tellings of the Kesh

A telling of the beginning – Shemil, Shawoman

First there was no speech and so there was no telling. The ancient ones needed no speech. Vastness beyond the plains and the sky or the sands of the coast was their home.

Time was wrought then, and the Kesh but not as it's known. The Kesh was and the old ones came to it. They breathed out the air and trod the valleys and rose the mountains. The Kesh grew beyond until even the ancient ones would not remember all its ways. Still the ancients wrought.

Delu was wrought by accident. Perhaps the ancient one didn't know what it was they did but it doesn't matter. Delu's spark was ancient but of the Kesh and so Delu did not care about time before and worlds beyond. The ancients were of little concern to Delu.

Who knows what those spirits thought or even if they think but Delu was perceived and felt their terrible minds. Delu felt that they sought him to be unwrought and Delu fled. He hid himself and that place is the other land where his children, the gods live and the ancients know not to seek.

Ursa's Story and the fall of the East Hall

Pagoda lined halls under the Eastern Mountain the ribs of Sachu that we made beautiful breathed our breath terraced gardens the light of Skeldag friend of Oarth

Oldest stone writ the first highest hall The gate there was kept by wise strong kin Who could not stem the flood red

Kama's bell, never before, rang Mother and children Father and grandparents Fight and flee Fight and flee Fight and flee

Hob armor and kant while the wise strong Stood the highest hall falling I took up my spear My leg was pierced yet I cut thrice them Kama's children carried me to the way to the south but not to the sea

Yama and Ursa

Yama grew up in Blackrock and never knew the East Halls. She was slender for her people, the oldest said because she was a baby during their people's flight so was teased mercilessly growing up until she knew and learned she was fast. The Easthall Dwarves taught weapon-craft and discipline at a young age. Before coming of age each Dwarf, cook, baker, weaver or soldier has to pass the three tests. One before the weapons master, one before the teacher and one before their god Oarth.

When Yama turned twenty, with a dozen other young dwarves she walked into the training hall. Like the other students she took up the short hafted, long bladed spear that her people favored. The weapons-master, ancient old Ursa watched them all go through the first forms, taught by parents to their children using walking sticks. Three students Ursa told to return their spears and take up swords. To Yama she turned and said “Return your spear and leave, come back after evening meditation.” Yama's face reddened thinking about the other children who would ridicule her later. You couldn't even make it through the first day runt!

Yama left and fought off the tears long enough to return to her families quarters until evening meditation, though she didn't want to go. The teacher led them through their breathing, the long intake and exhale of breath. She felt her upset lessen over time but it returned as they finished. As each dwarf dropped a sage leaf in the brazier next to Oarth's shrine she began back to the training hall where she found Ursa sitting on a mat. No fighting apron or weapon in hand. She motioned for Yama to sit before her, Yama did so and bowed her head all the way to the floor wondering why Ursa asked her here to tell her she would never pass the test.

“Oleg teacher tells me that you are one of his best students, did you know that?”. Yama shook her head, not looking into Ursa's eyes. “The Oldest see you and laugh behind your back, like your peers do. They say you are not a Dwarf but a halfling, perhaps one of the people of Ham placed you in your mothers arms when we fled.” Before Yama's shame could spread to her face Ursa broke out laughing. “What a stupid story! The monks of Ham are drunken fools who could not sit still for Oleg better than one of our toddler's yet you are, one of his best students? What will we do with you? The spear needs an anchor. A well of strength behind it or its pushed aside easily. The sword is more supple but still requires a stronger arm. I will not have you die on your first raid.” Ursa paused and smiled and finally Yama looked into her eyes. “Show me your hands child”. Yama tried and failed to hide her surprise and not knowing what to do reached her hands out. Ursa took them, each in turn, turning them over, returned them and smiled. “You will come back to me tomorrow and we will begin”. Yama bowed again and Ursa was up and striding out of the room before Yama could react.

The Children of Delu

The gods of the people of the Kesh were the children of Delu. To be a god meant to be able to perceive the very thoughts of your children but like all children, you could not control them. They had minds of their own.

Amongst each other the children of Delu could, if they chose, perceive each other's thoughts or not as was their wont so the needed no language with each other. Most chose not to open their minds ears without being close to each other else it was easy to be tricked by counterfeit thoughts.

Delu himself could take many forms but most often was a set of green eyes floating in the dark. Sometimes when he chose to seem as his grandchildren he would appear cloaked as a man or woman. When he created his children though he gave each forms of his choosing and Delu's mind wandered far and wide over the ages.

In time many of his children learned the craft of creating children of their own. These would be lesser than those of Delu and could not live in the Kala-Hal the place between so they would dwell in the Kesh itself. Upon doing so they too would always hear the thoughts of their people. Some toyed with their children. Some fell in love and others did not. As the children of Delu strove against each other, so too would their children.

The ones who fell in love did what they could to help their people grow and prosper. While their children had minds of their own they had powers over the Kesh itself, powers of enchantment, disaster and miracle. Seldom did they appear in the Kesh itself because to do so was akin to being too close to the sun while their voices would ring like thunder.

Oarth loved his children. He was short, stocky and brown. Bald and extremely strong. When Delu conceived him he chose to make a mind that was steadfast, creative and disciplined. Delu chose to make him a builder and set him to tasks in the Kala-Hal and so the pillars and throne of Delu the first were carved by his hands, hammer and chisel.

It's said he created his children from the desire to know what else could be built. Even the gods don't know everything. To create that which could conceive of and build itself seemed wonderful and wise so he consulted with his friend Than whose children were great crafters in the Kesh and set to work.

He fell in love with his children and to the first of them gave as much knowledge as he could. They learned to work wood, stone and metal. He taught them the deepest peace of a clear mind and admonished them to be disciplined for nothing ambitious came without sacrifice. In time he chose the ones who heard him best and listened most often to be his priests. Of those children he expected the most.