Bunefer the Wise
"It's wise to keep an Icon of the Wise, little man. Else-wise how's old Sol to know you've been good?"The tale of Bunefer the wise is the tale of how Suza was converted to the faith of Sol. It is also the tale of how the Imperial city of Suza was destroyed, and how the modern city was founded.
Summary
The City of Suza was a place of vice, sin and impiety. The fall of the Imperium had freed Suza from the immoral rule of the Mage-Lords. Yet instead of leading to a more moral and god-fearing society, the people instead chose to emulate the hedonism of their former masters. They indulged in every manner of vice. They cast aside the worship of Sol and the Pantheon. Instead they fell so sacrificing to false gods and vile demons. Some even cast aside belief altogether, following instead corrupt elven philosophy.
Only a few in the city worshiped Sol in the proper manner: as the oldest, greatest and mightiest of deities. Above all others in all things. They had a small temple in the city, scorned or ignored by their neighbors. This temple and congregation was led by Bunefer, known as "the wise" to her flock, because she was old and learned.
Bunefer being wise saw the signs that disaster was imminent. She saw nine omens in the span of thirteen days. A sure sign that a calamity was at hand. Her dreams were of fire and the sunrise. Bunefer begged the Sol for mercy for the city. But only silence met her. She offered sacrifices to gain his attention, but the incense would not burn. She organized her congregation to sing and feast in his honour, but they sang falsely. The food they served rotted on their plates.
Despairing Bunefer ascended the Infernal Spiral to the very peak of Mt. Nera. There she intended to throw herself into the long dormant volcano, and so sacrifice herself to Sol in a last effort to spare her city his wrath. But once there she saw that the volcanic cauldron was not empty at all, but instead filled with fire and lava. There, finally Sol spoke to her with a voice mighty as the mountain and said: "As your city has been silent to me, offering no praise to me, I will answer no prayer for it. As your city offered me no sacrifice, I will not be swayed by a single meager offering. As your city sing and feast for their own pleasure and not for mine, I will accept no simple substitute. Your city is steeped in sin, vice and vile magic. Demons are worshiped. Their shrines stretch towards my heavens, while my temple is but a petty hovel. For a century and more I have looked upon this and trusted to human judgement to make good their faults. No more. My mercy is spent and my rage is invoked. On the first day of the seventh month I will rain fire ash on your city, and so cleanse it of sin! Go forth now. Save whom you can. For unless all bow to my might and offer me feast and sacrifice, these things I have proclaimed will come to pass!"
With this Bunefer was filled with renewed purpose. While the ascent to the peak had nearly finished her, old as she was. She descend with the speed and agility of youth. Once in the city she gathered her flock and implored them to spread the message of Sol's intent. That if all converted to his worship the city would be saved. This they did, but little did it avail them. Only a few would turn away from their perverted beliefs. The Solarites, once ignored and ridiculed, now became despised and hated as "disturbers of the peace". The city's indolent rulers outlawed the worship of Sol and imprisoned those Solarites they could lay their hands on.
Bunefer did not now despair. Instead she boldly went into the city to preach. Yet always escaped before the slovenly guardsmen could reach her. Because she knew the city well, including all its alleys and hidden places. By her fiery speech and conspicuous bravery she now gathered many followers. Yet it was not enough. When the seventh month approached only one in six in the city proclaimed Sol as their Master.
As the day of the disaster dawned Bunefer sent away all her followers to caves outside the city, where she knew they would find refuge. Then she went back into the city to preach, hoping to perhaps save some few more by her words and deeds. As the mountain began to rumble and spit smoke, then fire. She directed all who would offer sincere prayer to Sol to the sheltered caves. She did this until the very end, and was still preaching when a deluge of burning ash enveloped her and all the city.
By her actions five thousand people survived the eruption of Mt. Nera. These survivors repopulated and rebuilt the city. They dedicated their community to Sol and built to him a mighty temple. By this means did they placate him. They were rewarded with riches and fertile sol. By their prayers the mountain's rage was soothed, and it slept for all the centuries thereafter.
Historical Basis
It is correct that the City of Suza was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in the year 193 IC, although this happened in march, not in july. It did not happen in a single day either. Earthquakes and minor eruptions occurred for several days, before the final cataclysmic eruption happened more than a week afterwards.
It is also true that several thousand people survived the eruption. If these were the same people who re-founded the city is not known. However, it is not impossible. The city did convert to the worship of Sol around this time. However, there is no historical basis to suppose that the Solarite community in Suza was pre-warned of the coming calamity and managed to flee. The Solarites of Suza were also a great deal more numerous than the tale would have it. There were several large temples to Sol, and to the other gods of the old imperial Pantheon. The eruption might well have inspired religious fervor and convinced many of the truth of Solarism. That was very much in the spirit of the times. Sol worship was spreading rapidly in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. it is likely that Suza would soon have become a Solarite city regardless of any eruption of Mt. Nera.
It appears that the account of Bunefer is largely fictional. Some stone tablets recovered from Suza appears to confirm that a woman by that name held a high position in the temple of Sol the Merciful around the time of the eruption. The cognomen "the wise" appears to have been added by later writers. The story of her efforts to convert the city, and of her death, are all fictional.
Spread
The tale is popular in the Free Cities as a typical morality tale. It is (naturally) especially popular in Suza. It is also well known on Ciello and elsewhere. It has even spread to Ryva, where Bunefer is held in high regard. Icons and images of Bunefer are used as good luck charms in many places. Paintings of Bunefer preaching to the people of Suza, as fire and smoke nears, have become a popular motive for painters in recent decades.
Date of First Recording
413
Date of Setting
193 IC
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