The Great Race was a Rokugani folktale which explained the given names by the Moon and Sun to the hours.
Hours[]
“To gain the favor of heaven, the animals held a race across the river. Rat secretly rode on Ox's back; he was first to cross and bow to Onnotangu.” – The Great Race I [1]
“Ox was next to reach the shore, for he was the strongest swimmer. He thought he'd won the race, until Rat leapt off of his back.” – The Great Race II [2]
“Tiger was the third to finish the great race. Neither Sun nor Moon witnessed his arrival.” – The Great Race III [3]
“Hare was the fourth to finish the great race. He arrived just in time to bow to Amaterasu, who smiled upon him and brushed his fur dry.” – The Great Race IV [4]
“Dragon would have won the race, but he spotted a drought parching the lands and stopped partway to summon rain.” – The Great Race V [5]
“Snake clung to Horse's leg, startling him with a hiss. When he crossed he was the sixth, and the others gave him wide berth.” – The Great Race VI [6]
“Amaterasu felt sorry for Horse, who should have placed sixth. She gave him the speed of the wind, so that he might be faster.” – The Great Race VII [7]
“Goat arrived at the head of a raft, Monkey and Rooster beside him. They'd worked together to reach the other side.” – The Great Race VIII [8]
“Monkey crossed after Goat, laughing as he did. One by one, he imitated all of the others for the goddess' amusement. ‘How are you so sure I did not cross before now?’ he joked.” – The Great Race IX [9]
“Rooster interrupted Monkey's jests with a crow. Onnotangu blessed him, pleased by the silence that followed.” – The Great Race X [10]
“Dog nearly did not finish; he was distracted by the river and had paused to play in the waters.” – The Great Race XI [11]
“The boar was the last to finish the race. ‘Where is Cat?’ he wondered. ‘Surely I have not beaten him?’ Rat laughed, ‘I told him the race was tomorrow!’” – The Great Race XII [12]
References
- ↑ Hour of the Rat (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Ox (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Tiger (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Hare (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Dragon (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Serpent (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Horse (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Horse (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Monkey (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Rooster (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Dog (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
- ↑ Hour of the Boar (Siege: Heart of Darkness flavor)
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