S'kra Landing Upon the Eastmost Island (book)

The S'kra Landing Upon the Eastmost Island

as retold by Leshh Tanu'i and excerpted from
Te Merikanto Rautavaara

This is the tale as handed down to us, over generations, of our landing, told before time was even kept.

Far beyond the sea, beyond the domains of all we know, far as the place of the nest of the sun, the gods were displeased with our ancestors, and the leader of us all was forced to a harsh decision. A sacrifice was demanded, and those that studied the ways of the gods told him there was no choice and no avoiding the end.

So they made a little boat, carved from a single precious log (for trees were scarce and valuable in that place) and laid the Great One's (Shh'oi'ur) son on a bed of scaled silks. A fire was lit on the western shores, a great bonfire made of all manner of precious trees. And as the flames drew themselves up to the stars, the little boat was set adrift on the sea. The waves accepted the sacrificed babe, and without pause bore him beyond the light of the fire and in to the dark unknown.

There he drifted til the gods should take the babe to the starry road, but even over the roar of the sea, the harsh squalling of the unknowing infant was carried through the void. And the World Dragon himself stirred to hear his small kin in such distress, and beat its wings weakly in the revelry of Periel's singing.

Peri'el stirred to spread sleep sands again, but the cries of this small babe were so pitiful, her songs faltered as she wept salty tears at his fate.

Perhaps the winds were swifter than believed, perhaps the babe stronger than mortals, perhaps his launching was a gift to us all, ordered by those with the foresight. The babe survived to be cast ashore on a rocky isle, helpless still, but beyond the grasp of the sea.

With Peri'el's eye watching him, and Eluned's wise creatures providing their care, he survived and grew to a youngling. He was swift and strong, and after the fashion of his ancestors, made a dwelling in the cracks and cliffs of the isle. He fed himself on plants and seabird eggs, and made bold shouts signifying his existence to the stars and the sea. And of an age, Peri'el herself stepped forth to touch him, and left behind a nest for The One (Ur) to protect.

And in time, the nest hatched. And the Children of The One (Lohogi'hhs'ur) shaped the island to their needs, and sought the treasures of Hav'roth, the god they came to believe responsible for their Coming.

Thus the Children claimed The Islands for their own, and still defend it against any who would wrest it from them. Many secrets are contained there, where the cities are constructed as a great winding serpent, as each Child of the Nest (lohogi'tel'tegreis) built his own chambers, generation after generation.

We look east with reverence and fear, as the source of our coming, and the source of those that would have had us never be.