Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (20 page)

Gumus sat down to rest and think about his next move. He could eventually find a tributary that would lead up to the surface. Dil Hill might be the safest place to get a feel for what was going on with the Kertenkele and how Kirmizi and Mavi had been received. The problem was he had no idea when the Kertenkele would gather at Dil. He couldn't recall any upcoming ceremonies. That would still leave him outside Rasima and he would have to return here to start over. Or he could make his way north into Shimel sahaerat and join in one of the mining camps returning to Rasima and with luck meet up with Buclu who might be sympathetic. The biggest hurdle in this plan would be Padda. The last option was to follow the main tributary into Rasima but Gumus liked this option the least. If the grates were closed and he had no reason to think otherwise he would drown or be dumped out into the Bred Hav before he could find a way to enter Rasima.

The shadows grew long as mist from the river drenched his skin. Gumus drew his great axe and stashed it between two rocks. He fingered the axe handle reluctantly leaving it behind. He should have felt an over-powering hatred for Onyx after seeing his name in the records left behind by the Asistan Ti. Gumus was determined Onyx and the Elyun would finally pay for the downfall of the Kertenkele. Above him, ages ago, he had laid out under the stairs with Mina. Gumus had feared turning into a monster then. Now he was comfortable in his role by Mina's side for however long she needed him. He even dared to hope that his brothers could build a life with the Mikachiari and Faglar.

His mind made up, Gumus set off to enter Shimel sahaerat and intercept a mining group.

***

U
nknown to all the brothers in his care, Onyx Ay never walked alone. The ghosts of his mate and his daughter followed him day and night. He had drug their bodies across the Buyuk Col  until there was nothing left. Their bones lay scattered across the sand. Sometimes, especially during the ceremonies on Dil Hill, the ghosts of all the mates and daughters would hover close. Onyx knew why they haunted him and accepted his fate. He still had many years yet to live with what he had done.

Kirmizi and Mavi had returned to Dohla. At first Onyx was over-joyed. Then they began to speak of a way to control the madness brought on by the Cinsel Iliski. They mentioned Gumus and how he had recovered. Only Onyx's most trusted followers helped him drug and lock Kirmizi and Mavi in the cages on Dil Hill. He told the rest they had moved on. Gumus had to stay dead. There was no cure for the Cinsel Iliski, even with Kirmizi's procedure the Kertenkele would become unstable and dangerous. Onyx had controlled many more through his teachings. Kirmizi and Mavi had also lost their mates and daughters. He had hoped given time they would see the error of their ways. 

Things had not returned to normal. The news reached Dohla of the Mikachiari winning against the Asistan Ti and driving them out of their homeland. The Faglar were free once again. Not long after a full-blown riot erupted in the Ashiha Esarotarahis house. A small group of Mikachiari armed themselves and escaped to join the rest of their sisters. Onyx tried to approach Tado and offer some way to work together in the future. Tado had refused to even hear him out.

The Sudawa had payed him a visit and let it be known they would not accept him losing control over the Kertenkele as Tado had lost control over the Mikachiari under her care. Onyx was left with no choice, he had to get rid of Kirmizi and Mavi before anyone knew they were still alive or heard their heresy.

Onyx's mind was occupied with all of this as he plodded through the Kertenkele area of Rasima. The full-blown cries of Kertenkele from the mines brought him up short. A tremor of horror passed through him.
It can't be
.

Ahead, Gumus marched out of the mines, his brothers fanning out behind him. Their chests were glowing, their eyes bright swirls of yellow, orange, and red flame. Gumus was spreading the Cinsel Iliski to the Kertenkele who had not mated. What Onyx had been trying to prevent all these years had come to pass.

The madness of the Ofkelenmek had begun.

N
ation of Dohla, capital Rasima on the Bred Hav:

Shimel sahaerat

Mining operations on the edge of the great desert, El Kebida.

Minor strongholds of Padda.

Zeroob sahaerat

Dil Hill

Northwest Slat Galen

West Waha

Slat Galen:

Southeast Zeroob sahaerat

Northwest Sanddyner

Northeast Trask Galen

Sanddyner, city Free Port Sanddyner on the Bred Hav:

Northeast Hojder Galen

Southeast Slat Galen

South Portal to Refuge

Hojder Galen

North Rike

South Sanddyner

Nation Rike, capital Fond on the Bred Hav:

South Hojder Galen

Numerous caves that lead to Grampas strongholds and other areas of Varlid.

Trask Galen

Southeast Hojder

Northeast Enade

Enade, Jointly held capital of Varlid on the Bred Hav

East Falt Galen

Falt Galen

West Enade

East Aririnkatata

Aririnkatata

Faglar stronghold

Port Nomoshichi (Port Plaj) on the Bred Hav

East Nokahikatekiariku (Patri Peyi)

Nokashikatekiariku (Patri Peyi), capital Mikanokichikata (Vil Peyi) on the Bred Hav

West Aririnkatata

East El Kebida

T
HE ELYUN

During the Varlid War the Elyun invaded and captured the area of Dohla bordered by the Bred Hav and El Kebida. Their capital is Rasima. Thier language is Loha. Their nation has taken in two different races: Kertenkele and Mikachiari. The Kertenkele immigrated to Dohla after the Bocek invasion of Buyuk Col. They mine the minerals, precious metals and stones for the Elyun. The Mikachiari immigrated after their homeland was invaded by the Asistan Ti during the Varlid War. Sudawas are the military of Dohla.

The nation Dohla consists of three areas - Shimel Sahaerat, Zeroob Sahaerat, Waha. A river with underground tributaries runs through Dohla - The Great Nahara. They accept the Varlid Goddess Gudina but also their God Gala.

Elyun in Rasima

Emperor -  Rehis Abja

Sayid Esarotarahis

Ashiha Esarotarahis

Lurazat Esarotarahis

Phrases in Loha:

Curse you - Loana

Bless you - Miralikalafike

Beseha Gala - Enjoy your meal

THE KERTENKELE

Kertenkele lived in vast underground caverns and tunnels in the great desert, El Kebida, called Buyuk Col. An insect-like species, Bocek, infested the tunnels and laid their eggs in the wombs of the female Kertenkele, eventually wiping out the female race. The Ketenkele made the 'Sabah Yuruyusu' 'March of Morning' to Rasima and laid their lives before the Elyun to be used as they saw fit. Kertenkele live hundreds of years but they will eventually die out since. Their dead language is Dil since they no longer speak it except for ceremonial purposes. The Kertenkele like the Mikachiari live hundreds of years.

Kertenkele in Dohla

Onyx Ay - leader of Kertenkele in Dohla

Gumus Ay

Buclu Okuz

Kertenkele in Dong Tochi

Mavi Ay

Kirmizi Gunes

General Tomutan Okuz

Golo was the first Kertenkele to suffer the Cinsel Iliski which led to the rampage in Rasima called Ofkelenmek.

The young Kertenkele were trained by Onyx Ay to become monks and curb all desire. Since they are massive and as big as Bocek and Padda there are no others that can mate with them. Rarely this training does not take and when a Kertenkele reaches puberty they enter the Cinsel Iliski. Before the Sabah Yuruyusu a female Kertenkele would chose a mate during Cinsel Iliski. After the Sabah Yuruyusu one male in Rasima, Golo, went mad. His brutal rampage killed many citizens in Rasima. This became known as the Ofkelenmek. In order for the Kertenkele to stay the Elyun ordered that any Kertenkele male who entered Cinsel Iliski be killed immediately to prevent further Ofkelenmek.

This is the official history as set by Onxy Ay for the Kertenkele inside Dohla. Outside Dohla Kirmizi Gunes has designed a way to offset the Cinsel Iliski through a procedure. Traditionally if the Kertenkele entered Ofkelenmek they were considered warriors needed in a time of great need. The ceremony for control and to channel this aggression was presided over by females inside the sacred site, Kutsal Magara. This ritual after the Sabah Yuruyusu was lost.

––––––––

P
hrases in Dil:

Curse you - Lanet

Curse you there and back - Lanet tanri

Bless you - Sok yasa

THE MIKACHIARI

Mikachiari lived in the lush, tropical paradise of Nokashikatekiariku in the capital Mikanokichikata. The Tiny Wizards, Chikitofu Meikizikashiteari (Asistan Ti) invaded during the Varlid War. Supreme magic users they killed the males and enslaved the females.

After the fall of Nokashikatekiariku, the High priestess, Rikijiri Noshikikuarichiari ordered all females mutilated or killed so their race could not be used by the Asistan Ti. The priestesses have forbidden reproduction of any kind and mutilate females when they reach puberty in the ritual, Nodoshiku.

Surviving Mikachiari were taken in by the Elyun in Dohla but are scattered throughout Varlid. Few if any babies have been born of mixed heritage. If they are caught by Mikachiari they are killed. Their race lives hundreds of years.

Their language is still spoken, Takatojidokajiku. This language consists of two letter syllables that transmit the shared history of all the Mikachiari. New pieces are added to words when new collective history has been accepted and needs to be passed on. Special scholars called, Arimirimotakashiari, record the language and are in charge of updating the language. Since the scattering of Mikachiari across Varlid some of this collective history has been lost. The Mikachiari still use their own language and only learn enough of the language wherever they are to preform their duties. 

Their Goddess is Jimotekuari. They do not recognize any others.

The ritual mutilation ceremony at puberty is Nodoshiku. After Mina is taken by Blan Chapo Yon Sel, mite is added to the word, Nodoshikumite, the end of the ritual.

Mikachiari in Dohla

Mina - after she is joins Teke her name is changed to Mina Rinkishikamitaku

Kazi - best friend to Mina

Tado - priestess for Dohla

Mikachiari in Saddyner

Cita - betrayed Mina in Sanddyner

Mikachiari in Dong Tochi and Seo Jog Mo Seo Li

Teke heads the faction of Mikachiari from Dong Tochi who are trying to destroy the Asistan Ti by planting a virus that will kill or weaken them enough to take back their homeland.

Luru

Noki

Mikachiari in Refuge

The High priestess, Rikijiri Noshikikuarichiari. After leaving Refuge she changes her name to Riki.

The 5 Hopes, males, born from Mina -  Riari, Rito, Riku, Rimei, and Rika

Phrases in Takatojidokajiku:

Curse you - Teka

Curse you there and back - Teka Torin

Bless you - Zutakuari

THE ASISTAN TI

Asistan Ti are magic users. They have diminutive forms because of their reliance on magic for all their needs and purposes. Their experimentation with magic caused them to destroy their homeland of Peyi across the Bred Hav. During the Varlid War they joined with the Elyun to invade Varlid. They renamed the nation Patri Peyi and the main city Vil Peyi. Port Plaj is the renamed Mikachiari port in Aririnkatata. They speak the language Lang.

There are three types of Asistan Ti:

Nwa Chapo (black hat - attack magic) They staged the Black hat Rebellion against Prezidan Jules when they learned of the extent of the experiments on the Mikachiari.

Blan Chapo (white hat - defensive/curative magic) Fiercely loyal to Prezidan Jules and his objectives.

Gri Chapo (grey hat - weak defensive/weak attack magic) They were created by Prezidan Jules to replace the Nwa Chapo after the Black hat Rebellion.

They worship the Goddess of Magic, Deyes nan Magic and have Priests, Pret nan Magic that establish the rules for their society.

Prezidan Jules is the ruler over the Asistan Ti. There can only be one ruler and if anything should happen to him the next strongest Magic user (black or white) takes over.

Asistan Ti names reflect their magic types. There are only three supreme masters of magic at any one time. When one falls another rises in rank and strength to take its place. Once they attain their position their name changes to one of the following:

Nwa Chapo Yon Sel

Blan Chapo Yon Sel

Gri Chapo Yon Sel

Strength of magic user:

Fo - strong

Feb - weak

Mulayen - average

Black Magic:

Dife - fire magic

Glas - ice magic

Dlo - water magic

Le - air magic

Elcleraj - lightening

White Magic:

Gerizon - restores health

Pwoteje - protect magic

En Dife - protects against fire

En Glas - protects against ice

En Dlo - protects against water

En Le - protects against air

En Elcleraj - protects against lightening

Only a Blan Chapo Yon Sel can raise someone from the dead, called Ogmante.

Phrases in Lang:

Curse you - Modi

Bless you - Beni ou

Goodbye - Orevwa

Asistan Ti magic is used to power different objects in Varlid. The Asistan Ti magic is written in their bodies. When Teke finds out how this works she leads a group to create a virus to 'undo' their bodies.

THE MANSKLIGA

Original rulers of Varlid. During the Varlid War the Asistan Ti and Elyun invaded taking large territories. They retained Rike with Fond as their capital. Leadership through military forces called Vakt is their legacy. They accepted a truce with the Asistan Ti and Elyun and jointly built the central city in the neutral area called Enade. Their language is Sprak. It is the most widely used language in Varlid. They worship the Goddess Gudina, and celebrate Gudina Dag. They believe in a devil named, Jakel. There are two schools, religious (Prast) and scholar (Forskare).