Vinalia and the First Dusk

"Now, don't cry for me for I have seen the Night/
and it was beautiful./
Know that you have been cleansed from the evils of this world /
and you will be my heralds."
The Fifth Chant of Vinalia - Verse 16

Summary

This is a summary of the myth as told in the Chants of Vinalia

The Fire

Centuries ago, the world had been gripped by an unthinkable catastrophe: A never ending day. The sun had reached its zenith and then stopped moving, as if time itself was frozen. Chaos broke out. Countless cities were engulfed in flames, some due to the rising heat, some because of desperate and violent conflict. Priests, shamans and magicians saw this as the coming of the end times, as punishment for a sinful world - and few disagreed, seeing with their own eyes how the cosmos had turned against them. Droughts and forest fires ravaged the lands and entire lakes dried out, bringing famine and sickness with them. Nobody could say why it happened. Nobody could say could say when it would end. Nobody could say if it would end.

The farm

The story of Vinalia begins on a small farmstead somewhere in the forests of Amruth. Back then, Vinalia was only a destitute day labourer and had just been hired to work the fields until harvest. This was when the Long Day began. As panic took hold among the household, Vinalia proved herself to be calm and astute in the face of the incomprehensible cataclysm. She rerouted a nearby stream to the fields and covered them with branches from the forest. Over the following days (Weeks? Months? Who could say?) the people on this farm managed to survive, even taking in wanderers who came to ask for shelter and food. But the constant heat had dried out the forest around them and when Vinalia woke up one day she saw it set ablaze. They were forced to leave, but where could they go?

The cave

It was then when Vinalia had her first vision. She saw a cave, deep in the mountains, and inside it a large underground lake. And she heard a voice, old and otherwordly, that spoke to her. "My child", it said, "I have entrusted you with these lives. Bring them here unharmed and I will show you how to end this day." And so, she gathered everyone around her and told them what she had seen. And she spoke with such fiery commitment that they all believed and followed her. Vinalia lead the men, women, children and animals of the farm through the encroaching flames, always protecting the sick and weak. And when they reached the edge of the woods, no one was harmed. The group rested and traveled onward, towards the mountains. There they found it exatly as Vinalia had seen: A small entrance, hidden under a ledge, that lead to a large cave.

The four crosses

They began to settle and explore the cave, finally finding some tranquility. But unrest was brewing among the group and threatened to disrupt it. It was then when Vinalia had her second vision. Faces, of people she knew and of strangers, flickered before her eyes; and it was as if she could see all the evil that was inside them. But this time, another voice, severe and familiar, spoke to her. "My child, I see these people you guard and while you kept their bodies safe, there is still strife amonst them. I see hate, stinginess, lies and cowardice in this place. Bring peace to this place and I will show you how to end this day." And so she set out to rectify the faults of her people. And for each flaw she found, within them and herself, she painted a cross on the wall of the cave, so everyone remembered what their community was to abstain from.

The First Dusk

Vinalia's people lived in harmony for a while, but the sun still had not set. And so Vinalia had her third vision. She saw the night sky, the way it used to look. And again she heard a voice, young and angelic. "My child, you have done much, so we will reward you with knowledge. Give it to your people and then we have one last thing to ask of you." And the voice told her the price for ending the day. When the vision ended, Vinalia began to talk and did not stop. She told them of the three gods of creation that had spoken to her: Mir, Ur and Ko. She told them that they had been unsatisfied with the people of the world, their wickedness and malice, so they had sent the Long Day to punish humanity for its faults. And she told them much more: secrets of the heavens, stories of creation, riddles of the sea and songs of magic. Then she paused. "I have learned the price of ending this day. I will have to give my life."
So Vinalia stood up and walked out into the sun. And as if she were made of straw she lit up in a bolt of flames. As calm as ever she stood there and all who saw her burn felt it too - not heat, but relief, as if they were shedding a second skin. As sudden as it started it ended and Vinalia's body collapsed on the ground. Her eyes were wide open and in them they could see the night sky. And it was then when the sun, for the first time in what had felt like an eternity, moved. And Vinalia's people saw the first dusk of a new age.

Historical Basis

Who can say now what really happened when the whole world was burning?

Spread

This myth is most common in the continent of Amruth, where it is the basis of the Mission of Kalou , practiced mainly in the Kingdom of Marlund and the former Phaeranic Realms. It has made its way across the sea to the Kingdom of Ayel, where variations of the myth have been adapted into the Xomay belief system. Relatively unknown in the Hoccan Empire - at least outside of the colonies in Amruth.

Variations & Mutation

Vinalia's origins vary from culture to culture: sometimes she is an orphaned noble, sometimes born poor and some doubt she was of human parentage at all - in the Aylian versions of this myth Naliya (as she is known there) is considered a reincarnation of the goddess Sere. In this varation she also doesn't directly cause the Long Day to end, she is merely one of many contributing factors.

Cultural Reception

The legend of Vinalia is central to the identity of the Kingdom of Marlund, being one of the unifying factors of its creation. The four crosses that Vinalia painted on the cave walls can be found on the sigil of Marlund. These four crosses have become a symbol central to the Kalou belief system and can also be seen throughout Phaeranic culture.
In Ayel, the myth is most commonly told in the northern parts of the Kingdom, but not central to their religion. It is most well known for Vinalia's tales before her death, some of them legends in their own right.

In Literature

The most popular version of the story of Vinalia in Amruth, especially in Marlund, are the "Chants of Vinalia", a recounting of her story told in song. This version especially has been cited and referenced in countless religious, scientific and fictional texts. Explorer and savant Recato Isnam traveled to Vinaud and later wrote about it in his "Revealing Travels", bringing new interest to the myth outside of Amruth.

Date of First Recording

The first written record of the Chants of Vinalia date to the beginning of the 2nd century AF

Date of Setting

During the Fire, Year 0

Related Organizations

• Kingdom of Marlund
• Phaeranic Realms