HAM'SHAFFA, LESSONS FROM THE LANTERN
ANCIENT LEGEND #13
SUNRISE, K’LENTEN 12958 BBBC.
Naragar’s body had been laid on a bier at the top of the Hollow Hill, until nought but the skeletal remains were left. His bones were now beneath a cairn in the cavern below. To one side stood a flat top rock, perhaps half a cubit high, and on that rock stood Ham’Shaffa, motionless, eyes closed, arms raised and wide, as if in embracement of those filing in. Waiting until silence, he gaged the moment to open his eyes and gaze at his fellows. Holding suspense, his arms slowly lowered, reached forwards, palms uppermost, then gestured toward the cairn before speaking.
“My Brothers, my Sisters, this day of Khlenten, in this Special place, we gather to honour Naragar, our father, our oracle, giver of true wisdoms. Here he lays, remaining with us for ever. He was my teacher, he taught me to share his teaching to all that would listen” There were some present who felt a certain discomfort at the unusual reverse order of Ham’Shaffa’s first four words, yet none challenged this breach of normal respect. “Naragar and his Sisters brought great gifts of Kenna Warreid from Old Orolandus unto the Krinjii. This you know ! Then just before the Vloede his Sisters left us, but not he, he who chose to stay with those who Halba would soon save from the Waters. Halba has not been seen since that terrible day, yet her son Cheed watches us from the mountains. He wouldst counsel with us, Now that we are no longer the Krinjii who heeded not, Now we are the Geh’Hengled” Once again there was discomfort in the air, yet still no challenge.
Ham’Shaffa laughed, promised to give his evenings over to any who wished to listen to the Naragar’s Lessons of the Lantern, then leaping from his rock, led the tribe upward into the Feast of Sunshine, just as Naragar had done one cycle earlier. The first lesson had been had been “Repeat what you perceive to be the Truth”, the second was “Establish Traditions, for they relieve the tensions of Uncertainties” Naragar had passed on that which he had understood from Askara’s education at the Golden Lantern. Understood, yet not wholly Grokked….
“It is foolish to ignore what we have done or experienced in our earlier existences. Only by Grokking the lessons can we cope with todays mysterious doors to all possible futures” - - - “Oro means the root of Truth; That which is a greater treasure than life itself; It is not just knowledge, but pure enlightenment. It is the Kenna Warreid of Orolandus; to Grok and freely share” Thus Spake Naragar the third and fourth Lessons. “That the Krinjii did not heed was not their foolishness, nay, it was my own in thinking that I would convince them, therefore I have failed so far, thus must stay to whatever end”
CIRCA 12920BBBC.
Ham’Shaffa had fathered three Sons with different mothers, such as his status as an educator was attractive. Away some days on a hunting trip they came upon a small party of strangers; four young women of far countenance, bound together being dragged along by several men. These fellows immediately rushed to attack, but were poorly matched with the muscular and better armed Geh’Hengled. In just minutes the attackers lay dead or had run. The women, freed, accompanied Ham’Shaffa’s party back to safety at the Hollow Hill. There they stayed put with their rescuers. Presently the family’s numbers swelled. This was the only Geh’Hengled family of several mixed bloods, somewhat held in awe by most of the tribe.
SUNRISE KHLENDERN 12899 BBBC, Onwards….
The Stone Mount by the cairn had been replaced by a taller one with steps, it’s Foreside carved with the faces of Halba and Cheeid. Ham’Shaffa had taught his descendants what little he knew of the old expeditions, led by Pathfinders and Illuminati. Another survivor of the Vloede was the daughter of N*Atuahm and Ankrad, Illuminati of the Khumodin-Alachi expedition to the Krinjii. Her parents had tutored the girl in their skills. She became exceptionally proficient in symbols and images on stone, as was her own daughter, Aldaria, the artist responsible for the carvings by the cairn. Ham’Shaffa’s grandson Kielt, had with Aldaria produced several children, all well versed in artistry and oratory. They were well able to put on a grand show at the beginning of each new cycle. The Truths of the Golden Lantern were still exalted, yet a little more embroidered, added to, as was the garb of the performers.
Meanwhile Cheeid slumbered on, frequently disturbed by mentions of his mother or of his own name, as sensed on the breeze.
SUNRISE KLENDREN 12558BBBC.
Down below in the cavern, a huge timber platform, over half a cubit high, 15 cubits deep and twice as wide, mocked and excited the spectators. The Carved Stone now raised and decorated stood center Fore, as the Family Pranced and Exhorted the survival story, and the mysterious Lessons of Askara, Nonnan, Naragar. The cairn had been moved to a rear alcove, where the ancient messenger’s teeth ground as his bones turned, whilst Sunrise came and dissipated alone. Only at twilight did the Procession come to the surface, where they espied on the distant river a fleet of ships, such as never known before. Intoxications bled and fled in the face of Fear. Barricades clumsily erected at all the Hill’s Mouths. Some of the leaders organized armed cohorts to patrol, but not investigate. Others knelt in a circle, holding hands and rythmically intoning Cheeids name. The dark of night fell before he finally woke…..
At first light the Geh’Hengled made out an interminable line of men from the ships, heading straight for the Hollow Hill, and what could ONLY be CHEEID WALKING WITH THEM !!
TO BE CONTINUED…..
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An interesting mythology developing here.
What an interesting story, is it fantasy? Where did you get this idea from?