...ni chi Srys kamkik-jitk (and the Sun came down)
sukkt-mahni-ti chi on-zi zkkul (to his planet for the first time)
srynik sai ilkmai kitk (burning all those children)
drukkmai ut-dikk soi-Srys sukkt-shikkul (who did not mark their foreheads as mine)
- Lainia Sha'evlas, the first hikkkutta of Srys
The late spring rains fell in a steady drizzle from the unbroken gray skies. The constant deluge had thoroughly dampened everything in the village of Shanasiti. Straw roofs sagged and threatened to mold away. The roads, if one would be so generous to call the crooked dirt paths meandering mindlessly between the rickety huts roads, had tuned to slick flats of mud, broken by water filled footprints, and pot holes created by some unfortunate villager who took a bad step.
Worse than moldy roofs or impassable roads, the rain seemed to soak deeper than that, water logging even the very bones of the tired elven people who stumbled and slogged through the disgusting streets, trying to eak out an existence in the vast forest that surrounded them in an unbroken grey-green, stretching out as far as the eye could see. As the cleric Lainia Sha'evlas walked unsteadily along the muddied street she could see from the tired faces of the villagers that the rain had soaked itself into the very hearts of the people. Drowning their life from them, turning even the most robust, young, and proudest hearts into a gray dismal mush, like the road and lands around her.
Lifting up her once white robes to avoid a mud puddle; only to land a foot into another one, she cringed as the holes in her boots allowed the disgusting clammy, cold water and mud rush in-between her numb toes. Lainia trudged steadily to a large, round, stone building in the center of the settlement. Gray stone, molding, dead looking thatched roof; it was no wonder the spirits of this settlement were tired and feeling like the walking dead, for everyday they must look at the eye sore of the council building.
Lainia pulled away the water soaked and dirty drapery covering the entrance of the building She tried scraping some of the mud from her boots, then realized the futility of the gesture; the floor were only made of hard packed dirt anyhow.
*how far we have fallen from the green marble and vallenwoods of Shalonesti*
She sighed and pushed aside another, less dirty but still damp tapestry, and entered the council chamber.
A huge, roughly hewed granite circle of stone filled the center of the room, on it sat the Speaker of the settlement of Shanasiti, and the other village leaders and advisors. A young scout, who Lainia recognized as one of three they had sent to Shalonesti at the first break in the winter weather also sat at the circle, drinking some warm broth.
The council stood as she entered and uttered their greetings with tired eyes and grim half-smiles. She quickly gestured for them to sit, and took her place at the circle.
"I'm sorry I am late," Lainia apologized, "I was caring for the young Sha'veris boy, Nathus, and lost track of time." She had been loosing track of time a lot lately, perhaps it was the constant gray days without sun or stars to mark the hours. Whatever it was, she had not arrived on time to the weekly council meeting for over a month, it was almost an embarrassing and expected tradition now that the town's head priestess arrived late.
The Speaker of the Shanasiti, Kernin Sha'nasi smiled briefly in amusement and waved his hand in easy going forgiveness. "No apology is necessary Cleric Sha'evlas," his voice turned tired and serious, “how is the boy?"
The child was his nephew, son of a favorite sister of his, and he cared for the child like it was his own. Kernin cared for all the children like his own, he loved all the people of the settlement, but children were especially precious to the gentle leader.
Lainia looked down at her hands unable to meet the soft green eyes of the man, "It is difficult to say, he has responded positively to the treatments, however..." she let her sentence trail off in the uncomfortable cool silence of the room, broken by soft thunder in the distance, and the steady dull rhythmic patter of rain on the roof.
"Yes of course, I understand, you've done your best, thank you," Kernin said supportively, then smiled trying to lighten the ever gloomy room, "lets get back to business, shall we? You missed the good news from the miner's guild, Lainia."
"Oh?" Lainia raised an eyebrow and turned to the head of the miner's team, Lazus Sha'relas, a comically short man with a ruddy complexion. He smiled gleefully as he happily reported his news to her.
"It seems the iron deposits to the north are much more substantial than previously thought, in addition, we have found several large veins of silver! But that’s not all, here, look!" The man excitedly squirmed and made a great show of producing a small whitish lump of rock from his pack. He drew out his knife and scraped some whitish crystal-like, flakes from the small rock. Smiling broadly he gestured to the powder.
"Here, try some, Lainia." He demonstratively stuck a finger into the white powder and licked it, his face showing near eaxctasy at the taste of the rock powder. Lainia raised an eyebrow and glanced around the room; the council members hid smirks and rolled eyes and nodded her on, apparently none of them had escaped without tasting Lazus's strange white rock. She gingerly reached over and placed a finger in the powder, lifting it to her mouth, she delicately licked the powder from her finger. Fire dissolved against her tongue and she blinked back watery eyes.
"Salt." She smiled.
"Yes, salt!” Exclaimed Lazus; he bumbled happily, rambling with glee, "Salt! It was enough to find the iron ore, with that we could support ourselves and grow, but the silver and the salt will provide us with something to export and trade! Trade, profit, growth! In time Shanasiti might even over take Shalonesti proper in riches and culture. It's dreams like this that the outside settlement program was begun for; think, we do this to strengthen all of elven kind!..." Lazus Sha'relas might have bumbled on with more, but he be was cut short by a curt, strong voice.
“Unfortunately, that is not all they found."
Eyes turned to Alysanna Sha'nasi, Kernin's wife. Formally of house Sha'falas, the Protectors of the Shalonesti, she had married Kernin and agreed to help him set up the Shanasiti settlement, far to the northwest. A powerful and experienced bladesinger, she headed the village militia, and trained the young members of the city in archery, swordplay, and battle magics. Stern and used to giving orders, she was an odd contrast to her gentle warrior husband, a capable fighter himself; however, there were many a joke as to who really wore the pants in the Sha'nasi house.
Having everyone's attention Alysanna continued, “We apprehended a yinnish scout snooping around to the north, not far from the mines. He chose to end his life rather than face questioning. We assume others are traveling south, looking for resources like ours they can exploit."
The council broke in to a nervous twitter.
"We can expect no help from our brethren in Shalonesti." Continued the bladesinger with amazing calm.
In shock, Lainia turned to the young scout she had seen earlier. "Why?" she asked the slightly frightened looking young man, "What happen when you went to Shalonesti?"
The scout, who just a month ago had still seemed to be a boy, scowled in a mixture fury and fear, "They tuned us back at the border, when we tried to sneak through to get to the city anyhow, they caught us, called us traitors and spies, killed Zephin and Karismana... I escaped the sikkik, barely." His head drooped in shame and sadness.
Lainia had heard that Shalonesti had closed it's borders, but she never imagined elves treating elves in such a manner. Everyone had assumed Shalonesti would help her outside settlements against the yinnish menace; not close its doors on its children outside, turning the proud and brave Shalonesti people into, as the young man had colorfully noted in the local slang the youth of the settlement used, 'sikkik'; privileged fools, idiots, and cowards.
The councilors rumbled and twittered at the news. Fifteen adults clamoring like children in terror, "What shall we do?" Shanasiti had suffered losses every winter the had spent in the northwest forests. The first winter, Lainia had lost her husband to illness, and each winter seemed to hit harder than the one before. The cold had taken many Shanasiti warriors, and had left the settlement very vulnerable. As the protectors argued, one voice spoke out, catching Lainia's attention immediately.
"It was enough that the gods had deserted us, but now even our brethren have disowned us as well!" Exclaimed the second-in-command of the militia.
Lainia fumed, "The gods have not left us!" She retorted at the man in disgust.
“No? Then tell us why we have lost so many to each winter's cold? Tell us why, you, Austinian's chosen, the head priestess to our may gods, have not been able to cure a simple tooth ache, let alone the strange winter illness that still plagues us?" The man was frustrated and sick; he had lost his daughter this past winter and was still quite bitter, but still his words sunk into Lainia, drenching her with a colder, wetter misery than the unending spring rains had brought on her.
Kernin stood, furious at the warrior’s accusations, and defended Lainia from the mans angry words; speaking praises of her abilities and faith, but Lainia did not listen. She sat, sickened, and inwardly knew the warrior was correct.
Lately, she seemed out of touch with the gods. Her cures were practical herbal medicines, crude, and only mildly effective. If the gods had willed it, she could have mearly touched a sick child in prayer, and the gods would have healed patient. For months, however, her prayers for healing had gone unanswered by any god. Distressed by the talk, she stood and excused herself from the circle, leaving the council behind to prepare for the coming yinn.
Standing outside in the drenching rain, Lainia made her way along the muddy roads to the village wall; a rather pathetic construct of rock and crumbling rubble, she exited the north gate and walked towards the promising hills in the north. The lovely hills that bad promised her settlement so much, yet without some miracle of the gods, the yinn would surely take them away. Then finish the job of the winter plague that was slowly destroying her people. She walked on sadly, rain hiding tears, as she, Austinian's chosen, prayed desperately to any god that might help save her people.
Nothing, no answer, no uplifting warm feeling that came from conversing with the gods. Net even the fall of darkness to mark the acceptance of the gods of evil, Lainia and the Shanasiti were alone, forgotten, forsaken by both gods and brethren. She sank to the ground, sobbing madly, daring to cry tears she had held in since the death of her husband, and every other patient she had failed since she bad come to the settlement, welled up and exploded in her misery. An orphan, herself and her people, abandoned by all in a forgotten and forsaken world.
=you are not abandoned so completely, mkkkt-sikku, I left a part of myself behind when I created this world=
Tears bad so thoroughly soaked Lainia's face, she bad not noticed that it bad stopped raining. She looked up to the sky in confusion, searching for the voice that bad spoken to her. The clouds still hang heavily, but the sun seemed to be burning through them, almost as if it was against Turpa's will that it come out. The clouds broke, and Lainia could have sworn she had herd a painful scream from Turpa, but it was quickly hidden and muddied by sunlight which bathed the cleric in a dazzling, blinding, brilliance.
The stories of the creation of the world often speak briefly of the high god, who created the world, then left it in the hands of the ethereal three; Austinian, Kwainin, and Necrucifer. As Lainia stood in the sunlight, she could only assume that she spoke to that mysterious being.
=His essence. I have created many worlds, and leave behind a warming hearth for each one. All heat, energy, and light come from it, even the magic power of the moons is just a mere refection of my beacon.. my eye.. the purest form of energy and light any mortal will ever know, and even that blinds and burns them, but for you, mkkkt-sikku; my servant, my kutta; my Avater, you may look upon my essence.. look into my eye, and begin to understand the ultimate power=
Lainia lifted her head to look directly into the blinding light of the sun, only it did not blind, she saw energy and light being created, and knew name of the being that had stated this fire that warmed her world. She saw the pure power that could save a forsaken people, the power was Srys.
The council was still arguing the best methods for defending the settlement when Lainia returned to the circle.
"Lainia, where have you been?" Inquired Kernin "Did you see? The sun broke through the clouds for a moment just a little bit ago, surely a good omen." he smiled, trying to cheer her up.
"Yes," she spoke almost as if in a trance, she smiled at the council, still feeling the warmth of sunlight on her skin, "it was a sign from the high god, Srys. I spoke to His essence, His eye, the sun." People gaped, rolled eyes, and muttered in disbelief; she ignored them and continued. "If we pledge ourselves to His purity, energy, and light He will deliver us from the yinn."
Alysanna rolled her eyes, "Praying to strange gods riding on sunbeams is no way to prepare for a battle."
Kernin stood, concern filling his face, and walked over to Lainia, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Lainia, you've been under a lot of stress lately, your assistance to this settlement has been unparalleled, but I think you should really take a breather from the workload."
"No!" Lainia yelled and tossed away Kernin's comforting hand, who stood shocked and confused at her reaction, "No.." she said again, aware of the council's disbelieving eyes on her.
"I looked at the sun, Srys, the high god's hearth for us; I saw how it makes energy, and the High god, Srys, the sun.. it will aid us, if we fight to spread his light..." Lainia's baffled and confused made on her experience was interrupted by a young girl of the Sha'veris house, who burst into the room, breathless and pale.
"Lainia, I have been looking all over for you, my brother, Nathus is getting worse." The young girl was near tears.
Lainia turned to Kernin, who looked ill with shock and confusion, and calmly spoke, "You will see, my lord, Srys' light will heal your nephew."
"Lainia! Gods of darkness, which one possess you?!" Kernin cried in frustration, and followed, along with most of the council, Lainia out the door.
As Lainia made her way to the home of Nathus, the places in the muddied road where her feet touched dried; water evaporated from an unseen energy. She reached the thatched hut of Kernin's sister, who drew back in shock to see not only Lainia, but Kernin and most of the city council pouring into the small home.
Young Nathus slept fitfully on a small bed near the warm kitchen area. The boy's breathing was weak, and his skin a disgusting clammy gray. Lainia walked confidently over to his bed and closed her eyes, searching for guidance. She then lifted the frail boy up into her arms and carried him over to the hut's one small window. Closing her eyes she offered herself and the boy to the sun. Again, the clouds were stubbornly burnt through, and light poured through the small window, giving its energy to the cleric and the boy. Nathus's skin turned to a healthy peach, and his breathing grew stronger. Lainia smiled looking to the sun, she uttered a thanks, then spoke.
“Nathus, you have been baptized by the warmth, energy and light of Srys. Forever you will be bound to his purity of light, you are Srysmai." With that, to the amazement of the gathered council members she set the boy down on his own legs; he stood, somewhat unsteadily, and was immediately embraced by both mother and uncle. Kernin, after a moment of holding tight to his nephew as if seeing that the boy was real, released Nathus and turned to Lainia.
"I have never considered myself an especially spiritual man, however this... ..god... he his spoken a language that I understand. I would gladly swear my blade to any dark demon that promised to deliver my family and people from a meaningless death." Kernin Sha'nasi drew his sword, and kneeled before Lainia, in the light streaming in from the small window. "I will gladly swear myself and my sword to the purity, light, and energy of Srys, if he will deliver us from the yinn."
Lainia stood in confusion as her leader kneeled before her, and her new god. Then after a moment's reflection, she reached out to touch his blade; light energy flowed through her, and she quickly drew back as a ray of light hit the sword, making it glow with a strange energy. She spoke, "You and your sword, Rikkit hy Srys, Ray of Sun, and the people you protect it with are bound to Srys. You and your people are Srysmai, with Srys we will bring his light into the darkness, and burn our enemies with his fire." Lainia felt lightheaded and strange with the powerful words she spoke, and fire filled her mind.
*His fire will burn the yinn*
=Chi Syrnik Davikk, your people's burning day nears=
Likk kittiuk hy Srysmai: on the curse of Alysanna
Lainia trudged in between the tent's of the warrior's camp, seeking out the comfort of her own, plain, hut. Night had fallen, and the clouds had given way to thousands of countless stars, each blinking with its own purity of energy and light. She had spent most of the past few days teaching the ways of Srys to her people, baptizing them to his purity and light, and blessing the warriors for the coming battle with the advancing yinn. The Srysmai painted the symbol of the sun on their foreheads, and prepared flammable arrows, oil, and powders for their fur covered enemies.
She heard the murmuring of prayer and looked over to see Alysanna kneeling in the light of the waning white moon uttering words of magic. Lainia approached the Bladesinger tentatively. Alysanna and a small number of other mages and bladesingers had thus far, much to the distress of Kernin, refused to be baptized in the name of Srys. They also to refused to paint the symbol of the sun on their foreheads, and still spoke of the old gods, especially the ones of magic.
Alysanna stood, and regarded Lainia with a look of displeasure. Lainia opened her mouth to speak, but Alysanna cut off her words with a glare and a quick slash of her hand calling for silence. “You have said too much already, and will win no converts here. I believe I recall how it goes now,” Alysanna's words dripped of scorn and disgust, “yes... the magic derived from the moons is a dangerous and unreliable reflection of Srys' light. It is difficult and unhealthy to control, and should not he used by the mortal mai. Forgive me if I disagree.”
“Alysanna, please", pleaded Lainia, "just this one battle, you and the other spell casters refrain from using it."
“Will your Srysmai barbarians refrain from swinging clubs, chanting and yelling those ridiculous war cries, and painting their faces like clowns? No, nor will the battle mages and bladesingers refrain from their use of the arcane arts in battle. I will fight for myself, my home, and elven kind, and I will not give up my magic to whatever god the clerics say is now fashionable to worship" Alysanna stood, powerful and strong willed, yet still Lainia could not push a vision of the bladesinger writhing in terrible flames from her troubled mind.
“Very well then, drukkmai, but I fear your lack of faith in the pure light of the sun will be your undoing” Lainia tuned and sadly walked from the bladesinger who quietly spoke words to her as she left.
“If Kantilles it now a drukkmakkkit, then I gladly walk in his shadow."
*the Sun rises*
*great furred beasts pant*
*flaming arrows fly*
*the smell of burnt fur*
*Rrikkit hy Srys slices the air*
*yinn fall in puddles of their own blood*
*a torch touches a vat of oil*
*explosions take both man and plant*
*the Sun beats down*
*hotter*
*hotter*
*most beasts fall of exhaustion*
*they look almost peaceful in death*
*one approaches*
*a spear is lodged in a torch wielding boy*
*the yinn walk through the oil slicked moat*
*a woman summons a ball of fire*
*an explosion of magic out of control*
*yinn, spell casters are consumed in flame*
Lainia rushed forward to the next wounded warrior on the battlefield. She was exhausted from healing the battle wounds of her comrades, but Srys still gave her strength. She approached her next patient, barely recognizable, and prayed for healing, but this nearly dead, burnt, and battered body refused to heal. A raw and blackened band touched Lainia's, and a raspy voice, weak, yet somehow with the air of command, quietly spoke, "Your god will not heal me, I forbid it.”
Nearby, Kernin wept.
Once white robes where now darkened and charred with fire and death, yet as her blood flowed freely into the ground, uninhibited by any skin, the woman continued to speak.
“My children, my blood, my magic will always flow through this people. Kantilles will protect my children, and they will survive your Chi Srynik Davikk, your burning day, and will avenge my death and see the sun fall.” With her last breath, Alysanna uttered the words of a curse, and the last of her life blood poured into the earth.
"Chi Srys molli sry, chi Makkkitk mak kesk-sinkkt"
“As sun brings light, the moons will cast a shadow"
The Temple of the Sun was built upon that spot, to drive away the shadows.