The Criskarna and the Rinworth

By Valentrus

Many years ago, between the fall of the Drakes and the Rise of the Elven Empire, the Arkati sought to aid the races of our world in building civilization after the destruction wrought by the Ur-Daemon War. During this time, two tribes of the early humans settled on opposite banks of a river in the western portion of Elanith. This river flowed towards the north, ending in a large waterfall. The western tribe was known as the Criskarna, and the eastern as the Rinworth.

Naturally, society was just beginning for these people, and both tribes started merely with a few temporary settlements, constructed to last the winter while waiting for the migration of a nearby herd of thrak. However, these two tribes had recently discovered the methods of farming, and since this land near the river was fertile enough to easily feed all of them, there was no reason to leave. The small animals that flourished in the nearby woodlands only reinforced this decision.

Over the years, the two tribes became close friends, trading crops and supplies. Permanent structures replaced the once hastily constructed shelters. A bridge was even built over the river, making it easier for the Criskarna and Rinworth to do business with one another. Thus, the nomadic tribe of the Criskarna evolved into the still primitive village of Karna, and the Rinworth evolved into the similar village of Rin.

Soon, these villagers learned of the Arkati, and dedicated the most important influences upon their lives to those that were appropriate through complex services. The bridge, which granted them easy access to one another, and the river beneath, providing them with water for crops and fish to eat, were dedicated to Cholen. The spring planting and the fall harvest were the domain of Oleani and Imaera, respectively. Finally, they considered death the providence of Lorminstra, much as we do now. They invoked complex rituals, and always tried to do what these gods desired.

As it has been stated, these villages, along with their inhabitants, were primitive. While they did receive their main supply of food from crops and domesticated animals, the villagers still glorified the hunting of wild beasts for trophies, making many important decisions based on the outcome of a hunt. Unfortunately, when both the Criskarna and the Rinworth found excellent grounds to the north, both tribes wanted it solely as their own.

At first, this conflict seemed little more than a friendly spat, with both sides attempting to achieve a compromise—albeit the ones proposed favored their proponents. The two villages could not reach an agreement. Generations of hunters became involved in bitter spats with those of the other village, causing the formerly close communities to experience a growing hatred for one another. Soon, guards were posted at either end of the bridge, to inform their people immediately if the other side should perform any suspicious acts.

During the height of this conflict, the greatest hunter among the Rinworth at the time, Char’aktul, stepped out of the gates for his daily hunt. Chasing a deer over fields to the south, he crossed the river unknowingly, as here it started as a small stream.

Unfortunately, these lands were strange to the human, and he managed to step onto a patch of grass that had grown over a small hole. This caused him to lose his balance and fall, hitting his head upon a nearby tree stump, knocking him unconscious.

When he opened his eyes, Char’aktul saw the attractive face of the daughter of the Criskarna chieftain, Jorelsha, lined with worry. Apparently, she had been trying to help him regain consciousness, and showed a great sense of relief when she saw he was awake. The hunter was still a bit disoriented, so they decided to speak with each other a bit before he attempted to walk back to his own lands. Before leaving, they both vowed to meet with each other when his hunts were completed for the day.

As one can guess, these two grew close. However, both Char’aktul’s fellow hunters, and Jorelsha’s father grew curious as to where they disappeared daily. Both villages sent trackers after these two, and were appalled at their findings. The Rinworth could not fathom why their most respected brother would dishonor them in such a way, and the Criskarna were puzzled as to why someone of such high standing would betray them so.

When Char’aktul returned to the village of Rin, he was assaulted by the voices of his brethren, declaring him a traitor. He was brought before the Rinworth chieftain himself, who felt the affair was of such gravity that he personally demanded the hunter to cease his acts and turn himself over for punishment. Disgusted, Char’aktul fought his way out of the chieftain’s hut, and pushed past the guards on the bridge, only to find Jorelsha running to him, the victim of similar treatment in her own home.

It was not long before nearly the entire population of the two neighboring villages stood watching the two. Soon, the insults against Char’aktul and Jorelsha turned to insults against each others’ villages. Incensed, the two sets of villagers began to attack one another, hurling spears, firing arrows, and even slinging nearby stones across the river. One of these stones struck Jorelsha’s infant brother on the forehead, killing him.

This last occurrence drove Jorelsha’s father into madness. He ran onto the bridge, his hunting knife drawn, intent on slaughtering Char’aktul, the man who he felt caused all of this pain and disgrace. His daughter, though, would not let this happen, and attempted to restrain him. In his current state, he threw the girl from the bridge, and into the water. Though her shrieks returned him to lucidity, he was frozen with the horror of his deed.

Char’aktul, cursing all assembled, dove into the water, wishing to save his love. Sadly, when he was able to reach her, he was already far too close to the edge of the waterfall, where the water was flowing too quickly for him to swim back. All of the villagers only stood staring at the river, their weapons flung to the ground in frustration at this outcome.

The Rinworth chieftain, on the other hand, became enraged. Foolish, like his counterpart among the Criskarna, he wished vengeance against him. However, when he set foot upon the bridge, a tentacle reached up from the water and pulled it apart. Upon hitting the water, the two were transformed into eels. It is believed that this was Charl’s doing, as he was utterly disgusted by what those who were so faithful to him had done.

Frightened by what they saw, the Rinworth and the Criskarna fled their villages. When they attempted to settle elsewhere, they found that when they planted crops, Oleani made it so the seeds would not sprout. If they attempted to harvest anything that was already grown, Imaera caused it to wither in their hands. All animals became intractable in their presence.

The two factions were forced into their old, uncivilized ways. They no longer had a land of their own, nor could they remain in familiar surroundings in an organized society. It was necessary for them to become nomads again, following the migrating herds of thrak.