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FESOAN or Andor as it is commonly called was as beautiful as Z'Hai had remembered it. She walked slowly through Therin Park, A Water Guardian sanctuary in the Andorian capital. Terraced waterfalls, water gardens, airy ferns, woody stems sticky with nectar, and bright blooms surrounded her as she walked giving her a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time...a time she wished she could go back to.
She closed her eyes listening to the sound of falling water, letting it move through her as it tried to penetrate her soul. She imagined that she could "see" the spirits of her ancestors surrounding her in this place, one of the most sacred places of her people. This place where the Water Guardians dwelt as did the heroic spirits of those that came before her. She drew a deep breath taking in the scents of her surroundings, she wished that Kirune could have come here with her, she wanted to share this piece of herself with her in their tezha.
Z'hai remembered back to the last time she was here, feeling a pang of sadness with the memory. Her Father T'Harn had brought her and her half-sister D'Ambrath here to tell them that Z's mother had passed to be with the ancestors. Somehow this place, this wondrous and beautiful place softened the blow of losing her mother.
She opened her eyes, thinking about the family she had lost on the Epsilon Theta 5 colony and wondered if their spirits returned here to the place they knew as home. Her mind drifted to the "Tale of the Breaking"...
Thirishar rose up with sword in hand and challenged the gatekeeper of Uzaveh, saying, “I have done as your Master commanded. The tasks are completed. Now let me pass or face the same fate as those who were sent forth to stop my quest.”
But Uzaveh the Infinite, watching from the Throne of Life, was amused that this creature, made of little more than the dust of the universe, dared demand entry at the gates. To spare the gatekeeper from the warrior’s death-blade, Uzaveh bid Thirishar enter.
Thirishar walked proudly down the Path of Light, believing that as the first to complete the tasks of Uzaveh, the Empty Throne beside the Infinite, the Throne of Secrets, now belonged to the Greatest Among Mortals. Had Thirishar not earned the right?
But wise Uzaveh, omnipotent and omniscient, Eternal and Infinite, knew that the warrior possessed the power and knowledge to conquer all challenges, save one.
Uzaveh held up a hand, and Thirishar halted.
“Are you Whole?” whispered Uzaveh in a voice that shook the universe.
But the warrior did not understand the question. “I am Thirishar. I claim the Empty Throne.”
“No,” answered Uzaveh. “You are unworthy, for you are not yet Whole.”
Thirishar trembled and knelt before the Uzaveh, for the first time understanding the arrogance and the vanity that had misled the mortal to this moment.
Still, Uzaveh had mercy.
Death was not to be Thirishar’s fate.
“Instead,” decreed Uzaveh, “from one, there shall be four.
“To one shall be given wisdom to be a protector—the cunning warrior who shall fight for the future.
“To another shall be given strength, providing a foundation upon which the others can build.
“One shall be given blood, the river of life that shall flow among the others, providing nurture and sustenance when the flesh longs to yield.
“And to the last shall be given passion, for the flame of desire will bring change to the others and warm them when the chill is bitterest.”
So Thirishar became four: Charaleas became wisdom; Zheusal became strength; Shanchen became blood; Thirizaz became passion. Together, the four are the First Kin.
Uzaveh banished the four to the farthest reaches of the kingdom and upon seeing them there, so far from the Thrones and utterly alone, appointed for each a guardian.
For Thirizaz, the Fire Daemon fed the soul-consuming passion. Loving Shanchen became a vessel for the Water Spirit, forever bound to the Eternal love flowing from Uzaveh’s Throne. For strong Zheusal, Earth became protector. For wise Charaleas, the Stars became guides, their light defying darkest night.
“When you are Whole, as I am Whole,” Uzaveh said, “then shall you return to my presence and assume your place at my side.”
—From The Liturgy of the Temple of Uzaveh;
Third-Century Codex
...her thoughts moved to recent events in her life, "where does this leave me"?
She closed her eyes listening to the sound of falling water, letting it move through her as it tried to penetrate her soul. She imagined that she could "see" the spirits of her ancestors surrounding her in this place, one of the most sacred places of her people. This place where the Water Guardians dwelt as did the heroic spirits of those that came before her. She drew a deep breath taking in the scents of her surroundings, she wished that Kirune could have come here with her, she wanted to share this piece of herself with her in their tezha.
Z'hai remembered back to the last time she was here, feeling a pang of sadness with the memory. Her Father T'Harn had brought her and her half-sister D'Ambrath here to tell them that Z's mother had passed to be with the ancestors. Somehow this place, this wondrous and beautiful place softened the blow of losing her mother.
She opened her eyes, thinking about the family she had lost on the Epsilon Theta 5 colony and wondered if their spirits returned here to the place they knew as home. Her mind drifted to the "Tale of the Breaking"...
Thirishar rose up with sword in hand and challenged the gatekeeper of Uzaveh, saying, “I have done as your Master commanded. The tasks are completed. Now let me pass or face the same fate as those who were sent forth to stop my quest.”
But Uzaveh the Infinite, watching from the Throne of Life, was amused that this creature, made of little more than the dust of the universe, dared demand entry at the gates. To spare the gatekeeper from the warrior’s death-blade, Uzaveh bid Thirishar enter.
Thirishar walked proudly down the Path of Light, believing that as the first to complete the tasks of Uzaveh, the Empty Throne beside the Infinite, the Throne of Secrets, now belonged to the Greatest Among Mortals. Had Thirishar not earned the right?
But wise Uzaveh, omnipotent and omniscient, Eternal and Infinite, knew that the warrior possessed the power and knowledge to conquer all challenges, save one.
Uzaveh held up a hand, and Thirishar halted.
“Are you Whole?” whispered Uzaveh in a voice that shook the universe.
But the warrior did not understand the question. “I am Thirishar. I claim the Empty Throne.”
“No,” answered Uzaveh. “You are unworthy, for you are not yet Whole.”
Thirishar trembled and knelt before the Uzaveh, for the first time understanding the arrogance and the vanity that had misled the mortal to this moment.
Still, Uzaveh had mercy.
Death was not to be Thirishar’s fate.
“Instead,” decreed Uzaveh, “from one, there shall be four.
“To one shall be given wisdom to be a protector—the cunning warrior who shall fight for the future.
“To another shall be given strength, providing a foundation upon which the others can build.
“One shall be given blood, the river of life that shall flow among the others, providing nurture and sustenance when the flesh longs to yield.
“And to the last shall be given passion, for the flame of desire will bring change to the others and warm them when the chill is bitterest.”
So Thirishar became four: Charaleas became wisdom; Zheusal became strength; Shanchen became blood; Thirizaz became passion. Together, the four are the First Kin.
Uzaveh banished the four to the farthest reaches of the kingdom and upon seeing them there, so far from the Thrones and utterly alone, appointed for each a guardian.
For Thirizaz, the Fire Daemon fed the soul-consuming passion. Loving Shanchen became a vessel for the Water Spirit, forever bound to the Eternal love flowing from Uzaveh’s Throne. For strong Zheusal, Earth became protector. For wise Charaleas, the Stars became guides, their light defying darkest night.
“When you are Whole, as I am Whole,” Uzaveh said, “then shall you return to my presence and assume your place at my side.”
—From The Liturgy of the Temple of Uzaveh;
Third-Century Codex
...her thoughts moved to recent events in her life, "where does this leave me"?
