The Chaining of the Winds

When Darmon and Korak taught the mortal races to build great water vessels and Wily Darmon taught them to sail those tall ships across Shalimyr’s back, there were many obstacles to the learning. The mortal races needed to overcome their fear of floating on the water, which was as unnatural to them as flying like a bird. They needed to learn to navigate the great and chartless sea, and harness the winds to travel upon it. While Urian the Wind Lord tried to keep his winds in check for the benefit of these mortals, still they were wild and untamed. Just as one’s mind can wander and contemplate that which horrifies him, so were the Sky King’s winds raging against his will. The winds were a part of him, but had possessed spirits of their own from the beginning. Two of them hated mortals who walked the world and sailed the seas, and sought to destroy such fragile travelers.
The bitter North Wind called out, “I’ll bite at all I see, tear their flesh and turn them to ice!”
The terrible East Wind responded, “I’ll shake them and break them, rip them and strip them! I hate them all!”
But the South Wind and the West Wind tried to stop East and North from destroying mortals. Thus the winds would clash in the skies, causing terrible gales that tore up everything in sight.
At last, the raging winds became too much to withstand. The mortals had learned to sail their tall ships in sight of land and build beautiful homes at the water’s edge, but whenever they set out on the great journeys that would someday connect mortal races in trade, the winds would rise—South against North, East against West—and ships would be dashed against the rocks, or lost at sea.
One day, Darmon Silver Tongue came to Urian to entreat him to calm his winds: “Sky Father! Will you not still your raging winds? Do we not all love these clever mortals and wish to see them travel across the land and sea? Yet they cannot travel, for your winds destroy their ships; you rage where even your mad brother Shalimyr does not.” And the Sky King thought on this. Little Darmon was right, for Urian truly wished to see mortals travel across the seas and someday, perhaps, high in the air. He spoke to his winds and demanded they be still. But they would not! “Nay, Lord! We will rage and blow and destroy, for our hearts hate!” the North and East said. “Nay, Lord! We must oppose our brothers, or they will destroy the world!” the South and West said. And at this Urian started, for surely the winds were a part of him, as were the stars, and the Sun and Moon, yet they resisted his will. And so, he reached into himself and plucked the winds from him, as a man might rip out an offending eye, or cut off his own hand were it to spite his desires. Urian Windwright then sent Darmon forth to summon the twins, Korak and Anwyn. For the Sky King, Master Korak built four mighty halls in the clouds and mountain peaks to house the winds, and chains to hold them. In these halls, Blessed Anwyn made homes with furs and fires and splendid feasts. Urian now resides in these four halls, moving from one to the next, unchaining his winds for a while when he sees fit, knowing that the North and East seek to scour the earth, and the South and West seek to give succor. It is said that two of the halls are in caves atop the tallest mountains in the North and South of the world, and should any be foolish or brave enough to climb these peaks, he might find Urian Windwright or, at the least, one of the winds bound in mighty adamant chains forged by Master Korak. And in the highest clouds of the East and West, one might find two more halls, and in them imprisoned those winds. But in all four halls one thing is assured—winds that were once a part of the Sky King are shackled, yearning to be free. Let us never forget, therefore, that Radiant Urian, who cherishes freedom, so loved the mortal races that he pulled from himself his most vital parts and enslaved them to be our servants; we must forever honor this sacrifice.

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