The age of the storyteller is fading away.  Once an important figure in all cultures, the storyteller was part entertainer, part politician and part historian.  The best storytellers could make subtle adjustments to their stories depending on the audience or the situation at hand.  The experience was one of sound, sight and body language.  The right story at the right time could influence the thoughts and actions of people or even kings.

There were a core number of tales that were passed down from generation to generation to generation.  The same basic tale can be told in many ways with many different titles and a variety of entertaining chacters.  The message of the tale was fundamental, the true art and skill was in the telling of the tale.