The Gift of Afterlife
The Gift of Afterlife is a myth told by the people of The Northern Clans. It is tied into the use of Dream Moss by their shamans to travel to the Afterlife while still alive. The myth has been told for thousands of years. But was never written down until a ghynzuan folklorist travelled to the clans and lived with them for over a year, documenting their traditions and folktales.
Summary
The myth tells the tale of Ayol the All-Father who visited a cave system on the eastern edge of the Lindiwa Mountain Range. Among the clans this cave is known as Dream Cave. In it Ayol found dream moss. Without knowing its properties he touched the moss and was instantly transported to a vast land beyond the Veil. It was extraordinarily beautiful, but uninhabited. So Ayol decided this was a place too beautiful to remain uninhabited. As a gift to the Clans he intertwined their souls with the lands of the Afterlife. This way, after leaving their wordly body behind, their soul would travel to the land of the Afterlife so they would live on for eternity. From each clan he chose one man whom he taught the use of dream moss. This way they would be able to visit their ancestors and learn from them the past, present, and future. Since that day the clans shamans have been giving this knowledge to their apprentices, so they too can visit the lands of the Afterlife.
Variations
Each clan has their own variation of the myth. For the most part these are minor differences. Although there is a version in which Ayol had to slay a cave dwelling monster before touching the moss, and another version in which he had to slay monsters in the Afterlife to make it safe for souls to live in.
Spread
The Gift of Afterlife was, for a long time, unknown to anyone not part of the Northern Clans. But since the publication of Folklore of East Eghea in 3214 the myth has become a bedtime story for many children all over the world.
Date of First Recording
3212 AP
Date of Setting
The dawn of human civilizations
Related Ethnicities
Related Species
Related Locations
Dream Cave
On the eastern edge of the Lindiwa Mountain Range is a cave system known to the Clans as Dream Cave. It is off limits to anyone except their shamans. Inside this cave grows dream moss, a poisonous moss used in rituals and punishments. Only shamans are allowed to harvest, store, and use dream moss.
That's a nice myth
Thank you. :)