Two Forest Fauxtales from the Paramountcy

 Mulugeta Tafesse - The medicine man 1 

New job, finals, and now prepping for dungeon23! Stress! Lots of stuff going on, so I've been finishing up some older writing as a relaxation thing. 

These two stories are in-universe "texts" from my Kubalubalundaland setting (the name is being workshopped but it gets a little closer to being official every day) focused on the Forest Peoples. They're roughly contemporaneous - both are told during the iron-hearted years of the Many-Quilled Paramount's incessant wars. The first is taken from the long claw of the Recollection Society elder From-The-Village-Of-Wealth, a kind and curious memoryman who came of age during the Hunter Paramount's reign; the Forestophile fad at court back then was more than a fad to him. Village-Of-Wealth doesn't quite get it but he's pretty close for someone born an aristocrat. The second is a story told by Isn't-It-Obvious-To-You, a Forest Woman scholar (all the people of the Forest are scholars) and professional human being, to her children during the formal period of retreat from the settlements.  

The First People Go to the Forest

Before there was history or memory-men to recall it, before Housebuilder Boy and Pottery Girl came to Creation with fire running in their wake, all men dwelt in the East-Beyond-East. When Chief Marsh brought death to the living - and paid for it with the loss of his title and his Word - Smith-Who-Forges resolved to keep all of the children born of his atelier close to him, in a hidden place where the sky meets the sea. With the help of their Elders, he gathered up all the smaller spirits scattered across Creation from the days when he had worked together with his brother and brought them to the new land he had built, hoping to spare them any additional suffering. Like toddling twins kept inside by custom, who think their house is the whole world, clever little mankind had never even known Creation, and those children that did know Creation were not displeased by what they found in the East-Beyond-East. Smith-Who-Forges was wise and industrious, sparing no effort to make the home a good one. His seconds One-On-The-Move and Prince-Counts-The-Nights were capable and trustworthy, watching over their younger siblings in a just manner. Wonders poured out of Smith-Who-Forges' crafthouses as he toiled away - new animals, plants, rivers, mountains, and other things stranger and more beautiful. 

For years uncounted, all were content; even death seemed a slight inconvenience before meeting friends and family again. When Smith-Who-Forges and his seconds among the spirits turned their skill towards inventing, carefully designing implements to ease and brighten the lives of their charges, some amongst the humans grew restless. Both of their double hearts grew uneasy and the call of the endless-walk sounded low and long in their blood. They came to Smith-Who-Forges and, very politely, asked him for leave to travel to Creation. 

Smith-Who-Forges was surprised that anyone would want to leave the ancestral village. He set down his tools and the half-finished fish he was carving, which promptly learned to breathe air and tunneled into the ground, before leaning down to talk. "What is wrong, little ones? Are you treated poorly? Does anyone here harm you?"

"No, Lord Paramount, life is easy and good in this home you have made. Do not think us ungrateful!" They responded. 

"Then perhaps you are dissatisfied with the range of interesting diversions and new people to meet? Rest assured, little ones, I have wonders in store that will puzzle and delight even your sharp minds. Just now, I…" Smith-Who-Forges glanced down at his bench and noticed that the fish he was carving was gone. While he looked around for the missing creature, the spokesman for the rogue humans cleared his throat and began:

"Not in the slightest, Lord Paramount, there is more to experience here than we could hope to understand in a hundred lifetimes. Indeed, we think there have been too many such wonders."

Having recovered the lungfish, Smith-Who-Forges nodded approvingly at the accidental success as he inspected the wriggling spirit from every angle. He made a few alterations before welcoming the fish with a whispered word. Dusting off his skirts, he turned back towards the humans: 

"Too many wonders? Explain, little ones, so I may understand."

"We do not like some of the new things being made, but our fellows do. As we can not impose ourselves on others, those of us opposed to the new things have decided to go somewhere else so all can live as they wish, by your leave." Replied the spokesman clearly and simply, with all his fellows voicing their support. 

His work attended to, Smith-Who-Forges ushered the whole party into his home for palm wine and a meal of plantains - a proper guest reception. They did not pick up the discussion again until everyone had thoroughly enjoyed their dinner and exhausted their repertoire of polite conversation topics. 

"What are some of the new things you dislike?" Smith-Who-Forges asked carefully, returning to the purpose of the visit. 

A girl piped up from the back, where she sat against one of the house’s woven walls. "Embroidery, for one." 

Smith-Who-Forges seemed a bit hurt. "Truly? Does it not gladden your heart to wear such pretty patterns and gay colors, or to decorate your homes with them?" 

The spokesman quickly took over from the girl. "It does indeed gladden our hearts, Lord Paramount, but we dislike the game of oneupmanship such elegance inspires in our fellows. It is not just embroidery. New farming digs a furrow between man and woman. Cowries teach our kinsmen to see the world counted out with shells. We also must leave behind the brutal arms of Prince-Counts-The-Nights and the baleful magics of One-On-The-Move...and your own gifts of woodworking and weaving and ironworking."

The Lord Paramount was certainly more than a bit hurt now, for he considered those skills his signature gifts, and loved humanity for how well they took to them. "Ah, so you no longer wish to be like your maker then? Maybe the love of craft is not in your spirits anymore. Speak honestly and without fear."

The Not-Yet-Forest People were sad to see their creator-chief in pain and embraced him before they continued, still surrounding him as they spoke. 

"Never, Lord Paramount! We simply see how much of your time these crafts take - we are not immortal like you. Even with your immense talents, you are constantly bent over loom and forge, exhausted by your efforts. We wish to spend our days on things other than ceaseless toil, to create in other ways that allow us to be happier for longer."

Returning the embrace, Smith-Who-Forges considered their words. "Perhaps I have been trapped in my own perspective, little ones, forgive me. Even so, the alternative you choose is a hard one in its own way. You will not be protected from the Hundred Sons of the Marsh in Creation, every accident and malady they decide to inflict or not inflict - and know that my brother bears a blood-grudge against mankind. If you are to triumph, you will need some new gifts."

The Lord Paramount showed them how to make new clothes that were simpler and more practical. He showed them how to brew poisons of unimaginable might, how to trap monsters with net and snare. He taught them secret yodeling songs and stepping dances that would call him by his old name, Chief Sky - for what was a Smith to those who have moved beyond the forge? - and let them access his power. He showed them rituals for helping all find a voice in the chorus, for teaching men and women the importance of their opposites, for raising kids to value solidarity. He taught them much about the forests of Creation, leaving some for them to discover for themselves. Most importantly, he marked them with scars that publicly displayed their right to wander wherever the endless walk took them. After arming them with these potent weapons, he gave the Forest People leave to migrate and become the first men to live in Creation, where they still wield them all. Even now, you may find them in their forests, singing ancient praise-songs and boasting that they are the favorite children of Chief Sky.

Time Past, Times Past

Long ago, before the inhabitants of the world had decided what to be, their shapes were fluid and they moved as they wished. But there were some among them who grew tired of moving, and they turned their eyes downwards to the Earth and stopped moving, and these became the rocks; they had love only for Earth and looked to no other. There were others who loved Earth, but they loved Sun and Water too, and while they rooted themselves in Earth they stretched out to touch Sun and Water also and these became the bushes and the trees. But to many of the world's inhabitants these motionless lives had no appeal. Many of them started to chew upon the rocks and plants and they became the first animals. Those that ran fast over the plains and had a timid nature became Antelope, those who went to dive into the vastness of Water became Fish, and those who rose up into the Sky became Birds and Clouds. Still many beings had yet to take form. Some looked disdainfully at what their fellows had become. They went before the Moon and asked to have power and cleverness, and they became Jackal, Leopard, and Lion. The Water accepted others and they became Otter, Crocodile, and Dolphin. Others saw the wisdom in holding friendship with all of the great spirits equally and became Elephants. But still two beings remained, because they could not decide what they wanted to be. "Do you wish to be free to play and travel in my realm?" Asked Water. "Why not come to me and become like Tigerfish?" "Oh no," said the undecided ones, though they were tempted. "Tigerfish has lost their legs and can no longer step onto the Earth. It would make us very sad if we could not visit the Earth any more. Thank you, Water, but we cannot commit ourselves to you." "I understand," said Water, "but I will give you a gift regardless." And Water gave them a gift of an egg filled with fresh water and taught them the signs that would show them where to find more, wherever they went. They thanked Water and went on their way, drinking gladly, and before long they came to Earth. "Do you wish to run across the plains or live in the shade of the forest?" Asked Earth. "Why not become like Antelope or Monkey and stay safe and secure in my realm?" "Oh no," said the undecided ones, though they were very tempted. "Antelope and Monkey are both great creatures, and we have learned much from them. But they are subject to the whims of Eagle, Lion, and Leopard, and we will not submit to those cousins of ours. Thank you, Earth, but we cannot commit ourselves to you."

"I understand," said Earth, "but I will give you a gift regardless." And Earth taught them the secrets of all the plants and rocks that existed. They thanked Earth and went on their way, listening to the whispers of the forest, and before long they came to Sky. "Do you wish to have the vastness of my realm as your home?" Asked Sky. "Why not rise up and become like Parrot, Crane, or Eagle, singing and playing in the wind?" "Oh no," said the undecided ones, though they were very, very tempted. "We envy Parrot, Crane, and Eagle, but they are still subject to Earth because they must descend to sleep, eat, and care for their children, and there they are very vulnerable to each other and to Snake. Thank you, Sky, but we cannot commit ourselves to you." "I understand," said Sky, "but I will give you a gift regardless." And Sky taught them all the signs of the clouds and the stars so that they knew what weather would come and how to find their way around the world. They thanked Sky and went on their way, never getting lost or caught in storms, and before long they came to the Moon. "You are greater than the creatures of Water, Earth, and Sky," said the Moon, "and all those who were like you have come to me. I have made them Fox, Leopard, and Lion, and all the creatures of the world live in fear of them. Recognize me as your patron and I will make you predators even greater and fiercer than Lion." "Oh no," said the undecided ones, though they were very, very, very tempted. "Leopard and Lion are our equals, but while we admire their power, we would not be satisfied with a life of only hunting and killing. There is much more that we wish to see and do. Thank you, Moon, but we cannot commit ourselves to you." "I understand," said the Moon, "and though I will give you a gift regardless, I will do nothing to protect you from your brothers and sisters the Leopard and Lion, so you must remain cautious of them always." And Moon gave them bows and arrows and showed them how to make more. They thanked Moon and went on their way, and while Leopard and Lion tried to sneak up on them, they used their knowledge and their bows and arrows to drive them away. Before long, they came to the Sun. "The beings of this world fear me," said the Sun. "There are very few who have come to me for patronage-- only Drought, Forest Fire, Volcano, and Shooting Star. Do you think yourselves on their level, little ones? I do not. They are much greater than you. Still, I am moved by your plight, so I will give you a little gift." And Sun gave them a tiny tongue of fire, and showed them how to preserve it and use it to cook their food. They thanked Sun and went on their way, eating meals more delicious than they had ever had before. They wandered for a very long time after this, and eventually they met Elephant along the path. "Ho hum," said Elephant, "I see that you have not decided what to become, my brother and sister. You are much like me, and so perhaps your path is the same as mine; to know all the spirits in balance and be loved and protected by them all. I have grown very big and strong and wise from it." "You are very big and strong and wise," they said, "but you must eat so much each day or else you will starve. We would have to eat constantly from the trees and would have very little time to relax and play. We admire you very much, oh Elephant, but we could not be like you. Still, we are lost. Do you know of any other place where there might be a spirit who could give us a shape and show us what to be?" Elephant thought for a while. "Ho hum," they said eventually, "perhaps I do, my brother and sister. Climb up upon my back and along my trunk and rise up as far as you can." So they climbed up on Elephant's back, and up his trunk, and they were so high that the wind whipped at them and the clouds passed below their feet. They saw the Moon become level with them and they waved, and the Moon laughed at them in delight. "Where are you going, oh undecided ones? Do you not know that above you are only the stars? Well, if you are going that way, perhaps you could find me a wife from among them. Here is a cloak of feathers; use this to wrap her up so that she cannot harm you. Do this and I will give you shapes that will never die." So they climbed higher, and higher, and they found the most beautiful and brilliant of all the stars in the heavens. And they reached out to pluck this star out and take it away. "Do not touch me," said the star, "leave me where I am." "We have come here to find a wife for the Moon," they told her. "The Moon is very rich and powerful, and his country is very grand. You would be very lucky to find such a match." "I have seen the Moon from above," the star said. "And I know all his secrets. I do not wish to become the Moon's wife." "The Moon has promised us that if we bring you down with us, we will be given shapes that never die," they replied. "Then I will not be able to dissuade you," the star said, "so I must destroy you instead." But before the star could burn them up, they bundled her into the cloak of feathers and carried her away. Before taking her to the Moon, however, they climbed all the way back down to speak with their friend Elephant and told the story of all that had passed. "I must advise that you do not give her to the Moon," Elephant said, "despite the promise that was made to you. Surely you will make enemies of all the stars in the heavens if you allow this thing to happen. They will send you plague, and they will send you famine, and they will sap all the strength and wisdom from your bodies." But the Elephant could not persuade them, and they went before the Moon and held up the star, wrapped up in the cloak of feathers. "Truly she is the most beautiful of the stars," the Moon laughed. "You have done well. I will make her my wife and I will give you forms that will endure forever. But first I must tame her to my will." The Moon struck the star once, twice, and three times, until she wept. The heavens shook and the star's kin began to gather their weapons and array for battle in the sky. The hearts of the undecided ones were filled with pain and they pulled the cloak of feathers off from the star. Immediately she shone terribly bright, burning dark patches across the face of the Moon, causing him to scream awfully; then she shot up and away back to her place in the heavens, though she never shone so brightly again as she once had. And when the undecided ones looked down they saw that they had forms of their own now; they were mostly hairless like the dolphin, they had two arms and two legs like the monkey, their minds could soar like the eagle and their eyes were like a pair of shining stars. "You fools!" The Moon cried. "Now you have bodies that will age, and decay, and become useless with time. I could have made you live forever, but now you will spend much of your lives helpless and reliant on others. Leopard and Lion will kill you with ease. And that is not enough! Among your descendants there will be those born with the moon in their eyes, not the stars, and they will cause great troubles among your kind. You are cursed!" "All this is true," the star whispered to them, "but know also that when you die, that need not be your end; the strong and wise and kind among you will rise up and become stars, and I will welcome them to the heavens, and you will be able to see them through the trees whenever the night is dark and clear."