Third Interlude
Swells Over Still Waters (+Audiobook)
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(Authors Note: the formatting for the Interludes doesn’t hold up well in Substack, but hopefully they are still readable and enjoyable. They are not essential to the story, but they serve to color in the world. Also some of the most over-the-top and ridiculous voice work is in the interlude spaces, so enjoy that.)
Excerpt, ‘Unions of the Cleave of Coldor’
Tashyün, earliest recorded leader, who created the Rule of the First, declaring that the first born shall rule only after being united in marriage, else they shall cede the title, whose end Vésh brought at an unrecorded time
Bälebinn, firstborn of Tashyün, inherited leadership upon marriage to Gidita-Jula of Filkash, who remained leader of Coldor 24 years, during which time was created the Rule of Cleaving, and whose end Vésh brought at age 68 and 70
Rule of Cleaving: rendered authority equally split between the married rulers
Cleave Petváhol, firstborn son of Bälebinn,
& Tilshün of Coldor, whose rule lasted 21 years, during which time Saintstone was discovered, and whose end Vésh brought at age 71 and 70
Cleave Miltagg, firstborn daughter of Petváhol,
& Kurrtau of Coldor, whose rule lasted 30 years, during which time their firstborn passed at a young age, and whose end Vésh brought at age 61 and 77
Cleave TauTarrlam, secondborn son of Miltagg,
& Ewelnümé of Coldor, whose rule lasted 16 years, until the breaking of union vows by TauTarrlam, whence he was banished to Flatrock
The Great Schism: when the Fāy-Núl Tör seceded from the Sanctum of Souls, occurred during the 13th year of Cleave Tautarrlam Ewelnümé’s leadership
Cleave Ewelnümé, upholder of the Cleave, who ruled for an additional 6 years, during which time she became the oldest recorded Coldor, whose end Vésh brought at age 92
Cleave Hesünenum, firstborn daughter of Ewelnüme,
& Yáslōyun of Coldor, whose rule was the longest recorded 45 years, during which time their first two daughters chose not to marry, and whose end Vésh brought at age 73 and 75
Cleave LoFāycol, thirdborn daughter of Hesünenum,
& Dellokurr of Coldor, whose rule lasted 19 years, during which time the Saintstone Fields of the North were discovered, and whose end Vésh brought at age 76 and 79
Cleave Véshash, firstborn son of LoFāycol,
& Jitsil of Filkash, whose rule lasted 8 years, during which time the northern berg fields were explored, until the tragic death of Véshash in an ice bridge collapse
Cleave Jitsil, upholder of the Cleave, who ruled an additional 20 years, during which time Windrock Cairn was commemorated in memory of Véshash, and whose end Vésh brought at age 58
Cleave Thünévahtas, firstborn son of Jitsil,
& Páhsmüni of Coldor, whose rule lasted 22 years, and whose end Vésh brought unexpectedly at age 47 in the Strange Sea, followed by the end of Páhsmüni from heart sickness
Empty Throne for two years, during which time great unrest began, until the arranged marriage of Holsháh
Cleave Holsháh, firstborn daughter of Thünévahtas,
& Setfāynum of Coldor, whose rule lasted 4 years, during which time unrest continued, until the unexpected death of Setfāynum
Cleave Holsháh, upholder of the Cleave, who ruled an additional 22 years
Cleave RilshRüne, only child of Holsháh,
& Halmishfakit of Coldor, whose rule lasted 19 years called the Rilsh Years, and whose end Vésh brought at an unrecorded time
Cleave Wōdewōnüyun, firstborn daughter of Rilshrüne,
& Dodum-Gor of Coldor, whose rule lasted 29 years, during which time alliance talks with Dintash and Broadfell were begun, and whose end Vésh brought at age 68 and 70
Cleave Nünéwoan, firstborn daughter of Wōdewōnüyun,
& Höalám of Coldor, whose rule lasted 5 years called the Saintstone Years, during which time the Alliance of Nations was signed
From The Lineages of the Four Nations, written by Maliabar Handwell in the 93rd Reckoned Year
Excerpt, ‘Unusual and Unique Sea Life’
Ghost fish are similar to a millie fish in that they are translucent and bear thin stinging tentacles. The ghost first has also been commonly called a willie by sailors because of it’s ominous shape gives sailors “the willies”. It is at least 6 feet in length and glows a translucent green, likely due to a preferred diet of gipp which are of the same verdant hue. The internal organs of the ghost fish, which do not glow, are arranged in such a way so as to resemble a wailing face. Ghost fish are more common in the green sea than anywhere and are more frequently spotted during the blacksmith's moon.
Pinchfast Crabs are 3 feet in length on average, standing no higher than a man’s knee. They are very uncommon to find, though this is likely because they maintain their bottom dwelling habits in all phases of the moon except for the cobbler’s phase. All we know of them is from specimens dredged up in trawler nets. They resemble an elongated crab with an assortment of colors on their tough exterior. The marked difference is their four piercing orange eyes and their two forelimbs. These two limbs are tucked against the body and can explode forth at such a prodigious rate as to cut away an unwary fisherman’s hand before they even realize the crab has struck, hence the name. There is an old myth in Broadfell Keep that the sky was woven by one of these crabs. The myth says that it moved so fast as to miss the thread at times, leaving holes in the fabric which are only visible when it pulls the black veneer over Yath at night. This is why, in the Keep, pinchfast crabs are referred to as knitting crabs.
Kermar Worms are a dangerous parasite that latch into the skin of any large fish. They can be found by the tell-tale boil, commonly called a kermar boil, that forms around them after they have embedded in the skin. There are exceedingly rare instances of fisherman being afflicted by kermar worms, but it is most common in large fish and whales. The worms typically insert themselves in the skin near the mouth of any large carnivorous fish and feast on the scraps of whatever meal their host acquires. It is notable however that this worm applies a non-toxic paralytic to the host prior to embedding itself. This paralytic is what is currently used to create the numbing agent doctors occasionally use before performing certain procedures. It is extremely expensive since each worm only secretes a small amount.
Diving Bell Beetles are similar to kermar worms in that they are parasitic, using a host for food. This is where the similarities end however, as the bell beetle is a water dwelling insect. The bell beetle lays its eggs in the stomach of fish. It does this by getting itself eaten, then attaching to the roof of the mouth on its victim. The poisonous bite of the bell beetle sends an increase of energy into the fish, causing it to swim sporadically. The desired effect is to get the fish eaten by a bigger predator. It will then lay its eggs inside the eaten fish to hatch. When the eggs hatch, the young then appear to consume the dead fish and live in the stomach of the predator. When they are ready to mate, they expel themselves from the host fish and swim to the surface to mate, then dive down to begin the cycle again. Like the kermar worm, the bell beetle’s sting is used recreationally to waken the user and revitalize them with energy, hence why it is also commonly called a “wake-me beetle”.
Rilshmoad are the smallest known crustaceans, hundreds easily fitting into the palm of a hand. They are often called simply “rilsh” and are carrion feeders that execute the invaluable job of consuming the dead creatures of the sea. They have no noticeable pincers or stingers and cannot bite humans due to their insubstantial size. They are present in every sea and can be easily found almost anywhere. It is unknown how the creatures survive when there are no dead to feed on, but they do often gather in forests of tower vine, leading scholars to postulate that they consume algae or plants when in need. Even more fascinating than this is that the tower whale, the largest known species of whale, feeds exclusively on rilshmoad.
Vine-gilled False Fish are a strange and elusive fish that have proven extremely difficult to study. This is because they hide within different plants and coral, blending in extremely well. They are able to change the pattern, color, and texture of their skin, all to match their surroundings. They also bear two short tubes resembling seaweed on the sides of their heads that function as gills. They are called false fish because they will sometimes try to look like a fish, in order to hide from or scare off predators. They do not possess any fins whatsoever, but rather a dozen grasping tentacles lined with suckers.
Revised Entry: A final entry has been written for the mythical Deepfoot, as they are so widely believed in and supposed sightings are so pervasive. The existence of such a creature is improbable to say the least, as the sheer size would be unsustainable in the Yath ecosystem. However, the attributes of the deepfoot are listed here. It must be restated that such a creature has never been reliably verified to exist. The belief is that the deepfoot resembles an immense snail, elongated over thousands of towers, stretching farther than a ship can sail in a day. A common belief is that no matter where you are on the ocean, there is likely a deepfoot below you. They are said to be as large as the mountains of Broadfell, with shells of iron and rock. There are religious ties and significance to this myth, which is likely why it persists today.
From the Filkish Text, Sea Life of Yath, written by Remull Mawgard in the 100th Reckoned Year and Revised in the 124th Year
Excerpt, ‘The Greatest Structures of the Nations’
…While I was disappointed by some of the natural structures I visited, I still maintained an excitement for my visits to the man-made structures. The first place I visited was the South Tower Roost, which is the currently the tallest structure in any nation. I felt immense pride in the accomplishments of my country as I stood upon the topmost balcony. What an incredible feat of skill it is to build such a structure. It is this traveler's recommendation to visit the Roost whenever possible but be wary on breezy days.
My next destination was two-fold, as one rests atop the other. I refer to the Flooded Markets which float over the ancient Shipwreck Straits. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But Teller, the Shipwreck Straits are a natural phenomenon” — not so! The shipwrecks themselves are manmade structures, and they do make for a fascinating display. The only trouble is you can hardly see them at the bottom unless it’s a perfectly lit day, with none of the three suns casting a glare on the surface. When you do catch a glimpse of the wreckage, it is fleeting and ambiguous, often distorted by the wakes of nearby ships.
It is this traveler’s recommendation to simply focus on the Flooded Markets. This was a sight worth seeing! Imagine a bowl where market stalls and shops are all built into the curving interior wall as it rises to near vertical levels. The sheer weight of all that commerce has caused the mass to bowl down in the center, to the point where there is a veritable lake at the bottom! Truly a marvel, and it is this traveler's recommendation to make this stop a priority. I can think of no more impressive market than this, not to mention the goods are top quality and exotic.
My next destination has excited me ever since hearing of it in a tavern, the Hot Baths of Frozen Fill. They were more glorious than I had heard. On the northwest side of Frozen Fill there are large wooden bathing tubs, fit for a dozen men, each filled with steaming water and many sweet smelling plant oils. The secret to the warm water is speculated to be Boiler Shark heating glands, though I suspect there is a simpler answer to this marvel. Simple or not, it is this traveler's recommendation to visit the Baths, especially during the Cold Season, so as to maximize the lovely effect of the warm water. It was so lovely, I had a hard time moving on to my next destination.
The famous Windrock Cairn, which juts up high up from the sea, some several towers. This attraction compelled me to dive into its history, and what I found, dear reader, was very mysterious indeed! The stone itself is perfectly even in length on all sides, exactly 4 towers across. It is also extremely smooth, though there are imperfections brought about by time and weather. When I asked some local merchants if they knew anything of the Cairn, they become cagey and not a bit unfriendly. And I dare say this attitude put me off guard, and that night I did have the strangest dreams and restless sleep. While the Cairn is a very fascinating structure, unknown in origin, it is this traveler's recommendation to simply see it from afar or pass it by altogether.
My next intended destinations were the Mines of Vohfay however, when I arrived in Broadfell and inquired about a visit, I was turned down rather swiftly. In all my past dealings with the Fellbin people, they all seem to greatly fear giving forth any sort of information, so I simply bought a fur coat and booked a charter northwest for my final destination. The Cloudborne Bridge that connects the larger ice mass of Coldor to the smaller one where the Cleave resides. This long narrow bridge is suspended high above the sea over an impossible distance. When I inquired as to the materials used to build such a magnificent structure, I was met with veiled answers and shrugs.
Eventually I was able to ascertain the bridge was built with something called Saints stone. I was assured that the material was stronger than any other and yet lighter than the lightest wood. I must say, dear reader, I do not believe it. Never during my entire stay did anything so much as a billypug move across that bridge. Even if it is a clever ruse, the bridge is a marvel to behold and it is this travelers recommendation to do just that, but if offered a chance at traversing it’s height, I wouldn’t dare.
From An Honest Travel Guide, written by Teller ‘Tell All’ Delkinmast in the 3rd Reckoned Year
Excerpt, ‘Boldifar Strong Oar’
Hear of Boldifar, strong Boldifar with sharp oar. Cut through water, impale the sea, did Boldifar. Bury oar in the sea, to pull ocean below his ship. Move worlds beneath his long ship, did Boldifar Strong Oar. Crossed the ocean in one pull of his strong arm. Boldifar did rend the world with his sharp oar.
Called to distant seas, Boldifar began, called by the moon to fight the waves. To help tame the tides, Boldifar did set out on his long voyage. The sea made strong currents to keep him away, try to keep back Boldifar Strong Oar. But the moon gave aid to Boldifar, made flat the sea within his way. Now the wind, strong blowing wind, tried to push Boldifar back. Fought with the wind, strong Boldifar held fast with his thick arms. The moon did distract the wind, made the stars to twinkle and dance. The fierce wind was distracted, blew the wrong way and pushed Boldifar fast across the sea.
The sea grew angry, roiled and thrashed, sent big whales to stop Boldifar. Tall whales swam to Boldifar, did beat his boat with their strong tails. The moon saw but could not help. Strong Boldifar, wise Boldifar, reached down his sharp oar into the sea. Stuck his oar into the rock, cut the water, impaled the sea, did Boldifar Strong Oar. Pulled the sea below and moved the sea and rock beneath. The rock did give under the strong arm of Boldifar, did get pushed out of the sea. Boldifar Strong Arm escaped the tall whales, sailed quickly to the distant seas.
To tame the tides, the moon called Boldifar. Struck the sea and stabbed the water. Swirled the sea with his strong oar. Boldifar Sharp Oar put a hole in the sea, swirled the waters to drain down. Tamed the tides to aid the moon, did Boldifar with his sharp oar. Gave a name to him, called him Broadfell, for the broad sea fell before him. Blessed him and his kin, did the moon, blessed Boldifar with great strength. Now all know the name of Boldifar ‘Broadfell’ Strong Oar.
From Fellbin Folklore, Author Unknown in the Unreckoned Years
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