Worldbuilding Wednesday: The Wíslic and the Elders

Last week I had a look at the Houses of the Keepers of Airthai. This week I’ll tackle part of the hierarchy of the Keepers: the Wíslic and the Elders. The Keepers started on the eastern coast of the Continent, in the lands of the Saerímavolk; and it is with them that today’s post gets under way.

The Wíslic and Elders of the Saerímavolk

Because most of the men of the Saerímavolk towns would leave the land each day for the sea, one of the women of the town would be chosen to act as the leader of the town. She was well-skilled in various kinds of knowledge; including the laws of her people and the ways of healing. Called the Wíslic, she would see to it that the town is run well, disputes are settled and trading is fair.

Various others – usually older than forty – would be chosen to help her in her work and provide schooling for the children of the town. These people were called the Elders and consisted of both men and women. Because the men were ‘married to the sea’ they were mostly called upon in these matters, while the women handled the land disputes and matters. Some even referred to them as ‘Sea Elders’ and ‘Land Elders’.

The most gifted of the girls were tutored further and then, of these young women, seven were chosen. Later one of the seven would be chosen as Wíslic by the people of the town. Although the daughter of a Wíslic may also become a Wíslic, this was not a strict tradition and had to be earned.

The Wíslic and the Elders of the Keepers

The hierarchy of the Keepers worked in much the same way as that of the Saerímavolk, as the Keepers were modeled on this hierarchy when it was started.  The Wíslic of a House, however, could also be a man. The Wíslic was chosen from among the Healers and the Scholars most of the time.

The Elders of the Keepers were chosen because of their level of knowledge or skill. Although most were older in years, some had been given the rank at a young age. One of the most notable Elders was the scholar and scribe Nëane, a Ciph from Ellanda.  He was sixteen years old when he joined the Keepers and only twenty-one years old when made an Elder.

Ameragh was also very young and was made Wíslic of the House of Eamidtheo before her thirtieth birthday; making her the youngest Wíslic of a House of Keepers. 

"Ameragh was the youngest Wislic of a House of Keepers"

A short note about spring-cleaning

How do you like my new ‘blog look’? With Spring in the air (well, in the southern hemisphere), I decided that it was time for a new look. Then I found this lovely background at The Graphics Fairy and I thought it’s a good time to get into the new season even though Spring Day is only next week. 

A while ago I decided to post a blog post every day of the work week. Although fun to do, it has proved very difficult to keep up and have me blogging more than working on my WIPs, and my studies (very important at the moment and costing quite a bit every year). Also, I believe that I have almost lost focus of what I had set out to do – write stories. Therefore, I have decided to focus on three posts every week. These will focus primarily on fantasy and speculative fiction, worldbuilding and inspiration. Worldbuilding Wednesdays will remain, as will Fiction Mondays, including not only my own work, but also other snippets of writing advice, mythology or writers I find interesting. Ageless Words on Friday will also remain and be branched out to form Inspirational Friday.

Thanks for the patience while I find my feet in this digital world! 

Here be dragons...

Here is another, quite simple map of the Southern Lands of Airthai, showing the lands of the Seafolk and their neighbours (drawn by yours truly). The Dragon Guardians are part of the Seafolk and live at the aptly named Dragon Cliffs. This is where "A Dragon's Freedom" starts...

Map of the west of the Southern Lands 

Ageless Words Friday: “Gebed” by Koos du Plessis

Although this week’s “Ageless Words” are only a few decades old; I do believe these lyrics to be “ageless”. It is written in Afrikaans by one of my favourite songwriters; Koos du Plessis. Born on 10 May 1945 as Jacobus Johannes du Plessis, Koos started writing songs during his tertiary studies. Some of his best known and loved songs are “Kinders van die wind” (“Children of the wind”) and “Sprokie vir ’n stadskind” (translated as “The neon rainbow” by Koos himself). He also wrote one of my favourite Christmas songs, “Somerkersfees” (“Summer Christmas”)  This week, however, I bring you “Gebed” (“Prayer”) – one of my favourite songs. The English translation[1] can be found below the Afrikaans lyrics, as well as a recording of the song.

Koos du Plessis (1945-1984)

Gebed

Laat my nooit die grond verlaat nie.
Laat my in U skadu bly.
Gee dat elke aardse vreugde en vrees,
eindelik nietig word vir my.
Elke afdraai paadjie ken ek.
Elke keer het ek verdwaal.
Elke keer het u my iewers kom haal.
Maak dit Heer, die laaste maal.
Elke dag is ’n gedagte.
Elke kamer net gehuur.
Elke aardse droom van rykdom en roem,
net ’n skadu teen die muur.
Wat ek is, is net genade.
Wat ek het, is net geleen.
Eindelik smag ek na U waters van rus.
Lei my, Heer, vanaand daarheen.

Prayer

Let me never leave the ground.

Let me stay in Your shadow.

Grant that every earthly joy and fear

at last become insignificant to me.

All the branching paths I know.

Every time I lost my way.

Every time You came to collect me somewhere.

Make it, Lord, the last time.

Every day is a thought.

Every room only let.

Every earthly dream of wealth and fame

but a shadow on the wall.

What I am is only mercy.

What I have is only borrowed.

At last I yearn for Your waters of rest.

Lead me, Lord, there tonight.

[1] This translation was done by me. 

Reads and Links: Book Arts (Part 1)

Do you think every traditional – i.e. ‘dead tree’ book – is just a plain old block of paper with a cover?  Think again! The book arts are alive and well! And they have their own e-journal (which is free to download and read), making the world of bookbinding and book arts accessible to everyone with the right website address…

I give you The Bonefolder.

During the next couple of weeks I hope to showcase some of the best the book arts have to offer – small presses, handmade books and the people behind them. They show me just how out of the box a book can be and gives me a chance to re-think the creative spark behind a few random ideas… You don’t need a lot of words to tell a whole story.

Cover of The Bonefolder, Volume 2, Number 1

Some other links and reads:

One of the very good things about digitizing old or out-of-print books is that you can read it without hunting across the world for a copy too expensive to buy or simply find out if it’s to your liking before you buy the book. For instance, here you can read GK Chesterton’s works. 

Worldbuilding Wednesday - The Keepers: Their Beginning and Their Houses

The start of the Keepers was during the time of the Great Sundering, when there was a consensus that the knowledge of the peoples of Airthai must be kept in a safe place during the wars, attacks, earthquakes and floods across the lands of Airthai. At that time the greater libraries on the eastern coast of the newly formed Continent gathered together all the copies of books and annals and even artworks that they could. The people who gathered these books were called the Gatherers of the Keepers of Knowledge. Books and scholars even came from the Eastern Isles, brought on the trading ships for safe keeping.

When the Saerímavolk was attacked by the Flotaferan - which saw part of the Saerímavolk trek inland and form the Eargestreon - it was decided that a type of army should be formed from the surrounding peoples; who could be called upon immediately to keep their people safe. With them there would be scholars well-versed in the politics and the history of the peoples involved who could act as diplomats.

A fortress was built just north of the Saerímavolk lands and this was the first House of the Keepers. These Keepers later became known as the Eastern Keepers once other Houses were built.

The second House that was built was that of Holt Haliern, in the Midlands. The third and fourth houses, which were built nearly simultaneously, were the Houses of Théotriewe and Eamidtheo. These three Houses are all in the Midlands. Although the names of Holt Haliern and Théotriewe have stayed the same, that of Eamidtheo changed to Ameragh after the Lady Wíslic Ameragh's death. Because of this, and his great sorrow, Síldu did not return to this most southern House of the Keepers for many years, but stayed at Holt Haliern and Théotriewe.

In the Southern Lands, first the towers of the Khallahna and later the Khalné's Tower, along with the libraries of the countries of the Southern Lands, served as the repositories of the books and knowledge. Only after the Dragon Keepers had left the southern shores was a true House of Keepers, known as the Southern Keepers, started in the Southern Lands.

In the Western Lands, the first House of Keepers built was the House of the Rún; situated on the west of the Ealdbergs. A second was built on the western coast of the Continent. In the Northern Lands only one House was built; known as the House of the White Dragon.

The Sign of the Keepers of Holt Haliern

Next week: The Keepers: The Wíslic and the Elders (And I’m hoping to have the pre-Sundering map finished by then as well.)

What would have been, what will be, and mythology links

Well, I wanted to do a post about marginalia, but it soon grew from one post to a bunch of posts. Which leaves me with rather starting the posts next week; when they have been spat upon, polished and furnished with links and pictures. But, in keeping with Rambling Tuesdays, I can say that I’ve just about finished a couple of flash pieces to be sent out and have some outlines and notes jotted in note books and on my phone. But I am also spending a lot of time on the ever-present studies as I’m rambling on towards the end of a chapter, which I am trying to finish this week.

Odin and Sleipnir

Seeing as I’m wading knee-deep in Norse myths, here’s a couple of links for online perusal of many fascinating mythologies:

•          Old Norse News
•          Germanic Mythology
•         Mythologies of the World
•          Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts
•        Ancient World Cultures

Enjoy!