Berix

The Berix (plural: Berikai) is an ancient creature formed by the unholy bonding of a man with one of the Fallen. They are known to live near the banks of the Yashin'ara River and its tributaries. It is a creature that resembles a beautiful woman with long, raven hair, tantalizing eyes and rich full lips, but from the waist down has the body of a snake. Legends tell that the Berix sings soothing songs that can enchant unfaithful men to draw close, then she wraps her long tail around her victim, squeezes the life out of him, and then devours him. For this reason, devout men will seek a Berix out in hopes to show their faith in the face of her beauty and beguiling song. Legends tell that if a man can withstand a Berix's song, she is compelled to give him gifts ranging from large bags of gold, to scales from her tail or hairs from her head which have protective properties, depending upon the story.

Summary

In the era of the first migrations, Berron son of Belcan parted ways with his twin brother Belnasser. They both sought the Pillar of the Stars, but a wide range of mountains called Uman Qaubet stood in their apparent path. So Berron and Belnasser formed a covenant that they would part ways and meet at the Pillar and work together to build its defenses. Berron chose to go north around the mountains and so Belnasser chose to go south. But Berron never made it to his destination. He and his family traveled north and west around the mountains, but one day they came upon the verdant banks around the calm river Yashin'ara, and planned to make camp for a while before returning to the hot and dusty road south to the Pillar. One night, while Berron slept away from his wife and children, a spirit of the river, came out of the fog-laden waters of the river in the form of a beautiful woman, and seduced Berron. She called herself Yara. Yara was one of the lesser Fallen whose power had grown enough to take physical form on the earth, though not to her full strength. Berron forgot his vows to his wife and family and took Yara into his tent for the night. The next morning, Yara was gone, and though Berron had planned to leave, he urged his family to stay longer, secretly hoping to encounter the beautiful woman again. It is said that Yara had an offspring from their unnatural coupling and that offspring was a fowl and unholy creature, the Berix.

Historical Basis

This myth takes place in a very authoritative context. There is a Yashin'ara river, and the histories state that Berron went there and started his kingdom there, and that to this day many still follow the Cult of the River Goddess Yara. Many claim to have seen a Berix, particularly sailors plying the river, and to having heard her song. More than one ship a year will show up missing a man and claiming he was wooed into the water by the creature, though this might have been to cover up a more human reason for the crewman's disappearance.

Spread

The legend of the Berix has not spread very wide as the creatures seem bound to their river and its tributaries. Stories of the creature has spread to some degree, and storytellers will often speak of the creature as haunting the shores of waters closer to their current audience.

Variations & Mutation

The greatest variation on the myth have to do with the nature of the creature and the result of either resisting or succumbing to the creature's call. Some say the Berix's feminine beauty is only an illusion, and one shattered once one is caught in her clutches, where she is revealed to be a hideous monster. Others replace the serpentine half with that of a fish or even a lobster. Some say if you can resist the song she is compelled to give you a treasure such as a bag of gold or a scale from her bottom half or a snatch of her hair which can have potent protective powers. Perhaps the greatest variation of the Berix, is the Berro. Many say that Berron was so twisted by continued interactions with Yara's corruption that he himself did not die but transformed into a male Berix (Berro), and must now ply the rivers, mating unwillingly with the monsters he helped to create to propogate them.

Cultural Reception

The story is most relevant in the lands around Berron's kingdom. In those days, his pairing with Yara was seen as an important celestial event, and the creation of the Berikai as holy event. Now that the people of the land have predominantly returned to worship of the Archenlord, the story is told as more of a cautionary tale against unfaithfulness to wife, family and faith.

In Literature

Berron's encounter with Yara has been heavily written about, but the story is ancient and changed much before it reached ink and paper. Now the tale is often used to argue a certain philosophical, political or ideological world view.

In Art

The image of the half-woman, half-snake Berix is a regular inclusion in art of the area. Even if its a simple graphic in the corner of a map, the Berix is ubiquitous.

Date of First Recording

-2219

Date of Setting

-3715

Related Species

• Belcanites

Related Locations

• Yashin'ara