Of a King's Rise and Fall

Let's enjoy this fine night and listen to some stories!

''I wonder what this ambaliori has in store for me...''

One should not look at Ikaharin's written tradition to enjoy its storytelling, for this is a land where words and songs are deemed more beautiful than inscriptions and texts. Thus one should seek an ambaliori, a half-actor half-storyteller who knows how to perform countless stories from memory.
Now that the context has been laid out, would you like to embody an aristocrat who spends the night attending an ambaliori's performance?

Guests

---

''Such a beautiful cove! The Ihiai is truly the Joy of the East''.

After a frankly pleasant morning stroll around your estate, drinking wine and enjoying the seaside views it offers, you retreat into your villa's comfort to escape the midday heat. If there is something bad about Ysinai in the summer that's got to be the Sun, you mutter to yourself as you rush to the building, also cursing your lineage's fondness for northern servants while you're at it.

''Laku, I fear to disturb the peace and quiet of this courtyard with my unrefined words, but the Nonnol's procession has been sighted over the horizon and will soon be here. I fear a reception is in order...''

Though tempted to tell the servant to send the guests away, you ultimately resign yourself to the task and put on your finest robes and fake smiles, ready to welcome them all.

''-Abbaion is truly a master calligrapher! The characters he painted on the doors of my villa are some of the finest I've seen east of Suwan.
-Quite! But those can't compare with the ones he paints for himself... One truly doesn't understand the meaning of the word until one sees his private collection.
-Agreed, cousin! Perhaps he should go to Dekaibi and ask the king in person for the favour, like we did! it's not as if the word 'private' had much meaning for Iter Laku...
-*cough* Though to be fair I prefer his contribution to the field of Banhan *cough*
-What?
-Nothing, I assure you''.

Thankfully, one of your servants picks up the cue and comes to save you from the boredom of the conversation your guests are so keen on maintaining with you. After all, no respectable aristocrat would pass up the opportunity to spend half the day talking about the Annan. Only if they knew you aren't...

Harinnairin First King

---

''Will you, fine lords, allow this humble servant to guide you away from this room and into another? I assure you it is only so that my master may entertain you during this night''.

Thus the slave leads you all down to the villa's second basement, the one below the cellar and the one you use for banhan activities you've entered twice or thrice in your life. Although there is no light whatsoever in the room, the butler manages to sit everyone comfortably, which he does before locking the door shut and disappearing.

''Be silent,

Hosts of mine

Be silent,

Trees and birds

Be silent,

Fish and wind

Be silent,

And listen''

The deafening silence is broken after what seems like an eternity by an odd, booming voice, one which you'd swear comes from everywhere at once. Then, the recitation stops, drums start beating on all corners and panpipes blowing. Definitely a promising start, you think.
The darkness, however, remains in place for a fair while, until a fire is lit in what you presume is the other end of the room. Though the fire is quite small, barely illuminating the ground around it, it allows you to see the ambaliori you hired. Then the veiled woman starts playing her kahillik and reciting the story, all other instruments becoming almost quiet.

''Of him you may have heard

Harinnairin the Black

On whose honour canals are dug

Who was the first of kings

Of the fields and rivers

-

Of his deeds though I doubt

You high people much know

For he was king

But also a farmer

Of whose deeds peasants speak

-

Thus let us oh this solve

Thus let me his deeds tell

Thus let the high ones raise their souls

With his story's lesson

With his virtues and flaws

-

Please do not your eyes close

Please do not ears ignore

My humble words

My humble song and myth

My humble praise to Hun''

After saying that god's name, the flame dies and the sounds of birds and water start to be heard. That rather soothing soundtrack is the only thing heard for a while until the maiden continues the performance, still in the dark.

''Long before Itsarau reigned over us

Long before any mortal did

Long before Man told tales

In no land there was a king sat

In no land there was control of the kin

-

In these days there was peace

In these days all lived carelessly

No war being waged in land or water

No great sin going unpunished

No thing out of order

-

It was then that Kir to the river went

However there he fell

And as in the deep waters drowned

Forever trapped by soil

It was then that Tahiu died in the depth

-

Sadly his cruel fate was by all ignored

For none had the corpse even seen

So deep below it was

And this the balance did disturb

Sadly for the fate of this our bright world''

And then the teller's melody is sharply interrupted by a loud explosion. Shocked, the next thing you notice is a blue torch being lit, its flame being blown over the crowd and dangerously close to your face for just an instant. Unlike your guests, you're a lover of risky performances, so needless to say you are enjoying yourself. Soon after that ''incident'', the tune resumes and the tone becomes much more intense.

''Oh of Kir all with a soul may have forgotten

Feasting while his body was drowned

Becoming the very soil that trapped him

And ensuring the end of peace

Oh Dead Tahiu what you did without knowing it

-

Forgotten for long time he laid

Until an eel the god's remains it dug

Eager to a house carve out of the high god's skull

For the humble fish could not it respect

Forgotten no more was Kir thus

-

The eel was though soon broken by the skull's power

The eel's corpse soon fused with the noble bones

The eel soon became like a spark

Bringing life back to the black river's soil

Bringing to this our sunny world Harinnairin

-

Harinnairin the Great Black Lord came out of the river

Harinnairin only saw death

For the world above was wicked

For they ended the great balance

For not mourning Tahiu's death caused all to degenerate

-

Soon people stole freely from all

All broke all things as quickly as their hands allowed them

The old and sacred lands were by men then burnt and defiled

Not even the great Cradle of All Ir Dauol was spared

Soon Nature once again acted

-

Thus Nature a fine cape wove from Ki Atur's own

One of red cotton and white pearls

And gave its wearer kingship over all

Over the whole of the Earth's frame

Thus Nature kingship for the first time invented

-

Yet it remained in the shadows

Yet it remained far from any one's gaze

Yet it remained waiting for its proper owner

One who for many years did not appear

One whose great reward he ignored

-

The real owner did not know his fate oh no

The real owner rumours did hear though

As all spread them from East to West

As all talked about their future glory

As all saw themselves as kings of the Universe''

While slightly disappointed with the actual contents of the tale, your interest in the performance remains, as the ambaliori's fire suddenly vanishes and all sound stops. This absence, luckily, doesn't last long, as a strange figure wearing a mask with antlers lits a candle and the music restarts. Although you cannot see the ambaliori.

''I shall be the one who rules high above

Yelled great Celain most confident deer

Over the mountain and the redwood tree

Below the stars and clouds of the Blue Sky

I shall be the one who rules victorious

-

Thus he travelled through barren fields and burnt forests

Slaughtering whatever he found opposing him

Oh Akaina itself did become full indeed

In vain as after three weeks he met no success

Thus the Horned One did his mad hunt for the cape end''

After that, the candle and the dancer disappear into the darkness of the basement. This time, however, it doesn't take too long for the performance to continue, as another small fire is lit elsewhere in the room. The person it illuminates is wearing a metal mask with mirrors as eyes, and remains sat still.

''I shall be the one who rules over all

Said Yrain of the Thousand Visions

Among the grey fog and the rocky stream

Below the watchful gaze of trees and birds

I shall be the one who rules eternal

-

Thus he spent night and day summoning the spirits

Torturing them to tell him of the location

Using great magic by all in the land unknown

Though in vain for after nine weeks the cape found not

Thus the Dark One did his great hunt for the cape end''

With that short story told, the motions repeat and the actor vanishes, being replaced by another one elsewhere in the basement. This time the dancer is clad in feathers and wears a mask with a sharp beak. Although you've never seen any deity that looks like that, you are sure those damned Nonnol know every little detail about them...

''I shall be the one who rules in Heaven

Sung Denain of the Glittering Wings

Above the white clouds of this sunny realm

Below the blue Heaven and Golden Sun

I shall be the one who rules majestic

-

Thus the track of the Sun he stopped to the cape find

Causing the dry landscape to like timber lit up

The Gray Land once more becoming full of people

Once more in vain for nine months passed with no success

Thus the Beaked One did his bright hunt for the cape end''

Then, as you were already expecting, light and sound vanish and return just as quickly. Although this time the flame is green and you can see both the teller and a dancer, who is wearing peasant rags.

''Thus what was meant to bring salvation brought much doom

Making what was bad oh much worse

Yet the royal cape hidden still remained

Waiting for its proper owner

Thus the cape invisible to all dark remained

-

Lord Harinnairin merely wept

Lamenting the death of the living world

So full of corruption and decay it then was

No plant growing no one's deeds at all praised

The Great Lord wanted to this end

-

Harinnairin for days thought of a solution

Harinnairin thought long and hard of it

Harinnairin oh Sleepless One

But at long last it was to him revealed

But at long last answers became as clear as day

-

I have to forever change the land to spread good around

I have to cultivate it all

So that order again returns

So that all may live happily

So that barbarity is from Our Sunny Realm expelled

-

He thus invented all techniques

And started planting seeds tilling soils and caring for all

Turning the scorched deserts of the land into lush farmland

Spreading with his labour virtue and the Natural Way

He thus was praised by all alive

-

Although at first the great lord his cult did ignore

Their praises falling on deaf ears

For he only cared of cultivation

Wanting just to order restore

Although his every deed was by many revered

-

It was then in great Ir Dauol

It was there that Harinnairin found it

It was then the black lord the royal cape unearthed

While ploughing the soil of that high island

While preparing to cultivate

-

I can not be the one meant to have this power

I can not be the one meant to rule all

Cried Harinnairin to Heaven

Cried Harinnairin with sorrowful woe

Cried Harinnairin to be heard in all corners''

As his predicament is recited, you think to yourself that Harinnairin is being quite stupid, not wanting to bask in the glory of his achievements and acting humbly. But then it hit you that this is a tale told by peasants, so what could you expect, right? In any case, three figures enter the stage, all dressed in their odd costumes and dancing to the kahillik.

''Oh Black Lord who are you if not our king

For boundless abundance you brought us all

All your fine deeds are worthy of high praise

And virtue to the Eight Directions spread

Oh Black Lord who are you if not our god

-

Said a delegation of mortals and spirits

To convince Harinnairin to become their king

For all feared what would be of the world without him

So much he improved this our world in so little

Said all from Celain Horned One to Mister Ni''

Then, the dancer dressed in rags put on a (rather expensive looking) cape and the tone radically changed, the fire becoming purple as well. You are happy the main character is finally behaving like someone worth talking about...

''By the words of adoration finally moved

Harinnairin the cape put on

And all forever changed in this our world

For he was the first of kings

By the words of adoration kingship was born

-

The humble lord glorious became

Taller than the tallest of all heroes

Stronger than a boar at land and a whale at sea

His mere sight causing as much praise as fear

The humble lord a king was made

-

Thus for centuries his powers used for good

Thus cultivation supreme did become

Thus countless millions were all fed

Feeding oh both the soul and the body

Feeding both young and old with great prosperity

-

During these centuries Nature's finest law was followed

During these centuries good reigned

For he showed the purest virtue

For he took care of everyone

For he never even thought of breaking that sacred way''

And thus, after reciting that last syllable, the story comes to an end and everything turns black and silent again. This time, however, you all are lead outside by the same servant who brought you in, careful to guide you without having anyone stumble upon anything. You can only be amazed at some people's ability to see in the dark.

A short break

---

''Wine and venison, page!''

Eager to breathe some fresh air and have something to eat before heading back downstairs, you order your staff to prepare a late dinner at the patio. One which you will sadly have to share with the Nonnol... It's in moments like these when you wonder if the alliance you want to maintain with them is worth having to actually bear them.

''-Didn't you find the metre superb, cousin? Her use of the kihabbai and her subtle subversion of the illurin simply brought tears to my eyes!
-Agreed! How could one not be amazed by her ability to keep a balance between tradition and innovation? Although her use of fire and other... trivial distractions undeniably worsened the quality of the performance.
-So often does the craftsman have great clay, yet so often it is damaged in the oven...
-You guys know what the story was about, right?''

Definitely thrilled by the idea of going back underground and not having to listen to your guests any longer, you tell the servants to take you all to the basement again, declaring the meal is over. Because of course, what kind of host would you be if you kept your guests away from the entertainment for too long? You think to yourself sarcastically while wishing you were peasants and could drink from the gourd.

Kaeri First Queen

---

''Be silent,

Hosts of mine

Be silent,

Trees and birds

Be silent,

Fish and wind

Be silent,

And listen''

The words of that familiar poem can be heard from everywhere at once as you enter into the dark room and the butler gives you a sit, the music starting shortly thereafter. The woman's voice accompanies the sound of the instruments, a fire slowly rising as the verses start to be recited.

''Of his rise you now know

Harinnairin First King

Whose virtue was by all adored

Who was the Farmer King

Of the fields and rivers

-

Of his fall you must know

Now for the tale to end

The High Lord's tale

Who at last was beaten

Of it you will soon hear

-

Thus let us the end bring

Thus let me his fall tell

Thus let the high ones raise their souls

With his story's lesson

With his virtues and flaws

-

Please do not your eyes close

Please do not ears ignore

My humble words

My humble song and myth

My humble praise to Hun''

After saying that god's name, an actress dressed in yellow robes enters the stage and starts performing around the dim light, the sound of water being heard all around. You are certainly not used to seeing women dance in such... formal ceremonies, you whisper to yourself.

''Long after Harinnairin king became

Long after he left the river

Long after the first crops

In the land a humble king sat

In the land there was virtuous control

-

In these days there was peace

In these days all lived properly

No war being waged at land or at sea

No great sin going unpunished

No thing out of order

-

It was then that Hun to the river went

To the place of his birth

And as into the waters gazed

He fair Hallerin saw

It was then that the high king learnt of love

-

Sadly this did his fate seal for the worse

For she was not to marry him

So sworn she was to Han

This forever altered our lord

Sadly for the fate of This Our Bright World''

Then, both the teller and the actress disappear as the Harinnairin impersonator's moves become more erratic. The water is also replaced with rattles and all semblance of harmony in the melody disappears.

''Why am I tempted to break Nature's Law?

Me who is its keeper and enforcer

Who is meant to shine brighter than the Sun

And guide this our high world through example

Why am I tempted to cause harm to all?

-

Whispered King Harinnairin to by none be heard

Fearing to fall victim to his new desires

Oh how chaotic and unbalanced they all were

Love's sweet and wild whispers of joy and great glory

Whispered Our Lord Harinnairin truly disturbed''

This monologue is ended by the dancer hurling a sickle at the crowd, knocking off someone's hat. That makes you so happy you have to make a gargantuan effort to not interrupt the session with your childish laughter. In any case, the actor hides into the darkness and the ambaliori enters the scene once more, the tune remaining equally deformed.

''Unable to forget her gaze his duties left

Causing decay to once more spread

All falling out of order in the land

As it was oh so long ago

Unable to forget the glory he saw then

-

Silence and death reigned oh supreme

The fields and crops to the Gray Land travelled

From the Heavens lightning but no rain fell for days

And the people virtue forgot once more

Silence and death it replacing

-

The few virtuous ones ceaselessly wept for weeks

The few good ones wanted the king's return

The few proper ones wanted peace

But their desperate pleas fell on deaf ears

But they were ignored by Harinnairin

-

Harinnairin in his solitude grew worse day by day

Harinnairin wanted one thing

To be with his dearest maiden

To be with she who was promised

To be with she whom Our Lady Kaeri held dearest

-

Madness in him grew for twelve years

Eager to end his pain but not to go against the law

Thus he suffered more pain than anyone could imagine

Not even the most starved citizens of the underworld

Madness in him grew with no end

-

It grew until it could grow no more inside him

And then it grew beyond his self

Born out of Harinnairin's pain it was

Yrankuwalir oh pale beast

It grew in the abode of Mad Harinnairin

-

This though the king's pain did not end

This though his soul did not raise from the depths

This though did not answer the pleas of the good ones

It only gave him company in woe

It only gave the lord a son

-

Oh this son Yrankuwalir was not silent

Oh this son of his countless things whispered

Whispers of committing great crimes

Whispers of seducing the devoted

Whispers of defiling Kaeri's will and law

Then the Harinnairin impersonator leaps into the scene once more, this time wearing rather odd garbs full of bells. To enter the stage, he jumps over the crowd, although you have no clue how he got behind you all without seen. You should definitely ask that ambaliori for advice on how to organize the next banhan feast, you mutter.

''I the king cry for you oh Hallerin

Unable to be fair because of you

All of the world's misery your fault is

Thus please come with me so that it is solved

I the king this of you most humbly beg

-

Said the king in the cape to the maiden one day

The gloriously imposing lord of all begging

Hoping to with his words the maiden's union break

To make her leave Kaeri's embrace and be his

Said the king all the words he could recite to her''

To answer his monologue, the same actress as before enters the scene, though much more calmly than the man.

''Oh your pain and misery I lament

And for the problems of the land I cry

Yet I am not yours and never will be

For you are not to compare to my One

Oh your self so inferior to her own

-

Replied the lady on the Black River's bright banks

Green-eyed mortal who rejected Harinnairin

Bravest of all who no god's words would make her stray

And desert Kaeri's warm and loving embrace

Replied thus she Hallerin with divine courage''

And then the music stops and the fire is snuffed out. This drags on for far longer than expected, until yet another explosion lits a rather large fire and the sounds begin again. This music is much more coherent and intense than what was being played before, and you see several actors at the stage, all dancing chaotically.

''Thus Harinnairin in his cave bitterly wept

Yrankuwalir whispering

And Blue-eyed Harinnairin listening

To the shapeless being's advice

Thus Harinnairin decided to all destroy

-

Thus with terrible intent flew

Chasing the bright Sun in Heaven above

Eager to it capture and Creation burn whole

So Kaeri could not her sworn one have

Thus making him forever pleased

-

Denain however his chase ended quickly

Denain fiery arrows shooting

Denain thus the great lord fell

Piercing his glorious wings of silk and jade

Piercing his body oh so mighty and dreadful

-

Thus Harinnairin Black Lord fell to the water below

Thus Harinnairin his scheme changed

For he was still eager to hurt

For he was bitter as the most

For he would not let them rejoice

-

In his dreadful mind a dark thought

A simple way to all in Creation at least destroy

His duties he would keep neglecting until all were dead

And fertility would to all the land wholly deny

In his dreadful mind so simple

-

In this Harinnairin though did not find success

Only bringing forth his demise

For the good ones this would not tolerate

And his reign would bring to an end

In this Harinnairin and his son did not think

-

Thus all who would live gathered there

Thus all gathered under the Great One's flag

Thus all obeyed the High Lady of the Flowers

Eager to at long last King Hun depose

Eager to Nature's Law restore

-

All then entered Harinnairin's darkest abode

All then sung songs of war and destruction

The Lord of All fighting with bravery

The lord slaying thousands with his power

The lord slaying with fire thunder and anger''

The melee suddenly stops when Harinnairin kicks everyone away from him to let everyone see him clearly. Although the ungodly noise the countless bells on his costume make is driving you mad.

''You shall not slay me in this darkest place

For I am the king of all Creation

Invincible with my most royal cape

Thus you shall cease in your attempts and leave

You may choose to do that or die in here

-

Yelled Harinnairin growing desperate below

Crushing countless but countless more joining the fight

For all were against him and none defended him

The power of his cape not enough to save him

Yelled thus Harinnairin in fear and agony''

However, once his monologue is over, all the other actors make quick work of him and seize him. They then beat him with hopefully blunt sticks and leave him laying on the ground, taking off a garment you assume is his cape and throwing leaves and such trash over him. You feel kind of sorry for him...

''At long last though Blue-eyed Harinnairin was slain

After causing a great slaughter

Killing both gods and mortals in his rage

Before Hallerin the Great pierced his heart

At long last to defend the one she was sworn to

-

All thus the Victorious One praised

The mortal so noble she killed a god

Though this feat she dedicated to her goddess

Whom she argued should now be queen of all

All thus Kaeri gave the cape

-

Harinnairin's beaten body was torn to shreds

Harinnairin's remains were spread around

Harinnairin's bones were defiled

And his shapeless son was burnt by the Sun

And his shapeless son was by beaked Denain mocked

-

In the tallest peaks was the bright new era thus announced

In the burnt fields all reveered her

For she made all fertile once more

For she shone bright with great virtue

For she restored the pure forests of this our sunny realm

-

The people thus praised the queen's deeds

And to her worship countless people become devoted

The new reign shining for brighter than Harinnairin's own

Kaeri acting as a beacon of virtue and good

The people inspired by her''

After wrapping up the story and reciting those last words, the session comes to an end. After all, the narrative cycle is over and she has already been entertaining you for hours. Thus the butler leads you all out of the second basement, never letting you see the room fully illuminated. Guess that's where the magic of the telling is...
As to the ambaliori, you never see her or any of the dancers leave, being too preoccupied giving orders to your staff to send the Nonnol to sleep so that they may let you enjoy the rest of the night in peace.