiful Ur, the two best friends left for their adventures.
At first they went 10 leagues, and then they rested.
They then went 20 leagues, and then they rested.
They then went 30 leagues, and then they rested
They finally encountered their first obstacle.
In the form of a dream.
Mighty Karkemish woke up one night, and above him was the full moon, shining down on him and Samson.
Samson also woke up and looked at his dear friend.
Samson could see that Karkemish was sweating and shaking, as if he had looked into the abyss, and the abyss looked back.
Samson walked over to his dear friend.
" My friend, what is it that troubles you? " said Samson in a calming tone.
Karkemish looked at his dear friend.
Samson immediately noticed that his dear friend had the look of someone who had lost all hope and had already given into despair.
" My friend... I feel so weak….. for I have seen something….. which I would give anything to unsee "
Samson now looked concerned.
" My friend, what did you see in your dream? " said Samson, while being sacred of the answer.
Mighty Karkemish yet again had the look of despair on his face.
Karkemish said, with a trembling voice.
" I... I saw your death..... "
Samson's eyes now widen in shock.
Karkemish now started to cry, his tears rolled down his cheeks, like a uncontrollable waterfall.
Samson looked at his dear friend, who was clearly in a lot of pain.
Samson put his arm around Karkemish.
Samson then held his beloved friend close.
" My friend. We have been in many battles, and each battle we fought, was also a battle that could have been our last, but here we are, together, alive, enjoying the beauty of the moon, and listening to the calm melody of the wind. So I say, my dear Karkemish, I would give anything for this moment to last, for all of eternity, but as we both know, God almighty gives and takes, but in the end, our friendship, our bond, is something that God did not give, and something God can never take "
Samson looked at Karkemish in his embrace.
Samson quickly noticed that Karkemish was now asleep once again.
Samson smiled.
Samson and Karkemish sat close together, and they both rested together.
The sun was now shining its beauty over all of God's creations.
Karkemish and Samson were now both awake.
Both of them went on a hunting trip, so that they may fill their bellies for breakfast.
After their bellies were full, their adventure continued.
Karkemish and Samson walked for 40 leagues.
They then walked for 50 leagues, after that, they walked 60 leagues.
It was then, that the two best friend felt the very earth shake.
Samson and Karkemish looked around the field that they were standing in.
The earthquakes went silent, and for a while, everything was silent.
That was when, the ground under Samson and Karkemish cracked open.
Samson and Karkemish both jumped to a safe distance.
That was when, Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson noticed something come out from the dark depths of mother earth itself.
A beast, the Beast from the Earth was now before Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson.
The Beast from the Earth was a giant dragon with two horns of a lamb.
The two friends looked at the dragon who could scare 1000 mighty men.
" Well my friend, you did say that you were looking for adventure " said Samson.
" Don't act like you are not excited, for I know you better then that " said Karkemish with a smile.
Samson also smiled.
The Beast of the Earth glared at Karkemish and Samson with its glowing yellow eyes.
The beast then did something, that Karkemish and Samson did not expect.
The beast opened its mouth and said, with the voice of a dragon.
" Mortals, I am the Beast of the Earth. Bow before me, for I am a prophet "
Karkemish and Samson looked at each, confused.
" Uhm, forgive me, but I have never heard of a prophet who was and is a dragon " said Karkemish.
" I am not a prophet of God, I am a prophet of the beast, refuse to worship the beast, and I shall kill you both here and now " said the Beast of the Earth.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson fell silent for a moment, but then Karkemish said
" My friend, have you not mentioned that you would like to see what dragon meat tastes like "
" Indeed I have, Indeed I have " said Samson with a smile.
Karkemish and Samson then readied themselves for battle.
" I hereby call upon the might strength of Gilgamesh " said Karkemish.
Karkemish's' eyes glowed, and then, Karkemish was now as strong as Gilgamesh himself.
The Beast of the Earth roared up towards the heavens, and that was when fire, that came down from Heaven itself, came down towards Karkemish and Samson, but that would not stop the two friends, who were also mighty warriors.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson charged at the Beast from the Earth.
Their battle lasted 3 days and 3 night, but that was mostly because, Samson and Karkemish enjoyed the battle, despite the fact that everything were burning around them.
The dragon finally fell to the earth, its head cracking open the earth itself.
" Now that was fun " said Samson while wiping sweat from his forehead.
" Indeed " said Karkemish who was also removing sweat from his forehead.
Samson looked around.
" I think that a saw a lake nearby, why don't we go over there and clean ourselves " said Samson.
" Sounds like a great plan " said Karkemish.
Samson walked ahead towards the lake.
Karkemish was about to walk, but that was when the Beast of the Earth uttered its last words
" Your friend shall die…. "
Mighty Karkemish stopped dead in his tracks.
Karkemish then looked at the beast, but Karkemish quickly saw that the beast was now dead.
Karkemish took a deep breath and then went to join his friend.
The saga of Karkemish, part 3
After having cleaned themselves and filled their bellies.
Samson and Karkemish continued their adventure to find the great prophet Noah, so they in the end can fight the Behemoth.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson were now before a great waterfall, and without saying anything.
Karkemish and Samson walked through the waterfall.
On the other side of the waterfall was a ark that once housed two of everything.
Samson and Karkemish were now looking for the owner of this magnificent ark.
Karkemish and Samson walked over to the entrance of the ark, and that was when they saw a man, sitting by a campfire.
The man looked at the two mighty warriors, and then the man said
" Emzara, prepare some bread and bring some wine, it seems we have guests "
Karkemish and Samson walked over to the man.
" Are you the great prophet Noah? " said Karkemish.
" Indeed I am, may I ask who you two are " said Noah.
" I am mighty Karkemish, and this is my dear friend, Samson "
" I see, now before we talk, why don't we eat and drink " said Noah.
That was when Karkemish and Samson noticed a woman come down from the ark with some bread in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.
No more words were spoken, it was now time to eat and drink.
After their bellies were full and their thirst were no more.
The 3 men could finally talk.
" So, what has brought you both here, to me and my ark " said Noah.
" We seek the Behemoth, and we hear that you know where it dwells " said Karkemish.
Noah got quiet.
" If you know where it is, then please tell us, oh great prophet " said Samson.
Noah looked at the two determined men before him.
" I will tell you where the Behemoth dwells, but under one condition… " said Noah.
" What condition? " said Karkemish.
" If you two can manage to stay awake while I tell you of the time before the Great Flood, then I will say where the Behemoth stays " said Noah.
Karkemish and Samson agreed to those terms, thinking that it was a simple task to stay awake while someone told a story, but oh boy! Were they about to find out how wrong they were.
And so.
The great prophet Noah started to tell of the time before the Great Flood.
At first, it was fairly easy for Mighty Karkemish and Humble Samson to stay awake, but as the days were going by.
Karkemish and Samson quickly noticed that their eyes were getting heavier and heavier.
Samson looked over at his dear friend and saw that Karkemish was about to fall asleep.
Samson quickly took some mud from the ground and threw it into Karkemish's face.
Karkemish was now awake, and now also had mud on his face.
Both Samson and Noah let out a giggle, but Karkemish did get his revenge, once Samson was about to fall asleep.
7 days and 7 nights had now gone by, and Noah was now done telling his story, and to Noah's surprise, Karkemish and Samson stayed awake the whole time.
" Impressive, no one has ever been able to stay awake, well, until now " said Noah.
" Will you keep your word? " said Karkemish.
" But of course. You can find the Behemoth, at the place where the light of the sun doesn't shine down upon the earth, it is there, at the valley of shadow and death, where you two can find the Behemoth " said Noah.
" Thank you, oh great prophet " said Samson.
Karkemish and Samson stood back up and were about to leave.
Samson was the first one to walk through the waterfall, and Karkemish was about to walk as well, but that was when Noah threw a potion at Karkemish.
Karkemish looked at the potion in his hand, Karkemish then looked at Noah.
" Take it, you may need it on your adventure " said Noah.
Karkemish then put the potion into his small backpack at his hip.
" Answer me this, oh great prophet, how is it that you are still alive? " said Karkemish.
" Ah, that, well that is a story for another time " said Noah with a smile only he could make.
Karkemish had no more words to say.
Karkemish then walked through the waterfall, and thus, the adventure continued, but before the adventure could continue for real.
Karkemish and Samson both needed some rest, and thus, the two warriors slept for 3 days straight.
After those 3 days had gone by.
Karkemish and Samson both started to walk to the valley where the light of the sun did not touch.
They walked for 70 leagues, and then they rested.
They then walked for 80 leagues, and then they rested.
Finally, after having walked 90 leagues.
Karkemish and Samson reached the valley Noah spoke of.
The valley was pitch black, with the smell of death at every corner, and bones everywhere.
Karkemish and Samson both listened closely, and that was when they both heard a crack.
Karkemish and Samson looked, and behold, from the earth itself came out the Behemoth.
The Behemoth was massive in size.
Its size rivaled that of the Leviathan.
The Behemoth's bones were like tubes of bronze.
Its limbs like bars of iron, and its gaze was death itself.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson both looked at the Behemoth before them.
" Don't you get cold feet on me now " said Karkemish in a joyous tone.
" Not on your life " said Samson in a likewise tone.
" Now then, I call upon…. but before Karkemish could finish, the Behemoth glared at Samson with its glowing black eyes.
Samson suddenly threw up a huge amount of blood.
Karkemish looked in horror as he saw his dear friend fall into the pool of his own blood.
Karkemish ran over to his friend.
Karkemish held Samson close in his embrace.
Karkemish then said
" My dear Samson! What is the matter?! "
Karkemish then noticed the mark of the Beast on Samson's right hand.
" But…. why was I not effected…. " said Karkemish.
" For you are mighty, and Samson was weak " said a voice.
Karkemish turned around and looked at the Behemoth, whose voice could kill saints.
" Do not despair mighty Karkemish, for now, you have the honor of facing me yourself, so now, fight me, so that your name may be remembered forever " said Behemoth.
Karkemish now held Samson, like Mary held Jesus (Pietá).
Karkemish now put Samson gentle on the soft ground.
Karkemish now stood back up and looked towards Behemoth.
With tears in his eyes, Karkemish glared at Behemoth.
" Excellent, now let us do battle " said Behemoth.
But, Mighty Karkemish uttered just one sentence
" I call upon the powers of Hyperion "
A huge beam of light came straight down on Behemoth, lighting the whole valley up.
After the light had gone.
All that was left of Behemoth was ash.
Karkemish now turned around and fell to his knees before his dear friend, who had long since stopped breathing.
Karkemish closed his friends eyes, and just sat on his knees while his tears were like a waterfall, but that was when Karkemish remembered the potion Noah gave him.
Karkemish took out the potion from his small backpack.
Karkemish looked at the potion and saw that it had a warm glow to it, and at this point, Karkemish had nothing to lose but a friend to gain.
Karkemish opened up for the potion, and then Karkemish poured down its content into Samson's mouth.
Karkemish now waited and waited, Karkemish was about to lose hope, but that was when Samson started to breath again.
Karkemish felt that even he could breathe easy again, but Karkemish did wonder what the potion that Noah gave him was.
" The potion is known as the potion of miracles " said a voice.
Karkemish turned around, and saw his friend Rūh before him.
" My friend….. "
" Worry not, Samson will make a full recovery, all he needs now is rest " said Rūh.
" Then I will watch over him as he rests " said Karkemish.
" Very well, then I shall watch over you, Mighty Karkemish, slayer of the Behemoth " said Rūh.
Rūh then flew up into the sky, and Karkemish sat back down near his beloved friend, and would kill anything that came near.
Minutes had gone by.
Hours had gone by.
Days had now gone by.
But finally Samson awoke.
Samson opened his eyes and sat up.
Samson looked at Karkemish whose eyes were red from all the crying.
The two ''friends'' embraced each other.
The only words that were spoken, were
" Let us return home "
" First, you have to wash all that blood off, and then we can return home " said Karkemish
Samson giggled.
Samson and Karkemish both stood up and were about to head to a nearby lake, but that was when they noticed a woman standing before them.
The woman was prepossessing.
" I am Naamah, and I desire you, Mighty Karkemish " said Naamah with eyes that could melt diamonds.
" I am not interested " said Karkemish walking passed Naamah while holding Samson's hand.
Naamah turned around in shock and said
" But why?!?! "
" Because I am gay for Samson " said Mighty Karkemish proudly.
Naamah felt her whole world come crashing down.
After having clean themselves.
Karkemish and Samson walked back to Ur.
The journey back was as long as the journey to the Behemoth, but eventually.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson returned home, where they were celebrated as heroes, whose names will be written on stone tablets.
Meanwhile.
Naamah went to Lilith, her best friend in hell.
The Queen of hell tried to comfort her friend who was crying.
" Iblis dear, is there something you can do? " said Lilith.
" What do you want me to do? He's gay " said Iblis while sitting on his throne.
Lilith yet again tried to calm her friend down.
Mighty Karkemish and humble Samson were both home.
Where they awaited their next adventure.