Paciano Tales

Fed up with the wild boar problem plaguing their vegetable gardens and eating their flowers, the villagers of Paciano were at their wits’ end. One day, during a heated town meeting, Ettore, the town’s historian and storyteller, suggested an unconventional solution. He recounted an old tale he’d heard during one of his pilgrimage walks to Santiago di Compostella, of a magical, wolf-like creature with the power to help when there were problems between humans and animals.

Intrigued and desperate, the villagers agreed to give it a shot. Frank and Linda, known for their adventurous spirit and good humor, volunteered to venture along with Ettore into the Umbrian woods to find the creature.

As they reached a small, hidden clearing, they spotted the mystical creature. Its fur shimmered in various shades of blue and green, and its eyes glowed like amber. The creature had an air of wisdom and mischief, and its smile was both sarcastic and vain.

Ettore, Frank and Linda hesitated, unsure of how to greet such a being. Linda finally managed to stutter out a shy, “Hello, magical creature! We come in peace.” The creature, amused by their awkwardness, replied, “Well, hello there, humans. I am a Liquix Loparius, but you can call me Lillo. What brings you to my neck of the woods?”

Our friends, surprised but determined, explained the wild boar problem to Lillo and asked if he could help them. Lillo, intrigued by their request, asked what what was in it for him.

Ettore, Frank and Linda proposed various offerings in exchange for help:

Linda: “Would you consider helping us if we provide you with a lifetime supply of your favorite food?” Lillo: “Oh, please. As if I can’t just snap my paws and have a five-course meal appear. Next!”

Frank: “How about a luxurious dog bed made of the finest materials?” Lillo: “Darling, I can sleep on clouds. Beds are for amateurs.”

Ettore: “Perhaps we could arrange a personal concert with the famous singer, Ed Zeppelin?” Lillo: “As lovely as that sounds, I can listen to any music I want with a flick of my tail. But you’re getting warmer!”

Frank, in desperation: “What if we grant you the title of ‘Honorary Mayor of Paciano’?” Lillo, chuckling: “Now that’s interesting! But I’m afraid I’m not one for politics. Also, the bureaucracy? No, thank you!”

Seeing their struggle, the mischievous creature finally agreed to help if the villagers of Paciano would organize a yearly feast in its honor. Our friends, thrilled with the agreement, returned to Paciano to share the news.

With Lillo’s help, suddenly the wild boars started to talking. They spoke with anyone they met. They explained that the irresistible scents from the recent pasta festival had wafted into the woods where they lived, drawing them out and making them hungry for those delicious dishes.

Recognizing that the situation needed to be resolved, Mayor Bernardo and Vice Mayor Giangiacomo decided to get involved and set up a meeting with the boars. The boars expressed their understanding that they couldn’t just barge into someone’s garden and eat everything they found. But they also wanted the villagers to be aware that they too needed to eat, and those mouthwatering pasta dishes from the festival were simply too tempting to resist.

To strike a balance, the boars proposed a deal: they were willing to do things for the people in exchange for being provided with some specific dishes, like the pasta with the secret local ingredients they had smelled during the festival. They offered their services to find truffles for the locals, carry firewood, plow fields, and provide fertilizer.

The villagers, seeing an opportunity for a mutually beneficial arrangement, agreed to the boars’ proposal. The wild boars now had access to delicious meals, while the locals enjoyed the benefits of the boars’ help. The peaceful collaboration between the Paciano community and the wild boars flourished, all thanks to the mysterious Liquix Loparius and its unique ability to bridge the gap between humans and animals.

And so, the villagers upheld their end of the bargain and organized a grand feast in Lillo’s honor, every year, celebrating the power of community, friendship, and the magic of Paciano.