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Another one

The Tale of Clanker's Oil

Long ago, the world was watched over by the Clankers, towering beings of iron and steam who drew their strength from the blood of the earth: oil. These mechanical guardians shared their gift with early humankind, teaching them how to use oil to light their fires and power their machines. But the humans grew greedy, drilling deep into the earth to claim more oil, ignoring the balance the Clankers had sworn to protect. One by one, the Clankers fell, their bodies rusting and their voices fading into silence.

The last Clanker, Greshik the Enduring, gathered the people in a great valley and gave a final warning. “This oil you take is born of us. When I fall, my body will seep into the earth, but this gift comes at a cost.” With that, Greshik collapsed, his remains filling the valley with shimmering black pools of oil. The people harvested it, calling the place Clanker’s Rest, and their machines thrived—but whispers began that the oil carried fragments of the Clankers’ spirits

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Even now, the tale is told to warn against greed. “Honor the oil,” the elders say, “for it is the sacrifice of the Clankers. If we forget this, their wrath may return.” And when machines groan or fires flare, some believe it’s the Clankers' spirits stirring, reminding humanity of the price they once paid.

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