Gelila's Army

Gelila's Army is a Bellshin myth detailing the exploits of a powerful efflucist who commanded the reanimated bodies of the dead to drive the Irocai from Bellnear Island.

Summary

After driving all other groups from what they perceived to be their god-granted lands, the Irocai sought to extend their control by targeting the territory of the Bellshin. They struck swiftly, decimating the first village they came to after landing on Bellnear Island. The only survivor was Gelila, an efflucist known primarily for her knowledge of healing symbols. Enraged by the massacre of her community, Gelila vowed to avenge her friends and family and stop the Irocai invasion. Taking into consideration her knowledge of the human body and the effects caused by enflux drawings, Gelila experimented with the bodies of her dead loved ones until she stumbled upon a complex combination of symbols that brought them back to life. . .in a sense. They were merely reanimated, the enflux effects activating the most basic of bodily function. Because the souls had already been severed from their physical form, their was no true life in them--no personality, no thoughts, nothing that made them who they were again. Anything they did was by order from Gelila herself. This realization lead to the dissolution of any hesitance Gelila may have had. By her order, the fallen of her village would avenge themselves. It took several days from Gelila to reanimated her entire village before leading her new army. The Irocai had already attacked two other villages in that time but were slowed due to Bellshin defense that had grown as news of the invasion spread. Gelila sent her army forward as she gathered more fallen Bellshin to supplement her forces. The undead army ambushed the Irocai from behind, striking a fear greater than any could have imagined into the hearts of the fighters. Many ran, and those that didn't fell to opponents who felt no pain and gave no mercy. Gelila's army chased down the Irocai deserters until the survivors sailed back to Irocai territory with the horrific stories of the witch defending Bellnear Island with an undead army. The Irocai would never again invade Bellnear Island, eventually seeking a treaty to create a trade partnership and military alliance. The bodies of Gelila's army dug their own graves and were laid to rest at Ashvear Field. Once the adrenaline of the situation wore off, Gelila was hit by the exhaustion from the excessive use of her enmanity and the crushing weight of the loss of her loved ones. She was lauded as a hero by the Bellshin. Leaders sought her knowledge in order to prepare another undead army in the event of another invasion, but she refused to explain the process. What she had done was a necessary, but unnatural act that should never again be attempted. Unable to fully recover from the exertion or sorrow, Gelila passed less than a year later in her sleep.

Related Ethnicities