Kalista's Lesson Of Umjalaya's Magic
This small world that we live in--Featherdrake Gardens, Turtle Pond, Fae Meadow, and the Spirit Garden--were created by the being Umjalaya. He has no species and no name other than the one that was assigned to him by the ancients so we could have something to refer to him by. Umjalaya did not create the Universe...he created this forest we live in out of the four powers that he harnessed for this purpose: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.
Umjalaya has four daughters who have taken on human form. These daughters have inherited Guardianship of the four powers, and they are the mediators. For all four of these powers cancel each other out: Air snuffs Fire, Fire burns Earth (as all of the plants and trees stem from Earth), Earth soaks up Water, Water overcomes Air, and so on. All powers must be mediated by the Guardians to give birth to Life and Time in this forest.
However, the daughters, having taken human form, also posess human emotion, and they do become angry, often with each other, as siblings do. Sometimes Myriah will see vengence on Tiramu by sending a violent storm on the sea, or Elora (the oldest and most caustic of the sisters) will become enraged with Shanna's taunting and will send a forest fire. But they are mostly loyal to each other and work together to help each other. Peace between the sisters is an everlasting goal.
The Guardians have special forces called Servants, and that is where the lesson of magic comes in. The servants are mortal beings, like the fae of Fae Meadow, who come to learn the magic of the sisters. For instance, to be a Servant of Elora is to learn to harness the power of fire. To make that committment to be a servant is to vow to learn the magic of that sister and to harness the constant power of Umjalaya in a struggle for peace.
All four of the Guardians live in the forest. They wander throughout but are rarely seen in human form. They almost always take the form of an animal, an Animal of War or an Animal of Peace, depending on their mood. To know the state of mind of the Guardians is to watch for changes among each sister's Animal of War or Peace.
Below you will find the history of all four sisters, as well as the path to Umjalaya's Realm.
Shanna, Guardian of Earth
Shanna is the second oldest of the sisters and controls the dominion of the Earth, trees, land dwelling creatures and is often associated with the sun. She is very even tempered and almost all of her works are sprinkled with goodness. Her acts of war include earthquakes and landslides, the most powerful and dangerous of her magic, although a necessity, as with all of the sisters, to restore the earth.
Animal of Peace: the tiger
Animal of War: the wolf
Festivals: All changes of the seasons are associated with Shanna. The Harvest feast in autumn has become the largest and most widely observed festival of Shanna. Others include the Festival of Sleep (winter, when many animals go into hibernation), Summer Day (a day in early summer when no work is done), and the Rebirth, when crocuses are gathered and bundled in swags to be placed on the doors, welcoming the coming of spring.
Tiramu, Guardian of Water
Tiramu is the third of the sisters, controlling all water and norishment for Life. She is the most mysterious, as all of her secrets are hidden underwater and must be obtained through strenuous work. She is a sensual spirit, lulling many to a calm state. Her most powerful magic is that of the waves, as she can call up water to engulf and destroy when needed. Tiramu is often associated with the moon as the lunar cycle controls the tides.
Animal of Peace: the fish
Animal of War: the frog
Festivals: Although there are no major festivals associated with Tiramu, traditional followers observe a fellowship feast during each new moon in honor of her. It is also an ancient custom for all to stay indoors during the night of the full moon, and even though this was not originally derived from Tiramu's teaching, many spend the evening devoting a special study to her magic.
Elora, Guardian of Fire
Elora is the oldest of the Guardians and also has the richest history of all of the sisters. Her power to send magma from deep within the earth to create lava and fire is her most terrifying of all. She is a bitter spirit from a lifetime of suffering. She has had one lover, the original Snake, and that union produced a great fire lizard who is said to be the father of the dragons of today. Consequently, all dragons are considered sacred by her followers. After the birth of the fire lizard, which she named Ky (today this word means "son"), the Snake scorned her love and turned away. In anger, she cursed the children of the Snake. Today, she has adopted the snake as her Animal of War, usually an honor but carried out as a curse where all snakes used in her battles will die, victorius or not. This has caused an ongoing feud with her sister Shanna, who was given dominion over all of the animals of the earth.
Animal of Peace: the spider
Animal of War: the snake
Festivals: Only one, the Festival of Reconcilliation, where a bonfire is burned and traditional songs are sung around the fire to try to persuade Elora to let go of her anger and allow the snakes to live. A feast in her honor follows, as well as the giving of gifts and words of love to each other to keep ties between family and friends strong.
Myriah, Guardian of Air
The final and youngest daughter is Myriah of Air. She is the most popular among the fae (including Merian) as she is the most carefree spirit of all. She rarely is on the offense but will fight in defense. Mighty storms and destructive tornadoes are the greatest of her magic. She takes the forms of many flying insects and birds, so it is nearly impossible to tell where she is. With no boundary or "excess baggage" to hold her back, she is said to be the happiest of all Guardians.
Animal of Peace: the honeybee
Animal of War: the eagle
Festivals: The first thunderstorm of spring. At the first downpour and clap of thunder, all are to drop whatever they are doing and dance in the rain, singing a welcome to Myriah.
Kalista's Home
Fae Meadow
Featherdrake Gardens
Turtle Pond
