User:IceFireWarden/The Arias of Harran-Zhira
Zahana knows that there are caves so dark that not even the brightest eyes can see within them. Zahana knows that inside of those caves there are sometimes people, like Khajiit but unlike Khajiit. They glide upon the air just as Khajiit walk upon soft dunes. Their songs are as sharp as the desert sun, as piercing as the sharpest cliff upon soft paw, and yet are as beautiful as the twin moons in a black velvet sky. Zahana knows the way, young one…
A member of this people, a great sage, came to Elsweyr in ancient times and with her came songs that charmed the sand, the beasts, the sun, the night, and even the moons. She taught these songs to the Khajiit, but only a few of them are still remembered. Zahana speaks now of course of Harran-Zhira, Queen of Deepest Caves, of Black Dunes, and of No-Moons. Harran-Zhira, Wise Queen, Keeper of Secrets and Things Unknown. Harran-Zhira, Queen of Songs and Moonless-Winds.
I.I Merrunz the Scaredy-Cat
Hush, dear child, for Zahana shall tell you of how Harran-Zhira first came to Elsweyr, and how she stopped Merrunz the Ja’Khajiit by scaring him with the power of Alkosh himself.
She arrived from the East during the times when Jone and Jode were new, and her arrival was announced by a blue glow in the sea. Her boat was in tatters and most of her supplies destroyed, so she leapt like a kitten after prey and glided across the sea to land near Senchal. She was so tired that she found a rock and collapsed upon it, going into a deep slumber. Many cubs came and were both amused and amazed by the stranger’s appearance, and attempted to wake her, only for the stars to come down from the heavens and shield her from their attempts. It was at that moment that all knew the stranger as the wearer of the Mantle of Magrus.
In those days, there was more than just Pa’alatiin and Ne Quin-al; there was also Tara’nel-lia, where Scholars were known to make jewels and robes out of the most beautiful lunar silk. They came to the rock at the behest of the kittens, where they were surprised to find the Chosen of Magrus awake and awaiting them while meditating, a sheepish but sly smile etched across her face.
“The people of Tara’nel-lia are curious of you, stranger from the east,” the scholars said to her. “Who are you, who wears the fabric of the sun and whose eyes announce the darkness?”
And the Chosen of Magrus replied in the words of their people, surprising them. “This one calls herself Harran-Zhira, who hails from a land far to the East, and is here to walk the whole of Nirni for many phases.” With those words the scholars believed her to be deceptive Lorkhaj in disguise, but Harran-Zhira simply said, “Lorkhaj was tossed to the Darkness Behind the Moons, but Harran-Zhira’s love is for the stars.”
The Scholars of Tara’nel-lia were pleased with this answer and were amazed with Harran-Zhira. They wanted her to meet the Lord of the Land, Ahk’bar, in Senchal to discuss the Tides and the Paths of the Nighttime Sky. Harran-Zhira was delighted with the opportunity and agreed to travel with them. The days and nights they traveled through the Tenmar were always illuminated by the Lights of Harran-Zhira, who shared with all Khajiit he met hidden-truths if they asked. And she always did so with verse and song, so even the youngest kitten could understand them.
But unbeknownst to the troupe, Merrunz the Ja’Khajiit had grown restless in his den. The last time he was able to come out and play he swallowed the whole of Felix down his gullet—which is why that town is included in our hymns at night—until Alkosh tricked him into tying himself to his bed. But Merrunz had finally bitten through the string, and with a great bound jumped back into Nirni.
“Elsweyr has grown too boring and patient during poor Merrunz’s binding by noisy Alkosh,” the Ja’Khajiit whispered in a tone so low his brothers and sisters couldn’t hear him slinking about the deserts even if they tried. “This one can barely see anything through all of these trees! It is if he had traveled into the land of Y’ffer!”
And with that the Ja’Khajiit reached into his den of boiling red water and black sand, and threw a pawful of fire into the Tenmar. The leaves were soon ablaze and spread quickly throughout the forest, causing all the beasts and Khajiit to flee. The troupe of Harran-Zhira soon found themselves surrounded by the smoke and flame in a small grove, unable to travel any further and growing quite scared, except for Harran-Zhira, who now wore an amused smile and said, “Do not worry, my friends, for this one knows exactly what is happening and what she should do.” She then descended into a lotus position on the ground and began to sing in a voice as bright as the sun:
“Harran-Zhira places a secret word here, in the Land of Sugar and Moon. It carries implications of meaning for both water and air, and for those who find it, it shall be a great boon.”
The song wove itself through the heavens until it reached the ears of Khenarthi, where the secret word formed a great cloud that cried a river of tears onto the Fires of Merrunz and washed them all away. New trees and flowers then grew quickly out of the ground and soon the Tenmar looked as beautiful as it always had. The Scholars of Tara’nel-lia and the others who had gathered cheered the name of Harran-Zhira as loudly as they could, but this caused Merrunz to hear them, and suddenly the Ja’Khajiit was there. All went quiet.
“Merrunz made this fire burn away all of Tenmar so he could see better, but jajo has made the flames this one was playing with go away!” The destructive kitten roared in anger, before leaning in to sniff at the Chosen of Magrus. “Merrunz will like to know the name of this one, before he takes her back to his den in order to play with him forever.”
At this the Scholars began to despair, because they thought that the fate of Harran-Zhira was sealed, but the foreigner himself simply smiled and said, “This one calls herself Harran- Zhira, and she hails from a land far to the East. Harran-Zhira would like to apologize to Merrunz, and in return for angering the Ja’Khajiit she will make him a new coat to display his grandness. If he accepts, of course.”
The Ja’Khajiit found himself excited at this, for he enjoyed the thought of having a new coat. “Merrunz accepts!” The kitten began to prance around the small grove, thinking of his majestic new coat. “Make this one’s new coat like Magrus’, so he can play with the sun and the stars for all time!”
“Certainly, Merrunz,” Harran-Zhira grinned as she reached into the pouch at her waist in order to retrieve the tools needed for making a new coat. “But first, this one needs your old coat, so she can make the right measurements for the new one.”
And the Ja’Khajiit knew such a request not to be unfounded, so he removed his old coat and handed it to Harran-Zhira, only to flinch in embarrassment when all present except for the Chosen of Magrus laughed at his nakedness. “Hurry up and make my new coat, lest this one bite you in half,” Merrunz growled angrily. Harran-Zhira nodded and began her work, but first she told all present to close their eyes, because she wanted it to be a surprise. This made Merrunz suspicious, so Harran-Zhira sang a new song:
“Harran-Zhira gives Merrunz a Secret Word, in the Land of Sugar and Moon. It carries implications of meaning of things once different, and although they are gone, they might come again soon.”
And when she finished her song, all present, including Merrunz, were sleeping (and the Ja’Khajiit was snoring loudest of them all!). Harran-Zhira then went to work, painting and weaving a new coat on slumbering Merrunz’s skin. And when she was finished, she also made a new coat for herself, grasping the old coat of the Ja’Khajiit in her hands. With a single roar, Harran-Zhira woke up everyone in the grove, and they all yawned and gasped in shock and fear.
For in front of them stood Alkosh in all of his terrible glory, looking ready to gulp down Nirni itself! And he was grasping Merrunz’s old coat, no less! “Silly demon kitten!” he growled in ancient speak. “This one thinks he can escape from the name Mother Fadomai gave to him? Alkosh found him leaping out of it first though, sneaky demon kitten!”
And at this the Ja’Khajiit looked around at his new coat in horror, for he found himself wearing the coat of a lowly demon kitten. “But Alkosh, this one was tricked by a stranger from the East called Harran-Zhira!”
“Silly demon kitten! Alkosh sees no one here named Harran-Zhira!” And then the Dragon King jumped upon the lowly demon kitten, who hissed as he leapt back into his old coat and ran all the way back to his den of boiling red water and black sand.
The Scholars were speechless and quivered in fear of mighty Alkosh, but the Highmane simply smiled at them and threw off his coat to reveal sneaky Harran-Zhira, who laughed a hearty laugh and told all present to stand up politely. “Do not let this one alarm you, for she knew that Merrunz was going to be most unkind. Shall we carry onwards to Senchal and Lord Ahk’bar?”
And with that the merry troupe continued on their way, rejoicing and celebrating the great wisdom of Harran-Zhira as they left the Tenmar and entered Senchal, the land of Tara’nel-lia. And even now -zhira means “singing sage,” and only Harran-Zhira has earned that title.
I.II Rajhin and his Almost-Shadow
Hush, dear child, for Zahana shall tell you of how Harran-Zhira out-stole the Thief God Rajhin himself, retrieving her shadow from the moons and attaining the trust of the Mane.
Harran-Zhira had been in the land of the Khajiit for many phases, and Lord Ahk’bar had named her a wandering queen for all the good things she had done in Elsweyr. The Children of Ahnurr and Fadomai both admired and feared her, and spoke with her whenever they could get an audience. This piqued the interest of the Trickster God Rajhin, who started tailing the eastern stranger every day. The sneaky immortal respected the Chosen of Magrus due to how easy it was for her to find her way out of any problem, so he devised a plan to steal the shadow of Harran-Zhira to increase his own cunning.
One day, while Harran-Zhira was walking to Torval in order to speak with the Third Moon, who had summoned her out of his small cave-palace in Tara’nel-lia, she found an elder lying unconscious next to a broken cart. She quickly ran to him and made him a potion with the herbs she held in her pouch, which woke the old soul with a cough.
“Ah, this one had thought he was to perish alongside the road,” the old Khajiit groaned as he got to his feet unsteadily. He was a Cathay-raht, but his clothes were ruined and his arms were covered in fresh cuts. “Dro’husir thanks this stranger a thousand thanks!”
Harran-Zhira offered Dro’husir food and water, which the older Khajiit accepted most graciously. “Wise grandfather, who would do such despicable things to you?” she wondered in disgust.
Dro’husir began to speak loudly and elaborately. “Poor Dro’husir was minding his own business, walking to Torval to share the harvest he had made with his sons and their sons. But then a group of thieves came out of their hiding places in the woods and stole all of his fruit, vegetables, and sugar! What shall poor Dro’husir do now?” The old Khajiit then began to cry great tears and as the sun began to set Harran-Zhira saw something in the grandfather’s shadow—it appeared to have two heads! But then it was gone and the Chosen of Magrus dismissed it as a trick of the light.
“Well, this one is traveling to Torval as well, elder,” the Sage began. “Harran-Zhira can protect both jajo and himself from anything that might reveal itself in the dark.”
Dro’husir raised an eyebrow and gasped. “You are the renowned Harran-Zhira? She of wondrous bosom and calming song? This one is honored to be in your presence! I see you are very different from Khajiit, but very much like Khajiit. Tell me; where does honored Harran-Zhira come from?”
“Harran-Zhira hails from the Far East, where the demons of Akha dwell in droves and my people live in dark isles of music and logic. She has been sent by her own people to walk the whole of Nirni for many phases, for not being like them.” The Chosen of Magrus then began to build a fire, for it had grown dark and with night came hunger.
Dro’husir volunteered to go find herbs and spices for the meal while Harran-Zhira smoked some salted fish she had saved in her pouch. When Dro’husir returned, he placed the ingredients he had gathered in the pot and soon the smell of delicious stew permeated the air. Harran-Zhira was suspicious of how fast the old Khajiit seemed to have found the herbs and spices, but she was too tired and hungry to really think too much about it.
When the stew was finished, Harran-Zhira handed a bowl to the old Khajiit, who said, “Harran-Zhira was the one who cooked this, so it is she who deserves the first bite.” The Chosen of Magrus smiled and ate a spoonful, only to frown when her body froze like a sand statue. Dro’husir began to laugh before tugging off his coat to reveal the Thief God Rajhin in all his glory, his seven shadows bounding throughout the campsite.
“Ha, Rajhin has tricked you, Harran-Zhira!” the Infamous Thief said with a grin. “This one placed a stolen herb from the den of Paerite into the stew, one that causes your body to grow very still. Rajhin has been seeking Harran-Zhira so he can steal her shadow, which will let him know all the things that she knows. Farewell, Chosen of Magrus!” And with that the Thief God snatched Harran-Zhira’s shadow and ran on slivers of moonlight to Jode and Jone. But Rajhin was also very cunning, so he stole the moons as well, so that no one could ever find him.
In due time the herb wore off and Harran-Zhira leapt to her feet. The Eastern Sage was not angry, but amused by the antics of Rajhin. But she was also worried, for the Thief God had stolen away the moons in his haste, and this could prove to be disastrous for all Khajiit. So, Harran-Zhira grabbed her favorite walking stick and began to sing a new song:
“Harran-Zhira whispers a secret word here, on this Night of Moonless Light. With it she weaves a path of beautiful stars, giving herself much needed red-sight.”
And with the utterance of that secret word, a clan of stars fell down from the heavens and formed a beautiful path of light for Harran-Zhira, who walked up into the realm of magic. While there, she met the Ghost of Lorkhaj, who flicked his tongue at the Eastern Sage as she bounded from one celestial to the next.
“Hmm. This one thinks you are far too early to be here, Harran-Zhira,” the Ghost of Lorkhaj said. The Chosen of Magrus grinned. “Funny, for this one was going to say the same thing to the Ghost of Lorkhaj!” Harran-Zhira replied, and the two beings knew of themselves to be both students and teachers, laughing at a joke that was never told. And the Ghost of Lorkhaj let Harran-Zhira pass, for she was likened to the Mage in the sky and the heavens were her home as much as Nirni was.
Harran-Zhira walked and glided through the constellations, searching for the moons. Rajhin had hid them well, but Harran-Zhira was known for her skill at hiding and could guess where the Thief God had concealed them. The Eastern Mage traveled to the Cat’s Eye, which blinked at him in confusion.
“This one stares at himself, but he is not outside, yes?”
And with those words Harran-Zhira felt pity for the Cat’s Eye, for she resembled it in many ways, and sang a new song for him:
“Harran-Zhira gives a secret word to Magrus, standing here amongst the stars. It implies wordless love for things left behind, a wordless love that can never divide.”
The Cat’s Eye then shed a single tear at this before passing into a much-needed sleep, giving Harran-Zhira permission to enter the Sands Behind the Stars. And it was here, amongst the dunes, that she found the moons, as the Eastern Sage had guessed!
When Harran-Zhira landed lightly on the surface of Jode, the Thief God’s mouth went agape from his seat. “How were you able to find Rajhin, Eastern Sage?”
And Harran-Zhira chuckled at this question. “It is simple. This one is Master of Hidden Places and Things That Are Hidden.” With those words the Chosen of Magrus cupped her hands around her mouth and screeched a cyclone of stardust unto Rajhin, which carried the Thief God away into the heavens, but not before Harran-Zhira stole back his shadow.
Grabbing the moons, Harran-Zhira left the Sands Behind the Stars and returned them to their ancient places. And the Third Moon named Harran-Zhira the Queen of No-Moons and Secret Things, making her eternal in the lands of Khajiit and the Sands Behind the Stars for all time.
I.III Namiira and the Darkness
Hush, dear child, for Zahana shall tell you of how Harran-Zhira traveled to and returned from the Darkness Behind the World, and how she gifted all Bent Khajiit a secret way to straighten themselves before the Next Pounce.
Now made everlasting in song in the lands of Khajiit, Harran-Zhira was growing old from the many phases she spent amongst the people and knew in her heart that it was almost time for her to leave. But she loved the lands of the Khajiit very much and decided to walk the shores of Tara’nel-lia for one last time.
As she walked, listening to the music of the ocean, she suddenly heard a strange beating noise and turned to see a group of Khajiit doing something terrible—they were dancing the Bent Dance! Harran-Zhira grew cautious, for she had dealt with the Darkness of Lorkhaj before—having spoken with it during her times in eastern lands—and knew of its wretched power.
Grasping her walking stick, the Eastern Sage went to stop the Khajiit before they fully became Bent Cats and transformed into dro-m’Athra, cats of moonless darkness.
But as Harran-Zhira went to do this, there came a great rumbling from within Nirni, and through many cracks came forth the Great Darkness Namiira from her den, a place of scuttling blackness. Namiira laughed at Harran-Zhira, who frowned but was not intimidated.
“Namiira should not be here,” she said coolly. “For it is not one of her days of summoning, especially not here in the lands of Khajiit.”
Namiira cackled high and low, causing the Khajiit doing the Bent Dance to jump in their shadows. “This one has always found Harran-Zhira amusing, especially now, for she speaks and acts like Khajiit even though she knows she is not Khajiit! Harran-Zhira reminds Namiira much of Alkosh and Lorkhaj and Magrus, but wonders why she doesn’t choose one to play with?”
The Eastern Mage frowned deeper, and spoke many incantations to make Namiira return to her den, but the Great Darkness did not disappear. “This one shall admit she is confused why Namiira does not go away. Harran-Zhira plays and pounces with only herself, for that allows her to help other people better.”
“This one believes that to be false,” the Great Darkness said as she began to circle Harran-Zhira. “Jajo is the Chosen of Magrus! Jajo wore the Coat of Alkosh! And jajo spoke to the Ghost of Lorkhaj itself! Which is why Namiira has come, to show Harran-Zhira his crimes!”
The Eastern Sage was now very confused, for she had not committed any crimes at all while she was in the lands of Khajiit, but Namiira went on to say, “For impersonating the Dragon King and speaking to Lorkhaj, jajo has been condemned to the Darkness Behind the World for all time, to dwell with the Bent Cats until their tails become straight.” And Namiira knew that because Harran-Zhira was not Khajiit she would be trapped within the Darkness Behind the World for all time.
But Harran-Zhira knew that the Great Darkness only spoke lies, and only wished for her soul due to how she coveted Harran-Zhira’s people, but smiled, for she had an idea of her own to limit the influence of Namiira in the hearts of Khajiit. “Harran-Zhira sees the truth in Namiira’s words, and is now ashamed. Take this one to the Darkness Behind the World, so she may do no more harm in the land of Khajiit.”
And with that Namiira grabbed the scruff of Harran-Zhira’s neck in her mouth and dove beneath Nirnijijri to the Darkness Behind the World, which is full of suffering and no sugar and moonless nights. And when Harran-Zhira saw all the Bent Cats she gave a small cry of despair, before gaining courage when she remembered the plan she had devised. The Eastern Sage fell down into the black dunes beneath the blood sky and winced as the sand burned into her fur.
It was then that she heard the beating of the cursed Heart of Lorkhaj, which reverberated throughout the whole of the Darkness Behind the World. The dro-m’Athra danced their Bent Dance in the dreary darkness, not even noticing Harran-Zhira walking pass them. Wracked with fear from the things she was seeing, the Eastern Sage began to sing a song in the land that denied singing:
“Harran-Zhira plants a secret word here, down in the Underworld of the Dead Moon. With it this one creates a burning cloak of love, which entices all that see it with a new tune.”
The secret word then surrounded Harran-Zhira in a glowing ball of blue fire and light, and all of the dro-m’Athra that saw it growled and ran away to perform their Bent Dance somewhere else in the black dunes. But some of the dro-m’Athra that saw it, the ones that weren’t as bent as the others, were allured by it and began to follow Harran-Zhira on her path through the darkness.
Still carrying her walking stick, the Eastern Sage stared up at the blood sky. She saw that there were no stars, and that saddened her. So, she took pieces of the glow and made them hover around herself to mimic the stars above Nirni, attracting more dro-m’Athra to her side. Some of the Bent Cats were enraged by the pure light, but when they came up to attack Harran-Zhira, they burned to ash upon contact with her warmth. For their bodies were black and cold, untouched by the light of the moons.
The beating of the Heart of Lorkhaj grew stronger as Harran-Zhira walked on through the Darkness Behind the World, and the Chosen of Magrus saw the spurts of blood shoot into the sky. The dro-m’Athra that followed her seemed nervous and terrified, for they had abandoned their Bent Dance and were beginning to despair. But Harran-Zhira spoke comforting words in their ears and they continued their long, depressing march.
After what seemed like many phases, Harran-Zhira finally reached the Heart of Lorkhaj, which was much crueler than the Ghost of Lorkhaj, for it contained the Great Darkness of Namiira. “How dare you enter here with the Light of Magrus!” it screamed in a voice full of pain and suffering.
Harran-Zhira smiled with her eyes closed, for the Eastern Sage knew that the Heart of Lorkhaj would try to corrupt her. “This one is known as Harran-Zhira, and she is not Khajiit but has come to live in the lands of Khajiit for many phases. Namiira sent her here with lies, and now she seeks to speak with the Heart of Lorkhaj to free herself and others from the Darkness Behind the World.”
“Never! Those who enter can never leave!” the Heart of Lorkhaj spat, and then it spurted its blood all over Harran-Zhira. The Eastern Sage soon found her robes taking on the appearance and likeness of Lorkhaj, and she was filled with a great sadness for now she really knew that it was time to leave the lands of the Khajiit forever.
“Who are you that you forget your own history!” Harran-Zhira said to the Heart of Lorkhaj, which bubbled and frothed. “This one has spoken to your Ghost and he bade her his blessing. Who are you to forget your own history?”
The Heart of Lorkhaj began to steam and spin until it exploded in more blood, but Harran-Zhira was prepared that time and waved it away with his finger. The Heart was gone but not destroyed, for it was of Lorkhaj and the Noisy Cat was incapable of being destroyed. In the place where it once sat was now an opening to a deep cave full of more darkness and fear, and Harran-Zhira turned to stare at the dro-m’Athra that followed her.
“You are all Bent Cats for listening to the whispers of Namiira and her cohorts instead of the whispers of Alkosh and his brethren,” he said. “But Harran-Zhira belongs to no one but herself and she offers you a chance to enter the Sands Behind the Stars.” And then Harran-Zhira began to sing her last song for the Khajiit:
“Harran-Zhira ends a secret word here, leaving it for the dro-m’Athra in this Dark Pit. It explodes in a great bright purifying light, and those that wish to leave shall harken to it.”
And as Harran-Zhira stepped into the Deep Cave, it filled with the light of the stars and the moon, and the dro-m’Athra that chose to follow her shed their coats of darkness and their tails became straight as Harran-Zhira led them to the Sands Behind the Stars. And the Eastern Sage left the Deep Cave opened in the Darkness Behind the World, so the dro-m’Athra that wished to leave the Bent Dance could find her Secret Path.
When Harran-Zhira returned to Nirni and the lands of Khajiit, she found Namiira there, frothing in rage. But she could do no more to her, for not only had she returned from the Darkness Behind the World, but was also cloaked in the Blessing of Lorkhaj’s Blood. Thus, the Great Darkness returned to her den and didn’t trouble Khajiit for a very long time.
And as for Harran-Zhira? She disclosed her favorite secrets for the Khajiit and left the lands after saying goodbye to everyone she met. But as is customary of the Eastern Sage, she left them in hidden places for us to seek out and find. To this day, all Khajiit are respectful of the people of the island chain in the Far East, in remembrance of Harran-Zhira.
But who knows? Perhaps the Chosen of Magrus will return again someday and teach Khajiit new songs. What a beautiful day that would be!
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