Mahshi's Burden
The fatigue gripped her to the bone. Mahshi had lost count of the days since the storms passing. She was the most sought after shaman in the capital, had personally performed the rites at the last Grand Councilor’s passing, but nothing she had seen could have prepared her for the ordeal of the last week. Even as she performed rites over dozens of her countrymen, the bodies piled higher outside of her temple by the day. Mahshi finished the rites and incantations over a young girl, no more than three years old. As she waved for her assistants to take the body to be prepared for burial, her servant handed her a message. She was being summoned by the Council, and they would not be kept waiting.
She entered the Council chamber, ignoring the protest of her aching body and exhausted mind. Bowing, she felt the mingling take her.
Mahshi Taliawah, when did you last sleep?
She was shocked. The council never asked personal questions, and she was afraid that she had somehow offended them.
“I am sorry for bringing my worldly burdens into the sacred chamber, Councilors. I have not slept since the night before the storm. The rites continue and the spirits will not wait for my comfort.”
It has been six days since the storm passed. How many wait for the rites to be spoken?
She forced her mind to recall the reports brought to her throughout the ordeal.
“We have recovered all the bodies that remained on land. Of those, there are two hundred yet to receive the blessings. More than four hundred have moved on and the bodies lain to rest. There are still over five hundred Kappa unaccounted for – we can only assume the worst, that they are lost at sea.”
Without the rites, the spirits at sea will not rest. The Sodden Sky Seas will be a haunted land for years to come. This is grave news indeed, but we sense this is not what troubles you.
“There are other victims. Many Kappa were inundated with the seawater that is like poison to our race. Most fell prey to the weakness and dulling of the mind that the salted water usually brings. However, there were some that had a different reaction. The weakness was replaced by an overwhelming strength, and the dullness turned to heightened senses, but these few are plagued by violent dreams that bring no peace.”
Mahshi blanked her mind against the probing of the Councilors, trying in vain to hide the true reason she had not slept in a week.
And your son, Yoshi, is one of these.
She choked back a sob as she answered them. Her son had rushed to help after the first wave hit, and had saved many lives before he was overcome by the waves. Now he spent his night wracked by violent spasms, moaning about the ‘Deep Ones’ and crying out in fear.
We Kappa suffer as one. Your son will be cared for, and we will bring him back from the nightmare that has trapped him. But this is a delicate time. The public voice of our people, Kane-no-Kappawah, was taken by Tali’s wrath. We chose him to speak for the Kappa because he knew of the dry-lander’s world. We now chose you to be the voice of the Kappa because you know of the Kappa’s world. All of the nations of men save one have ignored us or made arrogant demands. They are impatient, judgmental, and powerful. You must ensure they know that the Kappa are not some primitive tribe of heathens to be subjugated and ruled.
“I will weep for my son, and pray for his return to sanity. I will speak the rites and sanctify the bodies of my brethren. I will rebuild our homes and our lives. But above all, I will heed the Council’s call and become the Speaker of the Kappa. The tribes of man will know the strength of the Kappa; in friendship or in conflict, we will find respect.”
