~Huael Valmae Yazantae~ - The Lament for Lost Valmaea
~Di misis, a Yezae, mea-vara o’zhehui, sti romis tromya aialassya, liraea sheazif!~
‘Touch not my tongue with beauty, oh Muse, but let ugliness sing to tell my sorrow!’
So begins the ~Huael Valmae Yazantae~, the Lament for Lost Valmaea, also called the Tragedy of Valmaea, an epic written by the crippled poet Othishyas, who is said to have died after writing the last word, in the century after the loss of Marastra to the Formians. It is considered the last literary work from the Age of the Sage-Queens, a cornerstone of contemporary Lashunta literature worldwide, renowned for its characters’s drama, spectacular combats, and lurid love scenes. Within the traditions of the Outrider class that grew and evolved after its described events, the epic’s deed and choices were taken as the template for honorable behavior. Its oral versions are sung at festivals all across Valmaeyana. While many scholars beyond the Southwest acknowledge the work’s dramatic elements, the Valmaeans religiously take every line as historic fact. It is also a central source for the Cult of the Qoaronae, the triple war-goddesses venerated across southwestern Asana and beyond.
The poet (who portrays himself as a minor character within the saga) tells several interlocking dramas surrounding the collapse of resistance against the Formians in Marastra (now called the Colonies) and the last stand of Lashunta within the ancient city of Valmaea, at the end of the Age of the Sage-Queens. It portrays not only the battles, but also the politics and maneuvering within Queen Anmae’s court as various groups struggle for their last chances of survival upcoming to the Formian Conquest, and furthermore supernatural occurrences credited to the gods.
The tale is also unique in its frequent portrayal of Korasha male characters who flout or defy Damaya female authority, though scholars disagree on the intent. While some take it as an argument for sexual equality, others interpret it as illustration of the world overturned. Its supernatural narratives also show a shift in spiritual focus from the benign philosophical teachings of the Age of the Sage-Queens, to a more deistic characterization of the gods as chthonic natural forces, whose interests do not necessarily align directly with those of the Lashunta.
The epic is divided into thirty-one books, totalling 19,000 lines. It was originally written in the Lashunta dialect now called Old Valmaean, though it has often been translated for its audience’s sake. The plot follows this synopsis:
Book1:
After the poet’s invocation to the Yezae (Muses) and a brief summary of the Formian Invasion, he describes a congress of the gods, who debate the fate of the Lashunta in Marastra, and particularly in the city of Valmaea, their last free city outstanding. Laurohe the Maiden-Warrior and Dareas the First Hero beseech Matarasse - Burning-Mother - to save Valmaea, reminding that she had saved the Lashunta from the Moqeva in earlier ages. Matarasse consults with Mahaere - the Green-Mother - and asks her will, summarizing that Mahaere had brought forth both the Lashunta and the Formians upon her body, and that she must choose, for neither species will forsake the war. Mahaere stays silent, torn between the choice. Matarasse rules that, if the Lashunta will survive, they must prove themselves worthy. Then the Qoaronae - Burning-Mother’s triplet daughters, steal from the Heavenly Palace. When Father-Night catches them, they ask him to keep their secret, for without their intervention the Lashunta will perish. He agrees and promises to deal with their mother.
Book 2:
Lady Eavol, a warrior-captain leading a Shotalashu company, intercepts a host of refugee Elves, who are seeking Valmaea, fleeing Formian warriors that pursue them. The Lashunta attack and drive off the Formians, with many single combats and the death of several heroes.
Book 3:
After the battle, Lady Eavol meets the Elflord Huivilen, who tells they are seeking safety because Tun Eriduel, the last Elven stronghold, has fallen. He describes the stronghold’s fall, and tells the Elves destroyed the aiudara-gate connecting to Sovyrian right before the fall. Lord Huivilen’s people were cut off and could not reach the gateway before its destruction. He describes watching Tun Eriduel explode and burn, and then his people’s flight as they cut their way free of the Formians. The Lashunta grant the Elves sanctuary and escort them to the city.
Book 4:
In Valmaea, Lady Eavol brings the Elves’ word to Queen Anmae, who calls a nobles’ council. She asks what should be the Lashunta’s response to the Elves’ loss. Lady Tofali, who heads the allied Asana forces, deems that Marastra is lost, and Valmaea cannot stand. She announces she will take her fleet back to Asana, and offers deckroom to all the cityfolk who an fit. A heated dispute breaks out among the nobles. Many call Tofali craven for abandoning the war. In an exchange between her and Lady Beareal is spoken one of the most famous lines in Lashunta literature: “Keep your warm gods smiling through heavenly skies. My gods behold a darker, fiercer spirit. I, like them, was born under the South’s low, heavy skies. Heaven smiles not here. My heaven is the battlefield.” The Council breaks, and the Asana Lashunta prepare to leave.
Book 5:
While the Asana fleet readies to cast off, Liarduss, a Korasha shield-reeve, leaps off the shipdeck to the wharf. When his Damaya captain accosts him, he answers boldly he will stay in Valmaea. Krimnyas, a fellow Korasha reeve, then follows him ashore, challenges him, and threatens to slay him if he does not return to the ship. The two warriors fight before the whole fleet and assembled city. Liarduss wounds and fells Krimnyas, but offers him life in brotherhood. When Krimnyas spits on his hand, Liarduss walks away, saying he forsakes his fellow as the Asana are forsaking Valmaea. He then kneels before Queen Anmae and offers his fealty. She makes him a harem-captain and gives him to her daughter Princess Koere, who takes him as manmate. His deed shames the Valmaean refugees, a third of whom return to the city. Also Efadi, an Asana captain leaves the fleet, choosing to stay. The fleet puts to sea and sails away.
Book 6:
Queen Anmae withdraws to her palace, where she ponders her city’s doom, despairs, and prays to the gods for deliverance. She confides to her chief manmate Imaeus that she has found, “in lost halls where once the Moqeva crawled,” an otherworldly, terrible power that can destroy the Formians and save Valmaea. Imaeus piously chides her with the famous line: ‘Look not too closely within Father-Night’s hood, for we cannot withstand the dread.’ She relents, and the two make love, though afterward she returns to despair and secretly bids preparations for the ritual.
Book 7:
The Formian arms arrives and besieges the city. Princess Koere leads a raid to disrupt the investment. After a bloody slaughter of Formian workers, she is cut off until Lady Mosaeal comes to her aid. They fight back to back and slay several Formian warriors until reinforcements arrive. The two Damaya make love upon the battlefield. Koere offers Mosaeal a boon for saving her life, whereat Mosaeal asks Koere to change her mother’s mind and let the Lashunta abandon Valmaea. Koere sympathizes with their plight’s hopelessness and agrees.
Book 8:
With the siege begun, Queen Anmae calls a council of her nobles and captains. They review their readiness, strength, and resources, where the city walls tower 50 cubits high, they have provisions for a ten-year siege, and the harbor is still open to allow reinforcement. The noblewives voice their support. After the council, Mosaeal comes to Princess Koere, chides her, and asks why she did not oppose the Queen. Koere replies the time is not right. She then invites all the younger ladies and captains to a revel to earn their goodwill.
Book 9:
The siege advances with the Formians constructing a ramp to invest the outer wall. Koere surveys their progress and spots a Myrmarch directing the work. She and the Myrmarch have a fraught archery-duel that ends with Koere wounded and the Myrmarch slain. The other captains, Mosaeal, Eavol, Efadi, and Imaeus, takes over the defense and attacks the Formian workers building the ramp.
Book 10:
Queen Anmae comes to see her wounded daughter Koere and finds her tended by her harem-mates. She sits with Koere and asks what she needs. Koere answers that what they need is a way out of Valmaea, for their is no resistance to the Formians. Anmae answers she will never forsake Valmaea, and leaves, without telling she goes to enact the Elder Bane. Koere calls Mosaeal and tells her to begin summoning the captains to overthrow Queen Anmae.
Book 11:
The Qoaronae, having stolen Father-Night’s cloak, walk the battlefields, the ramparts and streets of Valmaea, and the palace halls. They examine Queen Anmae’s plans to invoke the ancient Moqeva banecraft, and agree that such a deed would defy Burning-Mother’s will. They debate the merits and cannot decide, though they agree that one may indeed move the Earth if willing to defy Heaven. They then go to each sleeping warrior and whisper in their ears words of boldness, unity, and ruthlessness.
Book 12:
Prince Koere awakens in the night. She sends words to her captains, bidding them arm, and to bring only their trustiest housemates and loyal Korasha “well bedded and truly sworn” to aid the deed. They steal into the palace, where they overwhelm the guards, with many heroic combats.
Book 13:
The mutineers come to Queen Anmae’s study. Instead of finding her, they find a secret passage leading downward into the city’s catacombs. There they find her in a secret laboratory, beginning the ritual to summon the Moqeva’s Bane upon the Formians. When in horror Koere demands what the queen is doing, Anmae, chides her daughter for being willing to betray and overthrow her own mother, but not to do what must be done to save her people. She then explains the ritual and dares Koere to slay her if she would halt it, or to “defy Heaven and World, pay the harshest dearth, and stand against the gods.” Instead, Koere kneels and submits at her mother’s feet. They then prepare to enact the Moqeva’s Bane together.
Book 14:
Imaeuss bursts into the laboratory and cuts his way through the cordon of warriors, to stand before Queen Anmae. He reproves her as faithless for breaking her oath to him and preparing this ritual in secret. Whe she says it is the only way to save their people, he asks if they should become “the same thing even the Moqeva feared.” He then asks why the foul Moqeva, in all their evil, had not used this bane against the Warrior-Queens of old. When Anmae answers that maybe they had, he replies that, if they had, the Lashunta had still overcome it. “What sureness lies in this bane, else that our own life’s loss?” he asks. Then he throws himself down upon his axe’s peen and takes his own life.
Book 15:
Shocked by Imaeus’s suicide, Liardus repents and speaks against Queen Anmae. “City and house I forsook for your sake, for you loved honor more than life. Yet now I see honor betrayed.” He then attacks the queen while she cradles her dying manmate. Yet Prince Koere interposes, and they fight. He wounds the princess, and then stands over Queen Anmae with his spear. He counsels: “Warriors and even queens must know when it is time to die.” At this word, she repents and forsakes the ritual.
Book 16:
The Qoaronae watch this spectacle. They remark that, between the two choices of victory or destruction, they had not forseen a third choice: honor. They debate the philosophy among the three, and then agree this deed’s word must be borne back to Matarasse their mother, and swiftly depart.
Book 17:
As dawn lightens, Queen Anmae gathers the captains and nobles, and before them presents Liardus as their new high captain to lead the siege. When Lady Ralyae objects, Princess Koere reproves her, saying the queen’s will shall stand. When Lady Ralyae insists she will not take orders from a man, Queen Anmae bids Liardus to select a champion to address Ralyae’s insult. He chooses Lady Mosaeal, who fights and beats Ralyae in single combat. When Ralyae falls and yields, the other nobles submit. Liarduss takes charge of the army.
Book 18:
As Liarduss inspects the ramparts, word comes that the Formians are driving a massive engine up the investment ramp, which proves to be an extendable bridge-tower to reach the city walls. As alarms sound, however, the Qoaronae’s whispered words ring in the Lashunta’s minds, gathering them to the defense. A list of heroes’ names follows, who ready for the last battle.
Book 19:
Liarduss bids the city’s soul-seers to thwart the Formians’ efforts, led by Mistress Theiamnaue and Master Diasess. They blast the Formians’ minds, who counter with their own psychics. A terrible and deadly battle, including kinetic attacks that rend the earth, both the ramparts and the investment slope. Then Master Diasess, amid the deed of casting another elemental strike is felled by a Formian poison dart. He loses control of his blast, which shatters the rampart wall.
Book 20:
Formian warriors begin climbing the broken wall, but are met amid the rubble by Korasha foot-soldiers and Damaya Shota-riders, who throw them back with great slaughter. A Myrmarch leads another swarm that almost drives back the defenders, until Lady Eavol meets the Myrmarch in combat and slays her, at which the Formian attack collapses.
Book 21:
Damaya riders lead a counterattack, which reaching the Formians’ investment ramp. When they charge down the ramp toward the Formian hive-camp, however, Lady Eavol is felled by a psychic blast. Lady Efadi bears her back to the city while the other riders fight a fierce withdrawal, giving time for Korasha work-crews to clear and shore up the broken wall.
Book 22:
As night falls, the Formian attack resumes with another blazing psychic battle while worker-engineers work to undermine the broken wall from below. At last the wall collapses, killing hundreds of both Lashunta and Formians. As another Formian swarm tries the breach, the Black Myrmarch, an infamous, dreaded Formian champion, appears. Lady Ralyae, earnest to regain her honor after disobeying the queen and losing to Mosaeal meets her in combat and is slain. Mosaeal, however, picks up her spear and slays the Black Myrmarch before leading the withdrawal into the outer city.
Book 23:
As a street-to-street battle begins, the outer city catches fire, killing untold Lashunta and Formians in the blaze. The Seven Korasha Heroes lead the defense, each slaying several Formian champions before they fall. Both sides retreat to let the fires burn down: the Lashunta to the Inner City and Harbor, and the Formians beyond the walls.
Book 24:
With morning as the fires burn low, and the fight begins again, Matarasse Burning-Mother, who has heard the Qoaronae’s report of the city’s deed, commands the sky to open, revealing Heaven and the rising sun “in golden, bloody glory”. On a fresh east wind comes a new fleet of warships from Asana, full of warriors who have come to stand with Valmaea. Lady Tofali disembarks, saying: “Love could not let me stay away.” Queen Anmae leads her to the temple’s high spire, where they look over the neighborlng lands. They see swarm upon Formian swarm gathering from all directions. “Our only reward is death,” says Anmae, to which Tofali replies that, with love and honor, it is enough.
Book 25:
Queen Anmae relents, and bids all children, all pregnant wives, and all suckling mothers to board the ships and sail for Asana. She then calls Liardus, Mosaeal, and Princess Koere before her. She commands Koere to board the ship and also sail to Asana. When Koere objects, the queen tells Koere she is banished, her curse to live and care for their folk in a land that is not their home. "You have loved life, now rue it," bids the queen. “A mother and two lovers I lose,” says Koere, who then swears that the Valmaeans shall one day return to their city and drive out the Formians. She cuts her hair and leaves.
Book 26:
The defenders learn the Formians are undermining the inner ramparts. A furious fight begins, leading sorties to slay the workers. Lady Efadi dies collapsing a mine and is lost within.
Book 27:
As night again falls, the Formian assault on the inner ramparts begins in earnest. The Elflord Huivilen leads a Lashunta-Elven company to hold a breach. While they await the foe, he wonders on the oddity of him dying for a city not his own. When the Formian onslaught comes, he sings a lament of such keenness that both side halt, enthralled by his song. He then walks among the Formian ranks and unleashes an eldritch Elfcraft blast that slays himself and all the Formian around him, and brings the wall’s stones falling upon hundreds more.
Book 28:
The Formians swarm the inner city. Liardus leads a last stand at the main doors and offers a solliloquy that none choose to be a hero, who are only uprisen by the gods' hands. He slays a Myrmarch upon the steps before he falls from her poison sting. When the Formians fight their way into the main hall, they find Queen Anmae alone, sitting upon her throne. She rises when they near, and unleashes an elemental blast that collapses the palace.
Book 29:
The author presents himself as foot-soldier in a guard unit at the eastern gate, under command of the reeve Shotaess. Amid the fighting, Lady Mosaeal comes, and bids them exit outward through the gate, from which she proposes they head inland, find other survivors, and continue the resistance. They beat their way through the outer city, and then through the outer ramparts. Upon the plain, the take flight toward the highland, until they meet a Formian patrol. In a sharp fight, the author is wounded, and the Lashunta flee toward the coast with the Formians in pursuit.
Book 30:
The Lashunta flee to a headland in a running fight with the Formians, where they ambush their pursuit. Lady Mosaeal’s Shotalashu is slain. Afoot, she fights a lone warrior. It stings her as she slays it. Shotaess carries her to the headland’s cliff, where the survivors see an Asana ship and light a beacon to hail it. Mosaeal dies in Shotaess’s arms. Then boats arrive to bear off the survivors to Asana.
Book 31:
While the ships head eastward toward Asana, Matarasse summons the Qoaronae in Heaven above the sea. She asks their counsel on what should be the verdict on the Lashunta and Formians. The Qoaronae answer war. They advise the Lashunta were bred for war, and that peace has made them weak. Burning-Mother renders the judgement. The Lashunta and the Formians shall be locked in war, until one exterminates the other.
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