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A small peak into Infinian mythology

It is feared in European mythology, said to attack everyone unfortunate enough to sail near it. It is represented as an aggressive, yet intelligent, but above all powerful monster in various fantasy novels, games, and movies. But despite this popular depiction, in Infinian culture, it has for centuries been an object of worship. The Biyoxako, as it is known in ancient Infinian, literally translates to ‘he who controls the waters.’ Yet, the more popular name comes from Scandinavia - the Kraken. When European culture and lingo increasingly influenced Infiny’s understanding of itself, the Kraken and the Biyoxako became the same. Why was - and for some still is - the Kraken worshipped in Ifitinism in the first place?

It is a classical Infinian curiosity. The worshipping of the Kraken is thought to originate around the year 100 BCE. Around this time, the Kraken first appears in the Infinian chronicles in the capital city of Elliniko. It appears in Infiny’s foundation myth, where it is said that it roams the water of the Socotra strait, between the similarly named archipelago and the Hafun cape. An intellectual divinity, it could sense the purity of the souls in his domain. It would guide those who were pure of heart, while those with malevolent intentions would soon meet their end. When the ancient kingdom of Hadhramut fell to invaders, many fled to the still-standing colony in the horn of Africa. One of the ships, carrying the sacred images of several Hadhrami deities, blew off course. It ended up shipwrecked on the island of Socotra. Here, the survivors witnessed two battling monstrosities; an evil spider race, and a guardian bird race. The survivors were promptly attacked by the arachnid creatures, but divine providence saw the avians defeat the spiders and protect the shipwrecked refugees. However, they were now stuck on an archipelago, unable to fulfill their mission.

What happens next is disputed. Some factions in Ifitnism claim that it was the bird race which carried the shipwrecked refugees to the African continent. In this post, however, we are explaining the alternative explanation, that the shipwrecked built a small raft and attempted to reach cape Hafun. As one who read the introduction to this post would know, they went right into the Kraken’s domain. Soon after they passed the island of Cilmiya, the water started swirling, as a gigantic cephalopod rose from the sea. The Kraken, who they were faced with, towered over the refugees as they thought their life to be over. However, the divine beast sensed the purity of heart of the men. He would ultimately guide them to Elliniko, where their commander, Remu I, became King of the newly independent Kingdom of Inviya. From that time onward, the Kraken was worshipped as the guardian of the sea.

Worship of the Kraken was most dominant on the island of Socotra and other coastal areas under Infinian control. The island of Socotra proved to be unconquerable. Every time it was besieged, the invaders failed to capture it. The Romans failed when the Infinians separated, the Muslim insurgents failed, and the squabbling local lords of the Era of Twilight failed to wrestle the island from the Royal domain. It was believed that the Kraken’s divine intervention safeguarded the island. However, this changed in 1476, when the island was finally lost.

How could the island that was protected by the divine beast have fallen? The most common explanation among the Ifitnist clergy at the time was that it was a test. The beast would leave the realm and subject the Infinians to tests to make them stronger. Once the time was right, he would return. But as the tide of history increasingly turned against the Empire, the explanation fell out of favor. There are currently only a few that truly believe in the Kraken’s return.