Long ago, Pamalt called all his family together for a great feast.
The hunting had been good, but Pamalt's family was grown so great
there was not enough meat for all.
Pamalt said to his many dughters, "You have great gifts. Bring them
forth and give your family many fine things to eat."
Each of Pamalt's daughters worked their magic on the plants. Each of
them became wonderful food. The only daughter who did not was Ndugu
Katiti, the littlest sister. She was too small to have magic.
While the family feasted, Vovisibor came upon them. He leapt into the
feasting circle and pushed Pamalt to the ground. At once the sisters
ran away. They knew they were too weak to fight the evil thing.
Ndugu Katiti was too small to run away, but Vovisibor did not see her
because she was so small. He leapt over her and ran into the darkness,
chasing the sisters.
As he caught them, he would bite them. His teeth were poisoned, so the
sisters fell to the ground and lay still as Vovisibor chased the others.
Of course, Pamalt eventually killed Vovisibor and when the evil thing
was gone he called to his daughters to return to the feasting circle.
Only Ndugu Katiti could answer at first, for she had not run, only
cowered on the ground.
Some of the sisters returned at last and Pamalt healed them. But
although he could take away the poison and close the bites of
Vovisibor, he could not bring back the beauty to his daughters. This
is why there are many plants to eat that are good to eat, but do not
taste good.
Pamalt wept for the rest of his daughters, so Ndugu Katiti ran into
the night to find her sisters. She was too small to understand to be
afraid of the dark. All she knew was her father was sad and wept for
his daughters.
Ndugu Katiti ran throughout the night. Every time she found one of her
sisters, she would sing a healing song. Their bites would close and
they would fill with life, but she could not take the poison from
them. So each sister taught Ndugu Katiti her own song, so that Ndugu
Katiti would know how to take the poison out of the plants so they
would be good to eat.
As fast as little Ndugu Katiti ran, still she was not able to heal all
her sisters. Some of them died. Some of her sisters had never been
bitten and their plants were still sweet and wholesome, but Ndugu
Katiti could not persuade them to return to the feasting circle
because they were still afraid but they did teach Ndugu Katit songs to
find them. This is why some of the best plants to eat are so hard to find.
Eventually Ndugu Katiti had found all her sisters and returned to the
feasting circle. Some of her sisters still hid and some were dead, but
the rest sat around the feasting circle. Everybody was sad because
their was still not enough to eat. So Ndugu Katiti sang all the songs
she had learnedand made all the food plants good.
Pamalt and his family ate well even though their joy was lessened by
the lack of so many of Pamalt's daughters.
At the end of the feast Pamalt said to his family, "Ndugu Katiti is
not so little. She has done a great thing. I will name her Ndugu
Vyakula, the Good Food Sister," and that has been her name ever since.
Runes
Plant, Spirit, Harmony
Ndugu Vyakula teaches songs that pass on knowledge on how to find food
plants.
Ndugu Vyakula teaches songs that pass on knowledge on how to process
food plants so any toxins are removed.
Her shamans can also summon plant spirits.
Her shamen also know how to prepare herbal remedies as well as, when
requested, poisons.
Associated cults:
Aldrya, provides Food Song
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