Worldbuilding Airtha: The Rún

(This post is sort-of from the archives – I’ve refined some of the information.)

While the Shadow have the female servants called Vídolf (Women of the Dark Arts), the Light has those called the Rún (or the Hidden Ones). The Rún, like the Vídolf, consisted of far more women than men. So much so, in fact, that a male Rún was unheard of except in the southwest of the Western Lands and Western Isles. Although gifted with a special talent for healing, they were human and mortal, but with a much longer lifespan – averaging at one hundred and twenty years. This made their life spans shorter than the average Ciph life span by only about thirty years.

The Name: Why the Hidden Ones?

This name was given to these women for two reasons. The first is that they usually hid in plain sight, living as just another member of the community. Only when living as one of the Keepers or as servant of one of the rich families could they wear the garments associated with the Rún with more freedom. This was because they could then be kept safe from the Servants of the Lewjan who wished always to do them harm because they held such power. Many of the Vídolf also tried to learn the secrets of their Talent, not believing that you could only be born with them. Those living in villages or towns serving the Light would often simply be called “healers” or “the needlewomen”, because their talents were with needle and thread. By using certain signs, depictions of living things (like plants) and words, they could make cloths that could heal wounds and illnesses that most healers can’t. 

These signs, words and other depictions made into tapestries, embroideries and even sometimes lace and cords, were only known by the Rún (and is therefore hidden). The knowledge of these signs is taught orally from one Rún to the next. This means that Rún, once they are known as such, takes up apprenticeship with an older and accomplished Rún either from their own or another village or go to one of the Keepers’ Houses to learn. Holt Haliern in the Midlands and the House of Rún in the Western Lands have the Rún with the most talent and are therefore sought after places to go to and learn the language of the Rún.

The best of the Rún can fashion cloaks that make the wearer invisible to the eyes of the Lewjan servants or those who want to harm them. More than one Rún would often work on a cloth meant to heal a specific illness or wound; as it is extremely draining work. 

Unfortunately the cloths’ abilities can also be drained and can not be used indefinitely. The healing houses usually have cloths to help lessen pain, help knit bones or serve as an antidote to some poisons. These can be used for cases where the medicine available is not working or simply to ease extreme pain.  

Although the language of the Rún are taught, the Talent of the Hidden Ones are given to them at birth, unlike the powers of the Vídolf or Werlea. This Talent is simply strengthened and used to its greatest potential by using the language. While they lived mostly in peace with the other peoples of Airtha, there were times during the ages when they were seen as evil and their talents given to them by the Lewjan. During these times they went into hiding; with a few remaining in the villages and towns where they had lived and worked. Others kept travelling from place to place without settling for long; lest they be found and killed or turned over to Lewjan or Werlea.

I came across this painting by Mary Cassat, called The Young Bride in the beautiful book In Praise of the Needlewoman by Gail C. Sirna. 

Image: Shutterstock 

Airthai Legends: Alaila’s Daughters

Last week I wrote of one of the legends of the Midlands of Airthai – Whythe Tellerassar’s cry is so sorrowful. This week I’m continuing the story with a second legend – that of Alaila’s Daughters.

To read the first part, click here.

Alaila’s Daughters

Just as some believe that Alaila died on the fateful day Ikaira and his followers became the Tellerassar, so many believe that she was spared; even though she would never be able to return to her people. It is told among the people of the Midlands that, even as Alaila fell pierced by an arrow of King Markus’s soldiers, she did not change back into a mortal woman, but became the first of the water women. Able to breathe under water as easily as in the open air, she was able to escape from the soldiers into the deep waters of the river.

Frightened and hurt, Alaila hid in the dark waters of the gorge for many days. The soldiers left the gorge and retreated back to their lands south of the Great River. But Alaila still hid, until she heard a single cry sounding above the water. In the mournful song she recognised her name and went towards it with all haste. An eagle swooped down, changing into the form of Ikaira. He walked along the bank of the river, ever calling her name with the hope that she had not perished.

But even when she went to him, she could not leave the water entirely. So they would still be apart except when the moon was full, for, on that night, Alaila was able to leave the river and walk again on the green banks of the river. Ikaira returned to her as often as he could and the road towards the river was safe for travel. In time Alaila bore a child – a daughter who could live in water like her mother and was also bound to the river.

Rumours of the water women filtered to the people living close to the river and soon other tales were told of other women becoming water women themselves when pity was taken on them by Alaila and her daughter. Soon the water women were all called “Alaila’s Daughters”. But not all lived in the deep waters of the gorge and some took to living in the deep waters where the Great River flowed slowly. And it was through one of these women that evil came to the water women. 

Dalath was one of the Vídolf, servants of the Lewjan who held dark magical powers. She sought out one of the pools where a water woman had been spotted and searched for her on the night of the full moon. She dressed herself in mourning clothes and wore a mourning veil to hide her face as the Ciph did. In this manner she walked along the bank of the river and wailed about the awful lot which had befallen her. One of the water women went to her and, after hearing her story, gave to her the gift of being able to breathe under water. As soon as Dalath had entered the water, however, she murdered the one who had taken pity on her. One by one she made five of her sister Vídolf water women, but, instead of being benevolent towards others like the other water women, they lured men and children to their deaths in the water.

Rumours of these happenings reached the Keepers of Théotriewe and, from there, Ikaira who hastened to Alaila. For a whole day and a whole night he waited on the bank of the river, calling her name. But she did not answer and she did not come to him. At last, when the day was dawning once more, he gave up hope of finding her and wept where he sat.

Next week: Alaila’s Daughters, part 2

One of the Tellerassar plays an important role in the short story “ADragon’s Freedom”, which can be downloaded and read here.

Legends of Airthai – The Tellerassar’s Cry

Welcome to the first Worldbuilding Wednesday of 2013. This legend from the world of Airthai is about the race of shape-shifters called the Tellerassar. To read more about the Tellerassar, the kingdom of Guldargan, and king Markus, follow the links at the bottom of the post.

Why the Tellerassar’s Cry is so Mournful

Photo by Sias van Schalkwyk

It all happened on the day on which Ikaira, fleeing the Kingdom of Guldargan with his people, was trapped in a gorge near the Great River, which flows across the breadth of the Midlands of Airthai. A clear river flowed from crevices at the far end of the gorge, the water cutting deep into the light coloured rock as it rushed towards the Great River. Ikaira realized that there was no way for his followers to escape and that they would all surely perish at the hand of King Markus’ soldiers who were by this time driven mad with bloodlust for their hunted quarry. He called out to the Creator, begging him to save his people from Markus’ wrath.

They watched with horror as the soldiers approached, and some of Ikaira’s followers tried to climb up the steep sides of the gorge, but all slid on smooth boulders or loose rocks and fell to the bottom with horrible cries. Again Ikaira prayed and begged, joined by his people, for they saw their deaths approach.

Even as they pushed the women and children to the back of the group a mist began to form around them. The strange mist rose from the deep waters, becoming thicker and thicker as it rose until the group was hidden from sight. Each of Ikaira’s followers felt a strangeness overcome them as their bodies changed and moulded to the forms of eagles.  

"Morning Mist" by Cbcs

Ikaira and his followers beat their wings and soared into the sky. But the archers among the soldiers of Markus nocked their barbed arrows and shot a volley towards the mist and, when the eagles rose above the mist, another volley was ordered.

Only six of Ikaira’s followers were hit, but among them was Alaila – the young woman Ikaira dearly loved and to whom he was engaged. With a shriek she fell from the sky, turning back into her human form. Ikaira saw her blue-clothed form disappear into the fog above the river.

Driven back from the river by the soldier’s arrows, Ikaira’s followers headed north at the command of his call – the language that they all could now understand. But Ikaira stayed behind, landing on a tree on the edge of the cliff, his heart broken in countless pieces and unable to understand why he had been saved and Alaila had not. When his breast could contain the grief no longer, he threw his head back and shouted her name to the heavens even as his voice was wrecked with sobs. This mournful call became the cry of all Tellerassar.

"Water and Rocks" by Stephen O'Neill

And to this day the Tellerassar’s cry as it flies above rivers and lakes haunts all those who hear it. It is even said by some that Ikaira still lives on in a ghostly form, always returning to the gorge and the river where Alaila perished, still seeker his love. Only when he at last finds her would his soul finally be at rest.

A real fish eagle Tellerassar...

In the next Worldbuilding Wednesday: The Daughters of Alaila

More Worldbuilding:

• The Tellerassar
• Guldargan and the Shape-shifters