Once upon a time, upon a great plain surrounded by water, there lived a giant.
The giant was much feared by its neighbors, for it had once pulverized its enemies in a great war. But the giant was also respected, for it sometimes gave fruit and bread to its poor neighbors, and would occasionally use its great strength to help its neighbors build their homes.
Not everyone loved the giant. Its enemies would sometimes whisper among themselves that it was too rich, too greedy, and should be weakened for the common good. There were those also whom the giant had wronged in the past, and they nursed their resentments in sullen silence. But none would openly challenge it, fearing its great and unassailable power.
Then one day, a small band of marauders crossed the water in secret, hoping to smite the giant in its sleep. The marauders were evil and foolish -- they lacked the power to kill the giant, and could only do it a small hurt -- but their hate for the giant drove them to strike. To their surprise, they caught the giant entirely by surprise, and gave it a deep and fearful wound -- but the wound was painful only, and not mortal. It would heal in time.
But the giant was enraged. It struck out across the water, to the home of the marauders, and slew and scattered many of their people. This did not satisfy the giant's fury, and it struck out again -- this time, at a neighboring land, led by one of the giant's resentful but quiet foes.
All the world watched as the giant's blows fell. The world watched as the giant strode across the water to take its revenge and wreak havoc upon its foes -- and became stuck.
The giant had expected to sweep its enemies before it, and leave an example of righteous fury behind. None would stand in the face of that mighty blow.
But the giant had miscalculated. Its foes would not stand before it, but concealed themselves in the shadows. No enemies appeared to face its wrath, but struck back instead from behind and from all sides. The giant spun, sweeping its mighty hand -- and struck only the women and children left behind by the hidden warriors. More then joined the fight, seeking their own vengeance against the giant. Some fell, but more took their place, and the giant suffered tiny strike after tiny strike as it struggled to find its tormentors.
Meanwhile, the giant's own land suffered from lack of care. His crops wilted, and his livestock grew thin. But he could not simply leave the lands of his enemies and retreat, for that would be defeat. So he stayed, killing many, and still suffering the tiny strikes over and over and over again. And his land suffered.
The world watched, amazed, as the mighty giant spent its treasure and blood. And the giant's enemies, who had been quietly watching, whispered among themselves that with one more such battle, the giant would be no more.