In the Darkness many of the Grandmothers had been killed, destroyed or
disappeared, but some were only been sleeping. Awakening them saved
Esrolian society.
This process was begun by Urvarna and Demarath, two people who were
attracted to each other but sensed that their relationship could be
deeper than it was. They were friends, even sexual partners, but they
sought deeper love. Their discontent irritated their neighbors and
kinfolk who were having a difficult enough time just getting by. The
couple set off, bearing the light and the dark in their pouches, and
they found the Great Stone. They went into it, and they found their
way past the dangers there. Tereneel, the Little Voice, promised them
a gift greatyer than each other if they survived this. They were
separated by the trials, but each determined to go on anyway. Urvana
found Gelstarn, the Beloved; and Demarath found Serumtha, the Lover.
The pair had been sleeping, but once awakened these Grandmothers
brought the two together again. They returned to their people, and
they taught to them the rites of Awakening, and when they performed
these ceremonies the Eighteen Awakened Powers returned to the people.
?The Great Grandmother took us to her womb,? they said, ?in the warmth
and comfort of safety. We saw Imarja there, and now we remember what
we had lost. We slept and have come home now to bring to you the
blessings of old.?
They brought seed and stock for food and goods, and their
contributions were the main reason that Esrolia was relatively healthy
when the sun rose once again.
The Eighteen led the Ascending Rituals that transformed the Great
Stone to be the Golden Egg that rose into the sky and ended the
Darkness.
Now the quests of Urvarna and Demarath provide the structure for the initiation myths for Esrolian people. After they become adults they are qualified to undergo the rites to learn the powers of the gods.
Issaries, Inc.
c/o Greg Stafford
1942 Shattuck AVe, #204
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
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