The Rangatir'iti

The Rangatir'iti (Orokhimshe: "the tiny little chief") is a Nuél-orokhim children's tale that originated in the Western Woods in the Y1080s. It has gained popularity among many of the Prairie Clans.

Summary

In the story, a little boy named Sen-- described as either an orphan, a tribeless child, or both in most settings-- wanders to the village of Tua'ngara to find a new home. The villagers feared he would die of Khemonga due to his small size and frail build, but he weathered the outbreak and quickly made friends in the village. The next time khemonga threatened the village, Sen had studied how to treat it. He shared the cure with the village, and nobody died that winter. However, Sen noticed there were no children playing in the orokhim village across the river, Kreposh. While the elders were debating whether or not to share Sen's cure with them, he snuck across the river and shared the magic cure with the other children. For his bravery and conviction, the elders honored the little boy as a Rangatira-- the Rangatir'iti, the littlest chief of them all.

Historical Basis

The basis of the story is a real khemonga outbreak in the mid-Y1070s. Sen Rangatir'iti was not a little boy, but an adult Wood Elf man of small stature. During his time in Tua'ngara, Sen developed an inoculation that prevented the spread of khemonga and shared it with the villagers of Kreposh, going directly against the wishes of the Kháivara Conclave. Unlike in the story, this was a highly controversial decision that led to Sen's banishment from Tua'ngara. He did not return to the village until his longtime friend Khan Rangatir'vidyhe sought him out at the onset of another khemonga outbreak in Y1081. It was only after saving countless lives in this outbreak-- orokhim and nuél-orokhim alike-- that Sen was given a place in the Kháivara Conclave and the name Rangatir'iti.

Date of First Recording

Y1080

Date of Setting

Y1070s