What My Clan Chief Told Me

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DrNightstone
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What My Clan Chief Told Me

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A Personal View of Bjoulsae Life
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Who are you?

I am Atakan-Who-Road-Stars, son of Bidu Fire-Spear, son of Molhixo Protector-of-the-Hoof. I come from the Yrinzae family of the Sàsnu and I am the chief of our clan, the Seven Winds.

Who are we?

We are the River Horse-Men of the Bjoulsae. We are of this land. The Sun is our Father. The River is our Mother. We are their children.

Who are our ancestors?

The First Ones, the [Centaurs], and the Suns.

What happened to our land? How did we come to our land?

After the War of the Suns in the Overworld, we were broken, no longer [Centaur]. We were lost and weak in the Middleworld till we found Mother River protecting our kin and kith. We are one again, if not by body then by spirit.

How should we behave?

Those of the Sun should be brave and strong, upon their horse, with a weapon in hand. Those of the River should tend the young and huts. Those of the Spirits should speak with the Earth and Air. This is the way. Should order break, the Suns will freeze and the Rivers shall burn.

Who rules us?

Every family is led by an elder, and they serve the clan ring, who then serve me. They provide their wisdom to me, but in the end, I say when the grazelands must shift or when war chants are sung.

What is sacred? What is profane? What is forbidden?

The Sun, the River, the Horses, the Tribe, the Body, Freedom, these things are all sacred. False images, pointless shrines, dirtiness, cities, these are profane. Kin-strife, rape, horse abuse, striving from the Path, sorcery, oath-breaking, mating with those who are [unrited], disorder, heresy to tradition, these are tabu.

Who are our gods?

Father Sun, the radiant lord of the sky hut, watches over us, slaying and slain and reborn. He is the Great Giver, providing us our spirits. He is the mightiest of all the People Above. Mother River is the Great Birther, bringing us into the world and every spirit with it. She is the blood of life and the most sacred of all the People Below. They are together with their circle-dance and yet apart.

Who are our enemies? Who are our friends, if any?

The war brought many bad spirits to our waters and huts. Keep away from the Bad Earth, the Pig-People who silence others not for survival but for joy, and spread death. Keep away from the Bad Water, the [Elves] who use evil sorcery to steal our Sun-blessed Winds, our Freedom. Keep away from the City-People, our heretical cousins who have left the Old Ways. Keep away from the Sand-Horse People, the strange men who do everything weird. Keep away from the Witch-Men, the cursed shaman who spread disease. Keep away from... [This goes on for a long while] ...The Good Waters hut many people who have helped and taught us in the past, such as the Crab-People and the [Nereid]. The South Tribes might worship a couple of False Suns but they are still our cousins.

What is best in life?

Any horse would tell you the same. Experiencing the true Sun-Kissed Winds. Freedom. The Fruit of the Above and Below. The metal-heads think they are free but no stone wall can run. We are Free. We are in Motion. Ever Moving. Just like the Sun and River. That is Peace. Also, a good cup of kumis.

What is our fate and purpose, if any?

To one day be whole again. To ride across the Four-Colour Bridge and return to the Sky-Hut.

What is a hero?

He who rides horses like the sun. She who swims like that [Nereid]. Sometimes even better, causing the sky and sea to quake.

How can I prove myself worthy?

Honour the Gods. Follow your Path. But most important of them all, Survive.

What is the sky, the river, the earth?

The Sky is his clan-hut. The Earth is her clan-hut. They joined to make the first tribe.

What is magic?

Blessings from the Gods and Spirits.

What happens after we die?

Live your life with honour and your clan and kin will care for you even after death. Your body will be purified in fire and the ashes will feed the river. You shall sail then to the underworld and your inner fire back to the overworld. When the time comes, you shall return to the underworld and from the River will you be reborn as your kin.

What are men and women?

Men ride with the Sun, to hunt, to battle, to protect. Women swim with the River, to gather, to divine, to guide.

How do we get our food?

We herd the not-Horses for skin and milk. We guide Horses for the sacred kumis. In the Great Green, some dare to face the earth-spirits and hunt and gather. We prefer to enter the Great Blue and collect her fruit. We do not break the earth like the half-men of the cities.

What do we trade?

We trade with tribes, travellers, and other-kin. Trade talk brings peace. We use "teskou", shiny riverstones, favours, and clan goods to trade. Spirits take river-glassed "maemlo" too.

What are the cities?

A family is alone. Together they are strong. They become a clan. In times of war and need, a clan is alone. Together they are strong. They become a tribe. But when tribes come together, they become a [city/kingdom]. They forget their ways. They are lazy. They no longer move and stay in one place. They no longer care for horses and cattle. They break the earth. They forget about the Sun and River. They are Horsemen no more. They are City-People. After the First City, the Sun forbade us from repeating that mistake.

What would we be without horses and without the river?

Lost and forgotten.

What is there to do here?

Since the first rite, you are given your duty. But even a horse after a long ride must graze. The young men enjoy their dhijsae here, break many clay-spears too. You can try to chase cattle at the next ésjàr games if you seek to display your speed and wit. Tomorrow there will be a game of horse-ball with the Red Fish clan but if that is not your grass, seek the well-crafted boat for the byngizemni races.

How is [Mundus], overall?

A good Bjoul should care for the horses in their own hut. It matters not what the other lost and strange people do with their spirits and not-Horses. We have the Sun and River. We live in her clan-hut. We are blessed.
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