The Lost Tribe of Meropis
By: Acrolo Posted on: June 30, 2014
"Like the great gaping maw of a leviathan the earth rumbled and opened, the mighty Vashnar peaks falling like felled trees to each side of the terrible chasm. As though Aeon had cast a spell over my visions, I watched as a small village was slowly darkened beneath the shadow of a toppling mountain; all within perished instantly as it lodged upon the plains. A bittersweet smile crossed my lips then, for I knew that they were the lucky ones - they would not know the horrors that were to come." (An excerpt from the Book: The Seleucarian Empire, Part 3: The Fall of Seleucar", By Lara, Keeper of the Scrolls as told by The dream seer Thoris of Besulem.)
(EDITORS NOTE: The following transcript was edited and translated to Achaean from old texts that told the tale of the lost tribe of Meropis. Some names may have been altered for pronunciation purposes, but the overall tale remains consistent with the original story that has been passed down through generations.)
"Where to now Noyan Navetchka? We have been walking for days and our mounts are becoming restless, would it not be better to make camp right here? We have plenty water reserves still." A concerned looking tribal elder asked as they all came to a halt at the top of the Sarave foothills near the Daoric grasslands, deep in the raw embrace of the continent Meropis.
Ignoring the man's question, the chieftain motioned with his hand for everyone to fall silent as he glanced into the horizon; a look of utmost focus on his face as he studied the surroundings.
"We are not far now fellow tribesman," he said confidently, "The further east we venture, the safer we will be from the onslaught of the one's from which we flee. They occupy themselves with the flesh of the fallen in the west, we should be safe in these caverns until morning."
"What now of our brethren Noyan? What will become of all those Chaghut who divided from us and formed new tribes, are we to meet with them again?" Another outrider asked as he strode alongside the chieftain upon horseback.
"I am certain we will one day young stallion. The prophecy speaks of a time when we will be reunited by a king, but in order to ensure the survival of our tribe, division has become necessary. We have a likelier chance of continuation if we are dispersed and we are certainly harder to kill in numbers," the chieftain replied, before dismounting from his horse and allowing it to eat a small amount of freshly picked grass from his hand.
"I do not mean you disrespect fair leader, but are you not concerned about the fact that we are open targets in those vast plains to the east? How will we keep the monsters at bay if we are constantly outside?" A sturdy looking warrior asked Navetchka as he approached him cautiously, before adding, "There will be nights where we will have to sleep with nothing but a campfire for protection and the hope that we don't get eaten alive by these… these monsters that wail like relentless sea beasts in the depths of the sea god's darkest oceans. They will stop at nothing to poison our children in their sleep Noyan!"
"Relax Berke-chinua, you forget that we are not alone in our travels. The great spirit leads us towards our goal as he does the other Chaghut tribes," the Noyan replied with calming assurance.
Berke-chinua was a man of simple talents. He was an independent thinker and rebellion shined through him from a very early stage in his life already. A fierce warrior, chiselled from head to toe and agile as a rajamala, he was loyal to his cause regardless, but when the division of the tribe occurred, he saw opportunity where others did not. He was a thinker and never made a hasty decision, but when it came time for execution he was quick to act and always stood his ground.
"But that is my point sir, spirits are not meant to lead, only guide. How have you come to the conclusion that the elusive stallion is now a god that we follow? These monsters are relentless in their pursuit of destruction, they have cleaned out cities and will eventually clean us out too! No spirit is going to stop them if it is their will to spill blood," Berke-chinua said, a vague look of defiance on his face as he shook his head slightly and frowned.
"You are one of my finest and most loyal warriors, son of Santhasa. I still remember how your mother held you as a baby, bless her soul, she raised you well," the Noyan said as he stared at nothing in particular for a brief moment, before snapping back to reality and saying, "What you say may have had some value if it was not for our great spirit guide. I trust in the words of the shamans and the elders have all made their decisions based on the prophecy." Giving him a not of encouragement he added, "Have faith in the spirit that leads us warrior! The great stallion in the sky will see to our path and he will show us the way. We shall come to rest in the eastern plains and there we will find our salvation!"
"Others speak of a change that will befall us all and the tribe has become very divided now, we cannot rely on the idea that the same stallion spirit will continue to guide absolutely every tribe to safety, it is beyond his ability to ensure that," Berke-chinua continued, trying his utmost to reason with the chieftain.
"Cease your prattling Berke-chinua! It is not for you to decide what the spirits are capable of! You defy them with your thoughts of doubt and you show no faith at all in the great Ajirgh-a Ejen! You will find yourself without a tribe if you continue to disrespect my authority as the new Noyan of this tribe!" The chieftain demanded as his calm and confident attitude turned suddenly hostile.
"I would die for our spirit guide Noyan, but I refuse to put my family at risk for the sake of foolishness! We are not blind sheep, we are wolves! We are stallions and our fates are in our own hands!" Berke-chinua said defiantly as he took a bold step forward, gazing directly into the chieftain's eyes with determination.
"Do you challenge me on my spirit-guided decisions warrior?" The chieftain asked heatedly.
Without an answer Berke-chinua turned his back on him and spoke instead to the whole tribe that had all gathered around the argument by that time, "Hear me tribe! I have been to the caves to the south and explored them thoroughly; besides having a fair many bats and one massive crevice, it is the ideal place to take cover. I speak not of prophecies and magical tales now, I speak of survival! Follow me and live!"
"I doubt you will have much support from the tribe in this matter warrior, for everyone here knows that a shaman's prophecy is never wrong, and all the shamans that spoke of the Qaghan and the plains did so with the voice of Ajirgh-a Ejen himself," The chieftain said confidently as he gave a small smirk in his direction.
"If a shaman is never wrong in telling prophecies then let me be the first to tell you that Ajirgh-a Ejen is not the only spirit, nor the only guide!" A woman's voice resounded from somewhere between the crowd," stepping forward she added, "The time has come to embrace the change that is upon us and adapt to it! Berke-chinua speaks truth for I have glimpsed into his very soul and seen the legend behind the man!"
"Keshia what are you doing?" The chieftain asked with a puzzled look as he raised an eyebrow at the woman.
"Father, you knew this time would come! I have had these dreams since I can remember and they are unchanging. I have abilities father, abilities to curse and see and unfortunately I am prisoner to them for they never let me un see! But I have seen Noyan, He comes to us from the flames and he will illuminate the dark era, the inevitable change will bring about new beginnings!"
"You know not of what you speak daughter! Our travels to the eastern plains is our new beginning! Yes you have inherited abilities from your shamanistic mother, but they do not make you a Canter (title given to a high shaman of the tribe) young lady! You have years of learning and experiences ahead of you to reach!" The chieftain replied angrily.
Her devastatingly beautiful face getting redder with frustration, Keshia replied, "I wish not to take on the role as Canter father, that is not my goal! I simply go by what I have experienced in my dreams, whether I was awake during them or not. You have always doubted my visions. I am of age now and no longer shall I bend to your will! Not everyone walks the same path any more, the division of the whole Chaghut tribe is proof of that!"
Numerous gasps were heard as an aura appeared around Keshia and with a turn of her heel she faced the tribe at large. She opened her mouth to speak and as she did so her eyes rolled backwards so that only the white showed. Hovering enchantingly with her hair floating upwards as though she were drifting in water, she began to speak, her words hissing and echoing as though she was a medium for something greater;
"Endless fields of fire, engulfing souls,
The blackness comes in waves of malicious intent,
Sleep sound children for sleep is painless,
Unlike the black tentacle that reaches out and feeds upon your discomfort,
Count yourselves fortunate in the lair of the wolf,
For without the alpha, you are all lambs to the slaughter,
From the seared flesh and burnt bones of the fallen,
He shall rise like the dark side of the moon turning to meet us,
Forged like the silver dagger in the scorching flames of fate,
He will cleave into existence a new era,
Find comfort in the darkness for it is now your pacifier,
We go home to the embracing shadows, where the red wolf awaits!"
As her final words echoed off into the hills, muttering ensued all around as the tribe tried to grasp Keshia's prophetic outburst.
"It cannot be true! Speak to us Ajirgh-a Ejen! Show the misguided the true way of the Chaghut!" The chieftain pleaded as he looked up to the skies.
All fell silent as everyone searched the skies for a sign, but nothing came and Keshia was now in a kneeling position at Berke-chinua's side, gasping as though having run many miles.
Striding up slowly to the chieftain so that he could be in better hearing distance, Berke-chinua said in a much calmer tone, "Please understand Noyan, I do not try to purposefully defy you, but the outriders constantly bring stories of gruesome death from the southern and western lands, these beasts are fast, agile and extremely poisonous, we need to be under cover! I only wish to protect the tribe to the best of my abilities."
"It is my responsibility to protect my tribesmen warrior! I do so with greater knowledge, experience and faith in our stallion spirit, the only spirit! Go alone difficult wolf for you dare not drag the rest of my people down with you! Keshia come, we are leaving!" The chieftain demanded.
"I shall not father! You are no longer the Noyan of me! I belong to the new tribe and answer to Berke-chinua!" She spat at him through heavy breathing.
"Your mother would be disappointed in you Keshia, you have certainly failed her memory and failed your tribe. I pray desperately that Ajirgh-a Ejen is not so angered by your betrayal that he abandons you completely, I fear the worst for your life child," the chieftain said woefully before climbing back on his horse and turning in the direction of the nearby caverns in which he was to spend the night.
Many of the people followed the chieftain loyally as he strode away, but approximately half the tribe was left standing with confused expressions as they tried to make a decision, clearly torn between the traditional prophecy spoken by the various shamans before the division of the Chaghut tribe and the single prophecy told by the shamanic daughter of the chieftain of their new tribe. There was no denying that another entity had revealed itself to them through the body of Keshia and that there was something greater than the physical intervening in their travels.
No longer concerning himself with the choices of those who remained at the side of Berke-chinua, Noyan Navetchka gave one final, solemn glance towards his daughter before heading off into the distance without another word.
After a long period of silence, Keshia finally stood up and her voice rang out boldly as she said, "Let us be united new tribe! No longer do we run in fear from these monsters. We will be stronger than ever now!" Turning to Berke-chinua she beamed at him before saying, "Difficult wolf, you are now our father! Lead us forward Noyan into a new era and may your reign be productive and bring us a future filled with hope and strength!"
With a warm smile he lowered his head graciously in thanks before using the moment to take over the speech from Keshia, "I know that remaining behind despite everything you have grown familiar to must not have been an easy decision my fellow tribesman, but I promise you that while I am Noyan I will ensure that sleep be restful and satiation come regularly. While every tribe must work together to remain a tribe, let it be known that you are all free people and never will you be lead, only guided. I am not your king that the great prophecy speaks of, I am simply your brother, your father and your friend. I only hope that you will stay with me so that together we may live long and overcome all the challenges that await us."
Taking Berke-chinua's hand in hers, Keshia raised it into the air proudly and the whole tribe cheered with sudden excitement at the prospects of change and soon they started dancing and singing as they made their way towards the caves where a whole future filled with a series of events awaited them.
"And so a mighty council was held of all the elders, and they were all agreed: speed and mobility were the keys to our survival. And the people were split into a dozen tribes, all with their own Noyan. Where the others are now, no-one knows, not even the Canter. The plains are endless and could hide a hundred tribes." - Bayar, a wise herdsman of the Chaghut tribe.
As they arrived at the great maw of what looked like an endless cave, the hundred or so tribe members started setting up for the excavation into the caves. On the inside there was more than enough space for everyone and the natural curves and turns of the passages conveniently created suitable living quarters that could house generations of people. However, It was not by coincidence that the cave was so livable. Berke-chinua himself had explored them before and knew for a long time that they would be safe.
People had all found their place within the caves by nightfall and dozens of fires and torches burnt brightly, the light reflecting off the stalagmite and casting eerie shadows all around. Animal furs had been laid out as beds where some had already fallen asleep; the luxury of resting from numerous days of traveling finally catching up with them.
"Come my beautiful Qatun (chieftess) wife, let us paint of this glorious day!" Berke-chinua exclaimed as he took Nihalia by the hand and guided her towards a rocky wall where a bowl lay on the floor, filled with regents that had been mixed thoroughly to create different colour paints. He stood beside her and planted a kiss on her shoulder before dipping his fingers into the paint and after scooping up a generous amount he began to outline the continent of Meropis on the rocky surface in front of them.
Grinning broadly the new chieftess replied, "I have yet to become familiar with these new titles, Noyan Berke-chinua." With a small playful nudge in his ribs she added, "However, I am proud to call you my husband not because of our titles, but because of your bravery to take up the mantle of our father and not for power or for control, but for the good of the Chaghut people."
Beaming broadly Berke-chinua took some more dark paint and traced the outline of a wolf within the border of the continent before saying, "You were part of that brevity Qatun, and I thank and admire you greatly for it too. I am so proud to call you my wife for you are wise and loyal to me. You never questioned my decision and you believed in me."
A moment of sweet silence ensued as Nihalia glanced at him shyly while tracing images of footprints leading to a cave on the wall.
"Perhaps the prophecy refers to our tribe. What if I become the Qaghan (king) who shall rule the continent with you at my side, we could have big palaces and dine on delicacies in halls fit for gods like all those people of old Seleucar with their massive armies and endless amounts of riches!" Berke-chinua said while gesturing grandly with his saucer-like hands, spilling some of the paint as he waved it about recklessly.
Laughing derisively Nihalia replied, "Not in a thousand years my beloved warrior. We are above the wants and needs for huge elaborate empires and rivers of bloodshed for the sake of glory," frowning slightly she added, "Look where it got those thousands of people in the end! We are here to live alongside the spirits as peacefully and humbly as possible, for ourselves and for the land, while warding off the vicious blackness that stalks us from the west."
Nodding his head slowly in agreement Berke-chinua said, "Once again the wise words of a worthy Qatun. You need not the guidance of spirits my love for your heart is brilliant and guides you in the right direction as a good spirit already lives within you."
"Noyan! My apologies for alarming you in your privacy, but the Aiski (healer) from our original tribe along with a few others have come to us, covered in blood! They say they were lucky to get away, you should come quick!" A young man wielding an axe exclaimed with a horrified look on his face as he entered the quarters where the chieftain and his wife were.
"Thank you for informing me Chaktrun, relax, I shall speak with the Aiski," Berke-chinua replied as he grabbed his spear and made his way to the great boulder which now served as a door to the cave that had been positioned in such a way that the designated guardsmen were able to roll it back and forth with great effort.
"Oh Berke-chinua! Why like this, why like this?" The Aiski said through sobs as she knelt on the ground with her bloodied hands covering her face.
Wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders Berke-chinua replied, "Everything will be alright Aiski, can you tell me what happened?"
"Everyone is always concerned about the monsters, but they have little regard for the monsters that already lurk in the caverns! Dead! They are all dead!" She replied before giving another wail of despair as she buried her face in her hands once more."
"What monsters Aiski? You do not mean to say that they have already inhabited the lands on which we tread?" He asked with a concerned, yet consoling look on his face.
"No, not those monsters warrior, the monsters that called these lands home long before that, the wolverines! And spirits alone know what else lurks there, all I know is that I was finally within sleeps embrace when I heard terrible growling and I awoke to see Noyan Navetchka lying there, his eyes open and staring blankly upwards. I grabbed as many of the others as I could and we fled here, because we did not know where else to go!"
"You are safe with us Aiski, I assure you. You and all the other Chaghut will always be our tribe no matter what befalls us." Berke-chinua said before turning to Chaktrun and saying, "Take the survivors to the central grotto and lay out some furs for them to lie on, Qatun Nihalia will attend to their wounds in the meantime! The rest of you men, please go and collect the bodies of our fallen brethren, at dusk we shall give them a proper send-off!"
While the men rushed off to offer their assistance, the Aiski turned and said between whimpers, "Thank you Berke-chinua, you are a good man, we were unwise to doubt you. May your reign as Noyan be a prosperous one and much longer than that of Noyan Navetchka."
"Thank you Aiski, but no decision was unwise, only unfortunate for we are all victims of circumstance here. Trying to cope with these changes is not easy and all we can do is our best," the chieftain replied with a soft, encouraging smile.
"What is all the commotion about Noyan, I heard there was an attack?" Keshia asked as she came hurrying towards Berke-chinua with a skull of a ram in her one hand and a tablet of stone with inscriptions upon it in the other.
He froze for a moment, unable to do much except give her a consoling look as he recalled the recent incident that separated the new Canter from her father. His unexpected death would surely come as a great shock to her, especially so soon after her betrayal and decision to part from him completely.
There was a moment of cold silence and understanding as Keshia looked from the chieftain to the injured survivors that were being carried away to the central grotto. Letting go of the ritual items in her hands, she put one hand up to her forehead and swooned slightly. As the tablet fell and shattered into pieces upon the floor and the ram skull rolled a few feet away from them, a single tear ran down her cheek and she blinked a few times before asking in a barely audible tone, "How many survivors were there?"
"Under ten or so, wolverines they say, "the chieftain replied morbidly while lowering his head in an attempt to avoid eye contact.
"Right. Well call on me if you need anything Noyan, I shall be returning to my quarters for now if you don't mind," Keshia said hastily before wiping the tear from her cheek and turning away from Berke-chinua. He gave her a simple nod and watched sympathetically as she bustled away, not even concerning herself with her broken ritual items that littered the floor.
By the time dusk arrived, a large pyre made of wood had been built on which all the deceased Chaghut members were positioned after having all been wrapped in woven leaves. Berke-chinua had called on the whole tribe to gather in front of it and he paced up and down in front of them as he said, "Change is not easy to accept when it stirs us into all these unknown directions. From the time the shamans all spoke with the voice of the stallion spirit and the elders all agreed to divide, we have had to adapt very rapidly to this change and hope that the guidance of a spirit will be enough to survive the unexpected."
Pausing for a moment he peered at the tribe members with a meaningful look before resuming his speech, "Not everything is in the control of the spirits and while our fallen brethren made a choice that they thought was best for them, they now join Ajirgh-a Ejen in the spirit realm. May he bless their spirits and grant them true enlightenment wherever they roam!"
A single cheer arose from the crowd in agreement and when all fell silent once more he continued, "As your Noyan, I will give my life to protect you tribe! We close this cruel chapter with a ceremony to bid our fellows farewell and pray unto the spirits that their journey be peaceful. I will now allow our new Canter Keshia to take charge of the proceedings," looking over at her endearingly he added, "That is if you feel up to the task Canter."
The very last ray of afternoon sun vanished behind a mountain peak as Keshia nodded slowly and took her place in front of the pyre. For a moment she hesitated, a look of regret still vaguely evident on her features, but straightening herself out she looked determinedly at the crowd before her and said, "My fellows of the old Chaghut, survivors of the sundering! On this day as we bid farewell to what was and accept what is, we embrace a change that comes at a price. A tithe to the spirits in the form of the blood of our brothers and sisters! May they travel the spirit realm alongside us as we call the caves our home!"
Turning to face the pyre of bodies Keshia opened her arms out wide and addressed the deceased, "Walk strong and with surety as the gaping stars open themselves to you for one last embrace children of the stallion. May your ends be the beginning to something new and enthralling, for death is not necessarily the end!"
She closed her eyes briefly as she reminisced for a moment, before looking upwards and intoning in a loud voice that echoed through the hills, "Oh mysterious Ajirgh-a Ejen, you are the only guide we have come to know and while you might leave our side as fate steers us on another path, please continue to guide our fellow Chaghut who now wonder the open grasslands in search of greener pastures?"
Lowering her arms, she signaled to the men standing ready with flaming torches, and they dropped the torches onto the pyre. As it ignited she uttered an inaudible word and spontaneously the whole pyre burst into flames that rose like orange, red, yellow and blue tendrils, reaching for the endless sky.
The smoke grew thick over the pyre as it billowed up in clouds, growing and expanding as something within started to take shape. At that very moment the form of a great white stallion leaped forth from the smoke and began to gallop fiercely in spirals around the burning pyre of bodies and then around the whole tribe. Faster and faster he galloped, becoming a blur of white before turning in the direction of the eastern plains and cantering away.
The tribe simply gaped in awe as he came to a sudden halt on a hill nearby where he turned his head to look one last time at what was the twelfth division of the Chaghut tribe. He bowed slightly, the star on his forehead shining brightly before finally trotting away into the distance and disappearing from sight.
Once again there was a huge burst of light as the pyre illuminated, causing sparks to fly in all directions. Stirring deep within the fiery red coals something slowly began to rise and take shape again, but not the shape of a stallion this time. Burning eyes blinked rapidly as they pierced through the surroundings and soon a snout rose to howl into the night. Ashes were scattered about as what looked like a wolf ablaze stepped out of the pyre with a growl.
The tribe scattered in fear at the arrival of the unknown entity, but before they could run for the caves, the wolf began to circle them just as the stallion had, but this time he spoke through Keshia in a voice that filled them with a strange, yet warm sensation, "Fear me not tribe for I am not the beast that stalks you! I am the spirit Ajirgh-a Kahja'en and destiny has brought me to you on this evening! It has been written in the dust of time and flows through your very lifeblood! Follow me through the darkness as you seek the answers to survival, for survival is merely the foundation on which you as a tribe shall build!"
The tribe stood motionless, their eyes wide with wonder as the red wolf continued to circle them. Keshia was once again featureless and she hovered once more in mid air, with her mouth wide open and her eyes rolled back as the spirit continued to use her as his medium.
"While your lives are still in your own hands, I will be there in times of quiet desperation. Call on me and I shall riddle you, but be sure to offer unto me the charred bones of a jackdaw, powdered rams horn and the heart of an eel for only then shall I heed your call! Shed the past for no longer shall you call yourselves Chaghut! Your Noyan, the difficult wolf was not named so by coincidence."
Stopping in front of the chieftain, the spirit glared intensely at him through ember eyes and from the mouth of Keshia his words continued to resonate," Berke-chinua take my blessing with you and lead your tribe to their salvation! As I am known as Kahja'en your tribe shall now be known as Kahn! Bear the name proudly for this name identifies you as the people you are and the people you shall become!"
With those final words, Ajirgh-a Kahja'en turned towards the caves and made his way slowly through the entrance. The flames that surrounded him licked harmlessly at everything he passed as he strode gracefully into the darkness. The Kahn tribe followed instinctively, turning their backs on the dying fire that had now turned just about the whole pyre to ashes, ready to begin their life anew.