Worldbuilding Wednesday - Scripts and Legends

After years of wondering how to make my own fonts (but never really getting around to it) I at last put in some time and found "MyScriptFont" - and it worked! Today I am as giddy as can be and am proud to give the first glimpse of how a text would look written in the Midland Alphabet (also the one which most of the Keepers use). It still needs a bit of work, but below is the Legend of the Tellerassar's Cry in the script. (Below the picture is the legend. It can also be read over here, with some of the other legends over here and here.)

Epic nerdy goodness!

Why the Tellerassar’s Cry is so Mournful

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.  

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.

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.

Holt Haliern – Library and Sanctuary of Airtha

Holt Haliern was built before the Great Sundering, in the youth of the world even before the dragons had first appeared. In the centre of the great continent was a large mound of stone and it was this that the Airus took and shaped into a great hall with many rooms and floors. Large caverns and passages were opened to where a great river flowed underground. The stonework was so intricate that nothing of the like has been made since by any living in Airtha. This sanctuary – Haliern – stood as a beacon of light on the plains of the Midlands. At this time the woodland around it was sparse and the Great Wood had not come into being to hide it from the world.

All kinds of valuables and artifacts were brought to Haliern from all over the continent, but the greatest treasures were the books. The earliest of the manuscripts told the stories of the creation of Airtha and how the world came to look as it is. Others were academic treatises, written by the old masters and delivered, bound in great jeweled covers, by messengers. 

Soon the library at Haliern became the greatest in all of Airtha and the people who the Airus had chosen to take care of the great halls saw that this would be the greatest goal of this sanctuary – that it would not only be a place of learning, but also a place of memory. They saw that dark clouds had gathered on the horizon and knew that the Light would not always shine so resiliently in the world. They also knew that there would have to be a place where they would be able to keep the knowledge and memory of the Light alive.

Many of the messengers who carried the books over the whole of the continent were asked to give their services to Haliern alone. These Knowledge Seekers searched the length and breadth of Airtha for books and knowledge and had strong ties to the Seekers of the south; those who had turned against the Lewjan and left the Shadow behind to search of truth. Of one of these Knowledge Seekers, a great lay is still told of in the Midlands and Western Lands. Filled with sorrow, but also hope, it became one of the great legends still known in the later days when much sadness and shadow had covered the lands and hope was all but lost.

Yet Holt Haliern remained throughout the long ages of the world. The books in the libraries were written, copied, and kept safe from those who wished to destroy it. It served again as a sanctuary during the Time of Tears when the Second Sundering ripped the Continent apart. But, by the time of the Third Sundering of the lands of Airtha, the glory of Holt Haliern had faded. It still stood within the great forest of Brenoth, but was all but forgotten by the people of Airtha. Most who remembered the name Holt Haliern believed it to be nothing more than an old legend. The scholars of Holt Haliern rarely ventured from the confines of their halls and the Knowledge Seekers travelled in secrecy; seen as thieves and dark magicians by most who encountered them. This was the darkest time for Holt Haliern and would last for many generations after the Third Sundering until the shadow from all of Airtha started to lift. 

(Stock photos from Stock .xchng)

Worldbuilding Wednesday: Alaila’s Daughters, part 2

The first part of Alaila’s Daughters can be read here. The first of the Tellerassar legends can be found here, and more about the Tellerassar can be found here.

Or, head over to Kammastories, where the story is postedtoday in full.

Alaila’s Daughters are Scattered

Ikaira did not leave the riverbank even when the sun rose towards its zenith and all his tears were spent. Only when the sun lit the waters of the gorge from above did he see movement in the water. It was Alaila. She wore a dress the colour of the shadows of the deepest pools and her eyes brimmed with tears. Ikaira rushed to the water and embraced her.

“Where is Lamira?” he asked, for he did not see his daughter who usually followed her mother everywhere.

“She is safe in our halls,” Alaila said and motioned towards the wall of rock from where the waters of the river flowed. “Hidden there we can all be safe. Dalath and her kin do not know of this place. We have left them to roam about the river to the south. They have twisted our Gift.” Tears flowed from her eyes. “My gift. I was a fool to think that such a gift could not be twisted to serve the Lewjan.”

They walked hand in hand along the river – Alaila lightly stepping in the shallow water; as far as she could venture out while the moon wasn’t full, and Ikaira walking along the bank – while Alaila told him all that had happened while he had been away.

“War still rages between the people of the Midlands,” she then added. “Markus leads raids to the river towns and villages nearly every week. They have even ventured to the northern bank where they have gotten a foothold. I fear for the safety of my people. With the Vídolf’s involvement we will only be seen as another enemy even though we serve the Light. I do not see a way out for us. We cannot hide in our halls forever even if they are safe. Some have left the river at night to look for other pools and streams. We do not know if they are still alive.”

Photo: Sias van Schalkwyk

Ikaira thought for a long time before speaking. “There is one way. The lands gifted to the Tellerassar are safe. No one can attack our houses on the cliffs.” He took a deep breath, remembering all that had happened to him while in the service of Markus. “I have men to spare – warriors and soldiers who can keep you safe. We can fly over the river and keep an eye out for any of the Vídolf.” Alaila wanted to protest, but he would not let her. “We can fly out of the range of Markus or anyone else’s arrows. We are as safe high in the air as you are in your stone halls.”

And so it was that the Tellerassar took to flying above the water, calling to each other over distances, as they watched the actions of the Vídolf closely. It was these Tellerassar about whom the first legend was told and each eagle people saw were thought to be Ikaira still searching for his lost love. And it was these Tellerassar – who were skilled fighters and had knowledge of both the northern and the southern parts of the Midlands – that became Keepers, aligning themselves with both Théotriewe and Holt Haliern. Tiriane, who played a notable part in the story “A Dragon’s Freedom”, was one of these Tellerassar. 

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