Nanda the Broke
''Was he a drunkard? Yes! Was he a deeply disturbed individual? Definitely! Would I have wanted to be anywhere near him? Of course not! But let us not forget how much we owe that long-dead guy...''The last heir to the Darainek Kings and their long legacy, Nanda ''the Broke'' never accomplished much in life. His plans to claim the throne all failed, his personal life was full of woe and he died before his 25th birthday, sick and without a coin to his name. And yet the consequences of his actions can still be felt after all these years...
Lord of Many Names
Officially Nanda·oyr Ine Nanda·ek Inen Aeneko·ek Inenen Aenek Talat Eyek Ernaibe, Nanda's full name was as long as it was unused. Not even the titular:''(Nandali, Ohlaineh du): Iye Nanda·oyr Ine Nanda- (Nilo ki·e Noli, Ohli du): Wo! Nandali lo? (Nandali, Ohli to katli fil): Ani wo! *Si·e* Nandali sinsin oni...-Aukan''(Nanda, in Tayarnek): I am Nanda·oyr Ine Nanda- (Nilo the Noli, in Ohli): Oh! Nandali? (Nanda, changing to Ohli): You bet! Just like *that* Nandali...-Theatre play
''Salmon-Nanda, son of Nanda, grandson of Aeneko, great grandson of Aenar the Lord's Herald in Ernai''uttered it all that much. Instead, he had quite a repertoire of modified versions depending on whom he was talking to. To the Noli he was Nandali, while his loyal supporters called him Nanda·eyr (Divine-Nanda) and everyone else preferred either Nanda·ori (Broke-Nanda) or simply Oyko, Lil' Salmon.
Biography
Under the Herald's Shadow
As befitting someone from such an old and storied family, Nanda's biography should start not with him, but rather with his long dead ancestor, Aenar. The 14th king of the Darainek Dynasty, Aenar was a controversial figure. On one hand, he was the most successful conqueror in Tayarnek history. He crossed the equator, drove the nomads from their grazing grounds and even crossed the sea, building forts all along the Rainbow Isles. But of course, this came at a price. After all, despite what some... history enthusiasts might think, soldiers have to come from somewhere and be fed by someone. So needless to say that, after 17 years of non-stop warfare, both the peasants that manned the armies and the nobles that sent them to man said armies were rather tired of Aenar. Thus, the country rose up and deposed him, installing the Narsion Dynasty and exiling Aenar and his clan to the barely conquered Rainbow Isles.''Ekainir eynerek, ekainir takhemek, ekainir pinamek yek takkuntamek''.-Iskun Aenarek''King of the army, king of wickedness, king of blood and famine''.-Aenar's gravestone
Early Life
Salmon Boy
''What do you mean you want to call him Taranok? Why not just call him Old-and-Dusty to get the idea across more effectively? No! This weird-looking child shall instead be named Nanda, just like me''.And so that's where, 821 years ago, Nanda came into the world. Born during the so called-Nanda·oyr's father
''Fish Hours''the family astrologer suggested he be named Taranok, after an ancient sea god. This, however, was quickly rejected by the father, who insisted the baby should also be called Nanda. But, of course, he saw the wisdom in having a child with a ''lucky name'', so a middle ground was found and Nanda·oyr was added to the family tree.
Ni Tokko Einokoyta...
Even though that proverb is not meant to be taken literally (instead being a metaphor for the importance of having the right tools for a job), Nanda·oyr certainly was a prince without a horse. Despite their best attempts look rich, the last of the Darainek were an impoverished bunch. Ruling over what essentially amounted to a half-finished colony, most of their settlements were actually a net loss. A burden that fell squarely on their shoulders, for the new Narsion Dynasty had very little interest in helping their former rivals... Thus, the Salmon Boy didn't enjoy a particularly lavish childhood. All his toys were inherited, his room had no insulation and he couldn't even leave the castle, lest the natives kidnap him like they kidnapped his uncle. But, in Nanda's own words:''Ni tokko einokoyta ti ttempokoyta nonka·endakta, iyan...''-Tap Tayarnek''A prince without a horse or a polo ground will never thrive...''-Tayarnek proverb
''Heroes are not born among cuddly pillows and silk blankets''Plus, his was the only noble family in a 1000 mile radius, so he didn't have much of an idea of how the other lords lived... In any case, he grew up with the stories of his great and noble lineage. By age 6, he could recite the entire Darainek King List, and by age 12 he had memorized all their deeds and legends. And so the little lord grew up dreaming of being like his ancestors. He dreamt of crushing the Nebek, like Nanda·eyr, of brining peace to the Priesthood, like Nikten. He even dreamt of finding true love, like fair Nikko.
The Young Prince
''I here do solemly swear, with my hands holding the scripture and my heart holding its wisdom, to sacrifice life and limb to protect the holy institutions of this land, the Priesthood and the Kingship. As did my father and his father before that''.-The Prince's Oath
But he soon found himself instead emulating King Kiyan, an orphan before his 15th birthday. A child with a crown a few sizes too big. Sure, Kiyan's crown wasn't made of wood, but who cares about the little details... What mattered was that he was now the prince of the Rainbow Isles now, free to restore his family's honour.
His first move was to find a wife. Of course, Nanda's isolated fiefdom had no suitable matches, so his cousin and regent (a certain Nideik) graciously allowed him to go to the Mainland to go look for one himself. He even assured the 14 year old that this journey not only could, but should take years, for the Darainek's was the noblest of lineages.
Seeing the truth in these words, he left the castle for the first time in years and took the first ship out of the harbour. With a bag full of gold, a head full of dreams and just 3 people by his side, surely nothing could go wrong.
On a Mission
A Strange Homeland
''-Fetch me the bucket, servant! The sea is truly trying to deprive me of my dignity today... -Oh, prince, the sea is most calm today, should you want to know. Though I assume that his majesty already knows such things, having spent his entire life living by the beach. -My ancestors were horse people! They didn't sail, and, when they did, really bad things happened. Just look at Aenar, once he sailed- Ok no, please I need the bucket''.And so, after a rough week at sea, the ship reached the Mainland. And what a shock it was to the young prince, who, despite having read extensively about the:-A seasick salmon
''Endless fields of Tayarnerlai, golden with wheat and purple with wine''had never actually seen them before. In fact, he had never seen anything other than the thick forests and swamps of his native isles, where row upon row of moss-covered trees made it impossible to see very far. Neither was Nanda used to seeing so many people. Of course, he had read of how his ancestors raised massive armies and ruled from sprawling cities, but he had never seen a town with more than 500 people. In his mind he couldn't comprehend the sheer vastness of the Mainland and its population... All of this made him sick, for he realized how little he actually had.
Istarikot Istaringeng
''Istarikot istaringeng istarbekta ismend, yek tokaendak ppanarn ayekanat batend...''-Tap Tayarnek''From castle to castle the beggar goes, reminding all of debts long forgotten...''-Tayarnek proverb
But eventually the Little Salmon got back on his feet, finding strength in the story of his earliest ancestor, Nandapalir. After all, Nandapalir was a dusty nomad living on the edge of the desert, yet he managed to defeat his enemies and build a great kingdom. So that surely meant he could do it too, surely...
Thus the child and his tiny retinue took to the road, looking for the castles of the great houses but also using the opportunity to spread the word of:
''The return of the noble Darainek''with mixed success. Normally, such words of open defiance to the Narsion dynasty would have been met with more hostility, but, luckily for the small party, the average commoner didn't even think the Rainbow Isles were a real place. Thus, most didn't think much of their claims to the throne or their quest to find a noble bride. This also extended to the aristocracy to some extent. Sure, they knew the Rainbow Isles existed, and they knew the last royal house got exiled there, but they didn't think the sickly-looking boy talking to them was the actual prince of the region.
At Long Last
''Sure thing, buddy. Oh, sorry, majesty! I hope, though, that you can forgive me, for my allegiance rests truly with the Prince of Wine, who brings joy and takes only coin and rank''.And so they wandered the Mainland for 3 years, stumbling from rejection to humiliating rejection. Their only comfort was that they still had money, until they finally got robbed of all their wealth on the way to Taranai, of course. On the verge of having a breakdown, the Salmon Boy abandoned his party, calling them:-Just another night at the bar
''Saboteurs! secret agents of the Narsions hellbent on seeing the Cause fail''.
Without anywhere to be (or the money to get there), Nanda started walking aimlessly across the fields. For hours he walked, hungry and scorched by the Midday Sun, until he found a lonely sheep among the tall grass. Confused by the sight, he was unsure what to do. Sure, he could steal it, but where would he even take it?...
So there he stood, he stood until he was thrown to the ground.
An Audience
''A prince steals not from the land, and *I* am a prince, the prince of the Rainbow Isles, to be more precise. Thus, I hope you see the truth in my innocence, for I was truly just admiring that sheep and its magnificent coat. As did my revered ancestor Nikko, the founder of the Royal Sheep and Cattle Festival, of course. Though I suppose your Aenekion lineage is already familiar with this fact...''Mistaken for a sheep thief, the young prince was beaten with a rod and carried away. He was carried away until they reached a large tent, whose black banners he recognized from his old books.-Nanda to his captors
''Aenekions!''thought the prince, rather happy to realize he was in the presence of the Darainek Kings' most loyal followers. Sure, he was bruised, his clothes torn and his legs probably broken, but surely they would realize the justness of his cause. And, be it because of their historical ties, politics or a miracle, he was right for once. He not only managed to convince the Aenekion lord that he was, indeed, Nanda·oyr, prince of the Rainbow Isles, but also that he should marry his daughter, fair Inapalir.
Back Home
Dealing with Nideik
And so Nanda, Inapalir and about 200 Aenekion soldiers went on their merry way, back across the sea to the Rainbow Isles. Having been absent for 4 years already, a great crowd (well, great for those bleak lands' standards) gathered to greet their lord, for everyone thought he was dead. As the people cheered, though, Nanda soon noticed a rather puzzling absence. Where was Nideik, his most loyal cousin and regent? It was his idea to send him across the ocean to find a worthy bride, so surely he should have been the happiest to hear of his success... But then it hit him, Nideik didn't want him to come back at all! And so the Salmon Boy decided to enter the castle to see his cousin, accompanied by his little army, of course. Seeing how hopelessly outmatched he was, Nideik didn't try to put up a fight, he just opened the gates and gave him the princely crown. But Nanda was not going to leave things like that. He knew how his ancestors dealt with such rebellious relatives. Of course, he wasn't going to:''Ni dai, Nideik! Ni dekeikoy iyek dai''.-Nid''Here I am, Nideik! Here with my claim''.-Legend
''Throw him down a well to feed Einokkokku''
the family had abandoned those rituals a long time ago, but he surely wasn't going to let this stand. Thus, he had his cousin castrated and forced to live at bottom of a dried-up well to keep with the spirit of the old customs.
A Mediocre Prince
''Wo! Sinsin poki taba·o Ehki Kisan ka·e koko Tawanai nin hon kiki·e hesai towoh... Ani! Be komohte pen ki·atlite aka balodali on itlawih aineh nin ot·li. Balodalili on ehli ksimopan ni an pen i beli. I to, be Ehki Kisan thelbi pla pen, wolnin na fen ehli ka·e kap·si kaksuna naku haldil pan fen''.-Aukan''Oh! This situation is just like Kiyan's struggles with the princes of Taranai... Yes! How they struggled over the ownership of the great vineyards at Istarik Einek, which I have personally visited. And so, just like Kiyan would have done, I command you to return the anchovies to their rightful owner''.-Theatre play
Thus, with all those matters sorted out, he could finally rule his own domain. This he did with mixed results. Not trusting the
''Backwards residents of the Rainbow Isles''
he instead relied on his wife and Aenekion soldiers to help him govern. And when it came to passing judgement, none ever saw Nanda take a decision without quoting the stories of his ancestors, even if said ancestors never had to face the problem at hand.
Furthermore, it quickly became apparent that the prince's preoccupations sometimes proved a bit too... hard to understand by those around him. Like how he doubled taxes just to get a new set of imported Noli porcelain for his court, or how he had the castle priest replaced, for his favourite ancestor, King Kiyan also did that.
These and other measures to increase his legitimacy were met with outrage by his subjects, but little did he care.
Kue Ssinanganat ppinend
''Kue Ssinanganat ppinend erlayat ppanend''.-Tap Tayarnek''He who looks at the clouds forgets the ground''.-Tayarnek proverb
Little did he care until they made him care. For his cousin Nideik climbed out the well and rallied the people of the islands against him and his cause. Even though they weren't many (in fact Nanda's Aenekion retinue was larger than all but two towns in the isles), they were everywhere.
And so, eventually, Salmon Boy found himself trapped inside his own keep. The situation seemed bleak, so much so that he started writing a poem lamenting the incoming end of the Darainek Dynasty. But then came another group of Aenekion representatives, to demand the rebels:
''Let Inapalir, her troops and (if possible) her husband leave''.
Not wanting to sour relations with their primary grain provider, Nideik accepted this. All except the husband part, for he'd rather throw that boy down a well, preferrably one full of poisoned water.
Nanda knew this, but he was not going to let his noble lineage come to an end, so he bravely hid himself inside Inapalir's wardrobe and got carried out to safety. And so came to an end his 20 months as the actual ruler of the Rainbow Isles...
Nanda ''the Broke''
Attekap Apcikakh
''Attekap apcikakh, akhemkakh''.-Tap Tayarnek''Wealth in poverty and piety''.-Tayarnek proverb
The prince-in-exile was actually quite relieved to be out of those barren islands, though. Clearly that was no place from which to organize his dynasty's second rise to power. As he famously said:
''If I couldn't even find a wife there, how could I ever hope to find loyal soldiers? Good administrators? Even someone worthy of changing my clothes...''Thus, he set himself up in Taranai, the greatest city and port in the Tayarnek Lands. But his plans of joining the city's high society and finding new supporters were cut short when his Aenekion backers got tired of his lack of results and stopped financing his lifestyle. He begged his wife to convice her relatives to give him another chance, but neither was she interested in defending him nor was the decision open to re-evaluation.
Saved
''(Tibidau): Su mai haslini da fen wo kandi aki timisowâ dal hi dal, dalili poni du alb- (Nandali, i tisal): Palan ni fen, dalili lo? Tibi nin lo? Taklim ehki e kaksu ni, Nandesi, hispal ha ilbasi· su aidasi· wi poki hesai nin, tibi alba kaselili du dauwi...-Aukan''(Sommelier): And here I present you a glass of the finest sowâ wine, made with temple peach- (Nanda, condescending): Excuse me, peaches? In wine? Even my ancestor Nanda·eyr, known for his great chastity and restraint, knew wine comes from grapes...-Theatre play
With a heart full of sorrow and a purse empty of gold, there weren't many places for him to go, so naturally he ended up in the port's many taverns. There, between jars of cheap wine and this weird imported liquor that was about thrice as strong, he told anyone who would listen of his problems. Of how:
''My wretched subjects hate me, my barren wife refuses to see me at night and my scheming relatives think me a lunatic''.Especially strong was his condemnation one fateful night. Fueled by a recent shipment of imported liquor, the words flowed like never before. For the first time in ages, the whole tavern listened to his speech, from the lowest sailor to the keeper himself. And among the crowd there were Noli merchants, agents of the renowned Inko Katle. Even though the titular M. Katle was a bit hard to convince that this frail-looking drunkard was actually the prince of anywhere, their situation was desperate enough to grant him an interview. Thus, a few days later, Nanda was invited to attend a wine tasting in the Katle's beachside compound. Even though the Noli clearly didn't understand that wine was made from grapes and not peaches, he decided to humour the foreigner. And it certainly paid off... At first, the night went as expected. The Katle's sommelier presenting a variety of wines from the finest regions of Wherever-the-Noli-Come-from and Nanda·oyr using any opportunity to talk about the glory of his dynasty. But then Inko spoke:
''Are the Rainbow Isles for sale? Even a portion would suffice, but we are willing to buy all the estates Nideik is currently holding hostage. And even to get rid of said Nideik, if that were to... please you''.When he heard that, he almost fainted from the excitement. Especially once they revealed how much they were willing to pay him for those swampy wastes he legally owned. Now, sure, selling titles is technically illegal under Tayarnek Law, but the prince didn't care. He'd surely sort everything out once he reclaimed the throne...
One More Time
A Second Tour
''This time it will surely be different, I tell you, Inapalir! Clad in silk and the legitimacy of my ancestors I- I mean We, won't be at all humiliated... Neither by petty lords nor by town fools''.Now rich, Nanda managed to leave the port's taverns and start planning a second tour of the realm. And this time he actually had some reason to be optimistic, as the last Narsion king had recently died and none of his 9 sons (6 biological and 3 adopted) were willing to give up their claims. Thus, maybe, he thought, the lords of the land would finally embrace him and support his claim instead, be it because they:-Just another day at home
''At long last realized the weakness inherent to the Narsions and their illegitimate ways''or just because Nanda was a complete outsider. A complete outsider with no power of his own and barely any hair on his face, a profile which historically has proven... quite popular with Tayarnek lords. And so the prince, alongside a rather reluctant Inapalir, left Taranai.
Kue Ttamokot Khepar
''Kue ttamokot khepar en ayak tekhamnarn irssanganbe khibar en''.-Tap Tayarnek''He who is pulled by the heart walks through the thorniest fields''.-Tayarnek proverb
And all was well until they reached the Aenekion's domains. Even though Nanda felt personally wronged by his inlaws, there had recently been a new birth in the household, so Inapalir insisted he swallow his:
''Madman's pride''and arrange a visit to pay his respects. And so a rather upset-looking prince showed up at the castle, bearing gifts of wine and fine cloth, which the Aenekions not so politely turned down. Furthermore, the people there present were much more interested in talking to his wife than to him, the claimant to the throne. But, after a couple weeks there, things began to change. Not because his wife's family suddenly started caring about him, of course, but because a fair lady started:
''Showing great interest in me! Staying up late to talk of all the finer things in life and even holding hands...''This greatly shook the young noble, who so far had only read about romantic love. Sure, Taranai's taverns have never been known for their chastity, but this was clearly different. And so one night, like fair Nikko and his beloved Inanidae, they found themselves in a secluded area of the castle. There, among soft blankets and the prince's (admittedly drunk) poetry, love did flow. For about ten minutes, until no less than 12 Aenekions, Inapalir among them, entered the premises.
A Trial
''A miracle it was! A miracle, I tell you! For it was the very first time since they married me to him that I heard him talk about something *other* than his dead ancestors!''Tayarnek society doesn't contemplate many causes for divorce, but it just so happened that what Nanda just did was one of them. Thus, a court dispute began, made very short by the sheer amount of witnesses to the event. And that's where all his plans for regaining power finally died. His wealth all gone and his reputation worse than it already was, the:-A rather surprised Inapalir
''Salmon Strange and Mad''
headed back to Taranai, alone, humiliated and with wounds all over his back. Not even a horse to his name, the only thing he was allowed to keep was the blanket he was lying on that last night.
Nanda ''the Broken''
The Long Road
''Even Nandapalir, praised be his name and legacy, had a herd of sheep. We are both dusty Daraineks now, yet where are my sheep? Where are they and their soft coats? What of their sweet milk?''Heat may heal, but that's of little comfort when the blistering Tayarnek Sun is shining overhead and you have nothing to cover yourself with. Thus, the journey back to the great city was miserable. Albeit a fairly peaceful one. Nobody wanted to host an obvious criminal and no thief was stupid enough to think Nanda had anything worth stealing, so he was left to his own fate, only chased when he was caught stealing from the peasants' fields...-Nanda
Ni Nekar Dai
''Ni Nekar dai''.-Iskun''Here I rest''.-Gravestone
Despite the hardships, however, he did manage to reach Taranai in the end. Though by that point his wounds, unable to close during his long march, had become severely infected. Thus, the sick prince dragged himself to the city walls and at last rested.
There are no records for what happened next, but it is perhaps best to believe the playwrights here. According to one of them, he lied in the grass and, in the company of his once drinking mates, spoke one last time:
''Here I shall soon eternal rest, yet, as I feel the Twins fast approaching and my weak body giving up, I am ready to greet them with a smile. So cry not for me, nor for my crimes, poverty or earthly pain. For I truly accomplished my goals in the end! Like the kings of old, my death shall be seen by the noblest of people, those who despite it all still remember me. Truly, there is wealth in poverty and piety''.
After Him
Nandali
''I will grant you that Nandali's story has certain compeling elements. And, yes, it's one of those rare stories that appeal to both the lovers of comedy and tragedy. But I think that we as a society should move on! Find new characters to write about, you know?''.-Literary critic
Historically speaking, Nanda's (or well, Nandali's) sale of the Rainbow Isles marked the beginning of the Colonial Period. Thanks to him, Inko Katle and the Noli were able to establish a permanent presence in this part of the World, which eventually led to the end of Tayarnek independence.
This, however, is not why most Noli remember him. As far as everyone is concerned, the Rainbow Isles have but one founding parent, Inko Katle, and Nanda was just:
''The guy that happened to rule there before us''.Instead, his memory lives on in theatre plays and short stories, for people find his... colourful personality and life story quite intriguing. Be it because they find his antics hilarious or because they feel sorry for him and his tragic story.
Kue?
On the other hand, the Tayarnek don't really remember him much. Sure, he did enable the colonization of this whole part of the World, but, truth be told, there are more important people to remember. After all, the Rainbow Isles were barely a part of the Tayarnek Lands, and the few settlers within them left shortly after the Noli's arrival. Instead, popular memory prefers to focus on the events that, decades after Nanda's death, went on to happen in the Mainland...''Kue?''''Who?''
Age
24
Date of Birth
821 BP
Date of Death
796 BP
Children
Pronouns
He/him
Trivia:
- By itself, the name Nanda means something like ''gift''.
- In Noli lore, the original Nandali was a great hero, the protagonist of a hundred and one stories.
- According to traditional Tayarnek astrology, the day is divided into 6 regions, each governed by a different animal.
- Many Tayarnek names have ''pagan'' roots, containing the names of long forgotten gods.
- Nanda's kidnapped uncle was actually the legitimate prince of the Rainbow Isles. But nobody ever paid the ransom, so power passed on to Nanda's father.
- Distant cousins of the Tayarnek, the Nebek lived in the Tayarnek Lands before said Tayarnek moved in from the steppe.
- The Prince's Oath is meant to be uttered in the Akhemanic Tongue, a dead language commonly used by the Priesthood.
- There wasn't much agriculture in the Rainbow Isles at this point. Instead, the settlers lived off local fish and imported grain.
- Should be said that the Aenekions were involved in a feud with the Narsions during this time.
- 200 people represented about a tenth of the settler population at that time.
- Despite being the largest city in the country, Taranai was not the capital. Instead, the kings ruled from the much smaller Istarik.
- Nobody thought the liquor was much good, but drinking it quickly made you forget what you just drunk.
- Luckily for Inko Katle, nobody ever bothered to question their purchase of the Rainbow Islands...
- The 9 Narsion princes went on to fight a bloody civil war, the Anarchy of the Princes.
- Nobody knows what happened to Nideik in the end.
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