Fable: The Tale of Nimbus
“Caelus is flawed; he is imperfect & prideful. But he is also creative, innovative and resourceful. His work dismays him as he is trapped not by duty, but by his own attitude. By helping him change his outlook, Nimbus grants him the ability to discover his inner freedom - a gift which we all possess.”
There once lived a smith named Caelus who envied the wind. He sought to capture it so that he might discover the secrets of true freedom, since he was assigned to his occupation for many long and tedious years. His forge was set on a tower, high above the city, where the wind swirled around him, taunting him that he was bound to his labour. One day, a whisper ran through the city; a rumor that the Wind’s steed, Nimbus, whose hooves were said to be so fleet they left no mark upon the earth, had escaped.
Caelus thought if he could tame the steed and ride it to beyond the clouds to where the wind lived, he could finally learn its secrets. He pursued Nimbus tirelessly, climbing to the highest point of his tower and setting all manner of clever snares, but Nimbus was too swift. He left offerings of food and wine, but the creature could not be bought. He even threw himself upon the ground in feigned distress, but it could not be fooled. The creature was too free to be caught.
Exhausted and defeated, Caleus returned to his tower and resigned to being forever burdened by his dull work. But Nimbus was impressed by the tenacity of the human who tried so hard to tame it. It visited the forge that night and left Caelus a talisman bearing its likeness. When Caleus awoke and put it on, he found that his heart was lighter and his work no longer dismayed him, but brought him fulfillment and purpose. When he listened closely, he could hear the wind whispering in a language he couldn't yet understand.
He never caught Nimbus, but through his amulet he carried a piece of its freedom with him always. It is said that those who wear the Amulet of Nimbus will find their path unbound by earthly burdens despite their duties, for it whispers to them the secrets of the uncatchable wind.
The Nimbus Amulet
Did you know that the Wind’s steed is a Unicorn, not a Pegasus?
Initial sketch
