Mushaya the Eternal

How the Aljakiim Mau see the Wanderer

The A’mau of Rama’munza have a different take on the Wanderer, known as Mushaya, their greatest ancestor. Not a single A’mau goes a lifetime without hearing or recounting the legend of Mushaya or the Wanderer. To them he has many titles and names, each to denote his prestige and the pride of all A’mau who claim to descend from him. Mushaya the Brave, Mushaya the Eternal, Mushaya the Kind, Mushaya the Pilgrim, but most noteworthy is Mushaya the Wanderer. The A’mau see Mushaya as the greatest traveler to have ever lived, and sometimes even the ancient king of their lost Empire in the sands of Rama’munza. The A’mau depict Mushaya as one of their lion-like ancestors. Standing at just over seven feet tall he is always depicted carrying a torch to guide his people to safety on their travels.

Mushaya the Eternal

Mushaya was born alike any other Aljakiim Alquti, he was a born traveler and his tribe would teach him how to thrive in the desert sands and make the most of life. One day, Mushaya had a dream. He was to travel the desert alone in search of the fountain of Gaia and found a kingdom on the sand around it. In the next morning, aged only twelve or so springs, he left his tribe in search of the fountain. Many wild beasts of the desert would stand in his way on his journey across the forever sands. The first beast was Jasaar the Devourer, a great Worm that swam beneath the forever sands guarding the first stretch of Mushaya’s path. Mushaya looked out upon the sands, watching the great beast wriggle and writhe beneath the sand, desperately searching for any way around it. First he prayed to Gaia and Sul to protect him in his coming encounter with the worm, then armed with only his walking stick he approached the great worm. The writhing stopped as he made his approach and Jasaar rose from the sands below. “ If you wish to seek the fountain than you must first best me, but be warned Mortal my hunger is never satiated and I have been without a meal in some time. If you take one more step I am obligated to feast upon your flesh like all others to ensure my own survival. “ Mushaya stopped in his tracks and opened his travelling bag, pulling from it every piece of food he could from his bag throwing them in the desert sand before Jasaar. “ I will not need this where I am going, it is yours. “ Mushaya told the great worm who writhed in admiration for the man. “ You will face famine in the desert without this, you could not hope to progress without it. Are you certain you wish to offer this to me? “ “ Yes, I always give food to those in need of it, and I no longer need it. “ Jasaar, struck in awe of Mushaya’s kindness prostrated before Mushaya. “ You are the first mortal to look passed what I am and even offer me aid when I had threatened you. Go, and do not turn back. Two more trials await you. “ Mushaya did as the worm said, going to the next layer of the forever sands leaving Jasaar to his first feast in a thousand years. In the next week, Mushaya faced his next challenge. He was starved and growing weaker by the day when he approached Alisti, the second challenge. Alisti as Mushaya saw him was a helpless and legless Alquti who crawled through the desert sands using only his hands. Mushaya had heard many tales of Mortals who invoked Alisti’s wrath by offering to help and not being able to follow up with their promises. “ Mushaya, Mushaya, Help me, I cannot walk. How will I survive this desert if I cannot walk? “ Alisti asked raising his disheveled dirty head to meet Mushaya’s eyes. “ I cannot carry you, for I am too weak. “ Mushaya replied “ Mushaya, Mushaya, I am thirsty, the sand burns my throat. Please I need water. “ “ I cannot give you what I no longer have. “ “ Mushaya, Mushaya, you are mean, you offer me no help and no water to aid me in my time of need. The selfish shouldn’t pass on to the fountain. “ “ I cannot carry you, for my body has grown weak, and I cannot give you water when I lost my last drop yesterday. “ “ Mushaya, give me your legs so that I can find my own water, and carry myself through the desert. “ “ Very well, you may take my legs. But you must let me go my way when you do so. “ “ Mushaya, you cannot lie to me. I will take your legs from you and leave you to die in the sand. “ “ I do not need my legs. “ In an instant Mushaya’s legs were gone, and Alisti could walk for the first time in thousands of years. As Mushaya began to crawl forward, he was stopped and the now healthy and strong Alisti picked him up off the desert floor. “ You said you would leave me to die in the sand if I gave you my legs. “ said Mushaya in shock as he was carried through the desert. “ You would offer me your own body so that I may suffer no more. I shall repay you in kind by bringing you to the Fountain you seek. “ Alisti responded. Alisti could not work miracles, and carried Mushaya as far as he could before he fell into the sand. “ I can walk no further with these legs, Mushaya. You must make the rest of the journey alone and let the desert take me. I thank you for offering me the legs I needed to live once more, you may have them back. “ Alisti said as he gave Mushaya his legs once more, though the desert sand had torn through them and made them useless. As Alisti returned Mushaya’s legs he passed away in the sand and dissolved into it. Mushaya wept for the poor spirit before progressing towards the fountain, pulling himself the final few days with his hands as the sun kept beating on his back. As death began to knock on his head he reached the fountain, guarded by the final trial. The Sphinx named Patria. When he crawled to her feet he announced his presence. “ I am Mushaya, I have forsaken everything to find this place. I have forsaken my tribe, I have forsaken my food and water, even my own legs and body to get here. Am I worthy yet? “ He asked Patria who did not respond. Mushaya waited and asked again. “ Patria the Sphinx, am I worthy to drink from the fountain and found the city of my dreams? “ Still no response. Mushaya looked to the stars in the sky, then to the fountain before him. He was not given permission to drink from it, though he was very thirsty. Mushaya held himself back, the fountain was full of crystal clear, clean smelling water. More beautiful than even in his dream, but he could not drink it without Patria’s permission. Mushaya spoke up again. “ Please, Patria, I ask you again, am I made worthy on my journey to drink from the fountain? “ Still nothing. Mushaya wept before the fountain, he had already lost so much, were his dreams and life going to be lost too? “ You already forsook your life to be here, little lion. Wait this last night and I will give you your answer. “ Patria the Sphinx spoke, her words finally bringing comfort to Mushaya who fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke in the morning his legs were healed, his mind was clearer and his thirst was quenched. He looked upon the fountain and the water was gone, only the Sphinx’s head remained and it looked far more warn and aged. “ Mushaya, you are deemed worthy by Gaia of her blessing. You will make this place your home. You did not wake from your slumber, your body passed away a thousand years ago but I gave you the water so that you may be reborn anew. Mushaya the Eternal, what will you name this place, your home? “ The sphinx’s head asked as Mushaya dug it’s head from the sand, setting it atop the fountain. “ Rama’munza, the land of travelers. This shall be it’s first sanctuary. “ Said Mushaya, who’s body now could not age and could not die. Many Alquti would seek out and live in his city while he himself would come and go as he pleased. Any who found his city would live free from worries or curses, Mushaya the Eternal would always ensure their safety and aid any who wished to come in their travels.

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