Songs of the Seven Gelfling Clans

by J. M. Lee

  Near the Wellspring, hidden among the red crags of the Claw Mountains, is a cavern temple carved by the Dousan over hundreds of trine. Here the Dousan pray to the Crystal of Truth, and record their wisdom and songs upon the walls. In many ways the cloister resembled the Grottan caves, a poignant reminder that our seven clans may not be as different as we have come to believe.

  Though the Dousan have asserted to me that the Crystal can be addressed from any location (especially, though, from amid the crystal sands of the desert), the Wellspring Cloister contains an effigy of the Crystal: a large carved stone resembling the Crystal of Truth, the Heart of Thra, made of faceted, translucent stone. Having never seen the Crystal myself, of course, I cannot say if the sculpture is to scale; it stands some four times the height of a Gelfling, and is positioned in the center of a cavern under a hole that has been cut in the ceiling. When the light shines in, it seems to ignite the stone and the entire cloister.

  As Dousan ritual requires, there are always at least three Dousan praying here at any given time. Losing moisture is of no concern here, where underground streams trickle in from the Claw Mountains and feed the Wellspring; and so, herein, I heard many chants and prayers to the Crystal that were spoken aloud as other Gelfling songs. Below is one such prayer.

  Crystal Prayer

  Shining in the light of the Triple Sun

  Wherein the colored rays become one

  Burst with sound unspoken

  Resound with body unbroken

  Your children chase your light

  Walking in your shadow

  Growing out of the freshwater lake in the center of the Wellspring oasis is a large tree, unmistakable from any direction as one approaches the Wellspring. I am told by the Dousan that the tree’s broad leaves, sprouting from the very top of its crown, repel the lightning of the storms that frequent the rest of the Crystal Desert. These leaves, thick as the deck of a Dousan skiff, bleed a thick white milk when cut. This milk hardens into a stretchy, tough substance that is equally lightning repellent, used on the Dousan skiffs and clothing for protection.

  The Wellspring Tree’s origins are just as mysterious as those of the other patron trees. It is included in the many songs that say it was Mother Aughra who planted all seven. There are at least two Jarra-Jen tales that have alternative explanations. Yet another song claims it was two of the Three Brothers who are responsible, after falling to Thra. This song, one of the few fables told by the Dousan, is shared below.

  The Two Brothers

  Three Brothers chasing clouds across the sky

  When two crashed and fell from the heights

  Into the crystal sea

  One a great guardian, big and strong

  Two a navigator, rose and wan

  Stranded in the crystal sea

  They climbed the red mount’s highest peak

  They strained their arms but could not reach

  From the crystal sea

  The third Brother looked down and saw their plight

  And sent word to their sisters of the night

  The Three Sisters joined their hands and sang

  And to their song the Crystal rang

  Then up from the crystal sea

  Sprang forth a crystal tree

  The guardian and navigator, brothers two

  Climbed the tree as it upward grew

  Out of the crystal sea

  And when they reached the sky once more

  They looked down on the crystal shore

  They saw the crystal tree sprung tall

  Grown within the Wellspring walls

  Tall and proud within the crystal sea

  The guardian and the navigator’s Wellspring Tree

  In this song the Brothers are characterized as a guardian (the Great Sun) and a navigator (the Rose Sun), two of the most important roles among the Dousan xerics. Even more fascinating still is the visual depiction of these Brothers, which can be found in several places within the Wellspring Cloister.

  There is one image in particular, showing two large figures standing beside what appears to be the Wellspring Tree in its sprouting stages. The two figures are decorated with halos, indicating their solar regency, but instead of taking a Gelfling form—as the suns often do when illustrated—the two Brothers appear to be almost Skeksis in shape, with long necks and tails and four arms each.

  When I asked about this incongruity (remember, the Dousan do not regard the Skeksis as deities but as mortal creatures like Gelfling and Crystal Skimmers), the Dousan elders denied that the figures had any resemblance to the Skeksis Lords and claimed that any similarities were a result of my own projection and interpretation.

  A Final Word

  On my final days with the Dousan, I was escorted to the border of the Crystal Desert by the maudra herself. We rode her famous Crystal Skimmer, a brilliant gold specimen named Urami, whose lineage is said to go back to the Skimmer of the first Dousan who ventured into the desert.

  I left my Dousan wards in silence, as is their way, and turned my back on the desert. I thought of the Trial of Daeydoim, and of the Gelfling course of life and death. Like that wandering star seeking a final resting place, I still searched for a path and a place I could not yet imagine. Yet if the Dousan are to be believed, it is the adventure that fills the place between birth and death that gives us purpose.

  Far to the south, the plains give way to wetlands. These marshes, infused with the heat of the air, become more and more dense. By the time that solid land is all but a memory, the jungle and overgrowth are so compact, it can be difficult to see where one apeknot tree ends and the next begins.

  Freshwater lakes make up the majority of the floor here in the Swamp of Sog, broken by raised tree roots and peaty mounds, punctuated by quicksand and gas vents.

  Here among the giant apeknots is the largest tree in the swamp: the Great Smerth, with a trunk as wide around as a small village and hundreds of times as high. And indeed, this is where the Drenchen Gelfling make their home, with burrows carved with respect and care into the Great Smerth’s living body. In fact, the Drenchen are the only Gelfling I visited who actually live within the patron tree of their clan. About seven out of ten Drenchen families make their home within the tree, with a minority living in hanging huts within the maze of its outer branches.

  Although many Gelfling live separately from their sister clans, it could be argued that the Drenchen clan is the largest of these remote communities. In numbers, they rival the Spriton or even the Stonewood, but their distant and difficult-to-reach location limits their interaction.

  Daily Life

  The Drenchen are extremely organized, despite their number, performing every task within the clan in small groups that report to leaders within larger groups. A good example of this is how the hunting parties work. Among the maudra’s council, there is an elder whose role is to manage the many hunting tasks necessary to feed the clan. She, in turn, has a small council of six Gelfling, each whom lead several hunting parties, each with their own captain. In this way, each of the smaller groups can always be assured they are working toward a greater purpose, ultimately that of the maudra and her council.

  One thing I learned while living in Sog is how different the seasons are, and how this affects the daily life of the Gelfling who make their home there. Farther north, the seasons change from spring to summer to autumn to winter and so on. However, the snows of the northern regions never touch Sog; the temperatures rarely change from their warm and humid conditions; and it rains every day, sometimes without stopping between. So, while the Spriton and the Stonewood are preparing and harvesting and sowing crops, thinking in terms of the cycle of the trine, the Drenchen follow a different rhythm. Their hunting cycles follow the cadence of the quarry being hunted, whether that is migratory o
r spawning or something else. Their lovely hanging gardens, built into the canopies, bloom in every season, but require constant care if they are to bear fruit at the appropriate time.

  Whether hunting, building, playing, or working, the Drenchen spend most of their time above the swamp in the apeknot canopy, called the High Road (of course, the muddy, unforgiving swamp below is thus called the Low Road). This was astonishing to me at first, since Drenchen wings are not as flightworthy as those of the Vapra and Sifa. Leaping through the gnarled apeknot branches seemed terribly dangerous without the safety of flight; yet the Drenchen are taught from a young age how to scale the tall trees and to read the stability of the apeknot branches and the distance between them. While the girls can use their wings to glide—lengthening their leaps by short distances or buffeting them enough to leap all the way to the swamp floor—even the boys, who of course have no wings at all, are always jumping to and from the boughs of the High Road as if it were as safe as skipping along a cobblestone path.

  Healing

  Some Drenchen have a talent that seems to be unique among the Gelfling clans: that of healing the physical body. This is not an ability all Drenchen have, though it’s not particularly rare, either. During the time I lived with the Drenchen, there were some dozen younglings with the gift, who attended regular training sessions with their elder healers, learning to control and focus their abilities.

  What these healers are capable of is beyond remarkable. While the strength and finesse varies from Gelfling to Gelfling, with great care and the right mentor, it is said that any Gelfling can learn to use their gift to heal some of the most disastrous of injuries. As a testament to this, I witnessed a youngling mend a fractured bone—and her wings had not even bloomed.

  Though the effects of this ability are undeniable, it is impossible to say where it comes from, especially as I have never seen it exhibited beyond the Swamp of Sog. Some songs say that the gift was learned from the Great Smerth itself when the Drenchen first made their home in the heart of the swamp. If this is the case, perhaps that explains why it is somewhat common among the Drenchen, but rare among Gelfling.

  Hard-Talk

  Among the Drenchen, especially at the elder council table, hard-talk is a phrase often spoken—especially in the rare instances when Gelfling from beyond the swamp are present. Hard-talk, meaning to speak without metaphor or hesitation, is an ability valued highly in Sog—though in my experience, somewhat ironically, as the Drenchen speak in symbols and with politeness just as fluently as any other Gelfling. So although the Drenchen may puff their chests when boasting how blunt and straightforward they are compared to other Gelfling, in actual practice I found hard-talk to be more of a communication strategy during serious debates. Essentially, as a key that opens the door to saying what others are reluctant to say.

  For example, during challenging hearings in the maudra’s council chambers, when it seems all have reached an impasse, an elder will forcefully stomp his foot and demand hard-talk. In this way, all present are excused from whatever potential insult they might bring by speaking their mind. This emphasis on honesty—and a promise of withheld judgment and a listening ear—has a fascinating impact on decision-making within the clan.

  And while I thought perhaps hard-talk might cause strife and conflict, especially when elders or clan members are in disagreement with the maudra, I actually found the hard-talk tradition to strengthen trust in the elder council as part of the community rather than above it. I would be fascinated to see how such concepts might change the dynamic in other places where maintaining hierarchy is paramount, such as in the All-Maudra’s court when the Skeksis Lords are present. It is my guess that Drenchen hard-talk would not go over quite so well.

  Muski Companions

  The swamp has created a hunting environment unlike any other. Though it seems overflowing with game and plants, the density of the foliage and the constant shifting of water make locating quarry difficult—and catching it even harder! Add to this the fact that quicksand and various predators are quick to snatch up game that is not collected immediately, and you have the makings of one of the most challenging hunts you will ever encounter.

  To assist in these difficult hunts, the Drenchen have solicited the aid of the swamp Muski. These flying eels are indispensable as hunting companions, quick to retrieve quarry as well as bola. In exchange, the Muski partners take part in every aspect of Drenchen life, from travel to sleep to dining in Great Smerth’s hall.

  Unlike other companion animals I have witnessed during my travels, Muski seem to be very particular about choosing their partners, and once chosen, are bonded for life. Although some Gelfling have studied the Muski for generations and can predict the likelihood of a certain eel bonding with a certain Gelfling, it is impossible to make this guess with precision.

  I was able to spend some time with an elder whose role was in matching Muski to Gelfling, and learned that one of the largest components of pairing Muski is in the precise timbre of the Gelfling’s voice. Muski ears are very sensitive, able to pick up nuances in sounds that even Gelfling ears cannot perceive. Curiously, those who study the Muski have also found that certain spots and markings along the eel’s body indicate what kind of voice that eel may be attracted to—thus, which Gelfling they may bond with.

  Additionally, and perhaps related to the timbre of voice, Muski also seem to favor bonding along family lines. For example, the Muski bonded to the Drenchen maudra will spawn several times during her life, and it is likely that her offspring will be compatible with the maudra’s children. Thus, many Muski bloodlines follow that of their Gelfling partners.

  Spring Festival

  The Drenchen observe most of the traditional Gelfling occasions, and even though seasons have a different effect on life in the swamp, as I’ve mentioned, those festivals marking the turning of the trine still occur with great consistency and enthusiasm. During my time with the Drenchen, I was able to take part in many a spring festival, which for me as a non-native to the swamp, was my favorite. Because flowers bloom at all times in Sog, they grow bigger and in greater numbers than in other places in the Skarith Land. Thus, when stringing the traditional flower garlands, it requires every youngling in the clan, and heavy ropes that can bear the weight of a thousand blooms in every color.

  The spring festival is also the time during which the maudra’s successor—as in other clans, usually her eldest daughter—addresses the clan in place of her mother, a great ceremony indeed, as it eases her into what will eventually be her role: standing before her clan and greeting them each, one by one, and welcoming them into the new trine as they welcome her. She will then descend from the maudra’s balcony and light the hearth that waits at the foot of the Great Smerth.

  Once the fire is lit, the festivities begin, most of which are familiar to any Gelfling. Competitive games such as dart throwing and rope swinging are popular among the younglings, and of course for the adults, many of the vintners will introduce the trine’s sogflower wines. As evening falls, the torches among the branches of the Great Smerth are lit, and the dancing and music will go on until dawn. The day following is often one of rest, granted to the entire clan in observance of spring and the vigorous and joyous activities of the day and night before.

  Drenchen Drums

  One of my favorite things about living with the Drenchen was waking to the sound of the drums. There is something particularly special about the way the beating resonates through the swamp in the earliest morning. I don’t know if it is the way the sound reverberates against the apeknot canopy or the water or both, but there were many, many mornings I would simply lie with my eyes closed and listen.

  Every morning, a single drummer signals the start of the day with a beat from among the arms of the Great Smerth, where large-skinned drums are fastened in clusters. The drums are so big and durable, the drummers use their spears to beat them—the thick and sturdy drumheads are not scarred
even by the blue stone spearheads.

  After the first beat of the drum, the rhythm steadily increases until it is similar to that of a Gelfling heartbeat. The other drummers will join the first after a while, until the sound of the Drenchen heartbeat rings across the swamp. It is not just for the Gelfling of Great Smerth, but for the entire area that hears the drums. The birds begin their song, the swamp Nebrie coming to the surface to feed. The flowers that bloom during the day open their petals and fronds; those that thrive at night close up and rest.

  The drumming will continue throughout the day. New drummers arrive in shifts, relieving their companions, so the drumming never ceases. The steady beat can be used by metalworkers and carpenters to moderate their strikes; the trembling can be felt below the water by the fish farmers and waterbed gardeners who work tirelessly to bring food to the Drenchen table. The beating can be heard by rangers and hunters who have gone out into the swamp, always calling them back home so they are never lost. This is the steady backdrop of life within Sog. The endless beating represents the community and its presence, as interwoven as the apeknot canopy.

  Waterfasting

  While dreamfasting is a sacred bond between two Gelfling, there is likely not one of us on Thra who has not wished to be able to dreamfast with other creatures to understand their hearts and minds. The desire to do so, despite it being an impossible feat, is what we call meditation: the attempt to connect to the world around us through dreamfast, though our small Gelfling abilities are unable to reciprocate the booming voice of Thra.