Warlords, Moonlight, and an Onion Skin by Chipka
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Description
It began on Túr-gá-Hól Kását when a middling Warlord-Hierophant read the liver of a slain dolphin and found—he said—his blood-right to ascend the Obsidian Throne. In Kását law, only a mortal god may claim the black stone. The Warlord-Hierophant, a brutal man named Saratus, gathered those loyal to him and administered the rites and mind-clouding ecstasies that only a Warlord-Hierophant might know. Saratus, on two frenzied nights of blood and fire, burned half of the Kását Chain, killing any opposition to himself. On the following day of the third night, covered in ash and gore, he ascended the One Hundred Steps, claimed the Obsidian Throne, and declared himself Brül.
With their new brül, the Kását grew into ravenous hordes, sweeping west in long-boat and on horseback. Cities feel before them, and became Kását in the darkness bestowed upon them. Hálátárát was the first to fall, and then Ii. The Vorel Cities fell next, and on a day of clouds: a day sacred to the onion gods, the first Kását horsemen drove themselves into the Ůt’hožai lands.
Hej stops his recitation there. I know what comes next.
It has been four generations since Saratus declared himself Brül and made his neighbors bleed. It has been four generations since the Ůt’hožai fled, regrouped, and fled even deeper into lands harsh, even by Kását standards. In Ůtef and in other city states, the people have learned new skills and have developed intricate and bewildering sciences. Hej—well respected in Ůtef—has claimed work as a copper-man. Hej, like many Ůt’ēžen, knows secrets that will trick thunderstorm lightening through strands of copper. He knows how to make lightening and contain it in vats of acid with button-knobs on top. To these, he attaches clamp-jaw heads of copper wire, and with the lightening he creates, the Ůt’ēžen run their machines, their lanterns, and—strangely—a new sort of vehicle that may travel without the labors of a horse.
On the night that Hej tells me the origin story of my adopted people, the lightening-miracles in acid vats with clamp-jaw wires don’t matter. It is a night heavy with moonlight and a dark, dark mood. It is the anniversary of Saratus’ ascent, and thus, a night of mourning among the people who are now my family. As custom dictates, Hej makes steam in the altar room, pouring water over heated rocks. On this night, Ůt’ēžen men and their brother-husbands sit around ember pits, making steam and sweat, purifying themselves and invoking history. I am Ůt’ēžen now, Hej is my brother, my co-husband, and a gentle comfort. Our wives, always a joy, are quiet and furtive; they whisper between themselves as Hej and I whisper now. I know that Borá tells Lÿsti the same story Hej tells me. I know that they prepare sacred tea to share with us when we emerge from the place of our house altar.
There is strange fortune tonight. There is a full moon. The sky is cloudless. I am happy in the knowledge that there is instability within the Kását Brüldom and that they are no threat to us. Not now, at least. This is comfort, as I sit beside Hej, legs folded and spine straight. I sit, I think, like a lotus. Hej, with his bull’s muscle and his poet’s gentle manner, is delicate in the manner in which he handles the skin of a single onion, placing it where we both may see it. In it, I see the light of both moon and candle. I contemplate it, for long, long moments with Hej…thinking…remembering. I cannot say that I share and understand the full history of my adopted people. I can only think of Hej—grown so handsome in his familiarity to me—and of our wives…delicate, fiery Borá, and sweet-tempered Lÿsti. It is enough to think of these things, and to listen to the sounds of our wives, in the next room, preparing family tea.
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Onionskin with LED light. As always, thank you for viewing, reading and commenting and I hope you're having a great week.
Comments (30)
durleybeachbum
"I sit, I think, like a lotus." That made me giggle...I often imagine I still look elegant in various situations, but of course at my age that is a load of tosh.. Anyway, I digress. I loved the story of course, and this particular onionskin pic is very different and totally fascinating. The contrast of the orage anf the complementary blue is just great!
GARAGELAND
Keep em comin Dude!!!!!!
Simpleworks
I dub thy the Lord of the word, you tell an awesome story and you photography is outstanding.
SoulEatar
I am not sure if it is the photo or the title I like best :) It's all just way cool !!
beachzz
This has such a sweet feeling to it; sitting and listening to those who have become family--closer than family. It's a wonderful tale and I like it a lot. I like to think of myself sitting and listening as well. As for the onion skins--who knew???
lwperkins
Moonlight and candlelight was the first thing I thought when I saw the onion skin! And a story to match the beauty of the photo!
sandra46
VERY CAPTIVATING!| GREAT IMAGE!
NefariousDrO
Man, you continue to amaze me. Someday I'm going to get the chance to talk about just how much stuff you've read over the years. I have a feeling your library (in your head) is a bit like a cross between the minotaur's labyrinth and Alexander's library: myriad, unpredictable and more vast than the imagination can quite encompass. This is a really cool photo, which stands as a really cool work on its own, but add your wonderful story and you've got something akin to that onion: layers and layers that only grow more interesting the deeper you go. Bravo!
jac204
Great photo capture. I look forward to another chapter.
Orinoor
Years from now, whenever one of our community meets, we will speak of the onion stories by the renowned teller of tales. Beautiful work, both image and story.
geirla
Great story to go with the photo!
bmac62
All eminating from a simple onion skin and an LED light? Wow, first rate. Now, I am ready for a cup of the sacred tea (is it anything like kool-aid?)...lemon and sugar please:)
MrsRatbag
A richly elegant image and tale...
mgtcs
That is one wonderful tale. The plot draws you in and that storytelling of yours is absolutely fantastic. You really ARE a writer, and one of the few really good ones around. I would expect you to be famous already with that quality of text. Anywhere we can find other stuff that you wrote? Monica P.S. The photo is great. I like the light effect you arranged.
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend.Brilliant writing my friend.
danapommet
Wonderful narrative Chip and love the way the blue comes through the onion skin. Dana
auntietk
This onion skin has a feeling of destruction and doom remembered. Would I have seen that without your story? Unlikely. But now I can't see it any other way. This onion skin must be sacred as a remembrance.
evielouise
awwwwwww what a writer you are ; And I love this onion and I cannot say I have ever said that lol Glad to hear you don't cry when working with one lol thanks for the IM take care and hugs fro california:
helanker
Well this is a story and a photo, that I would fav, even if they were not together. I just love both. One of your best. Pleasant shot and pleasant narrative. Thank you.
minos_6
Compelling words, but on this occasion I'm overwhelmed by the image itself. I wonder sometimes where your inspiration comes from. You create stunning photography from the most commonplace subjects, and in my honest opinion this picture represents the pinnacle of that achievement. Words and image complement each other perfectly, and this is certainly one of my favourite entries in your gallery.
KateBlack10
Love this series Chip - this one is another really nice addition to the onion skin series. I never knew you could get so many interesting shots from an onion peel.
marybelgium
excellent once more to this onion serie !
bakr
Wonderful
Sepiasiren
now this one is very kewl--as if the light was channeled through the skin--the blue is a very nice and delicate touch...
RodS Online Now!
Wonderful lighting - quite fascinating, actually! I'm really liking this series of photos! Quite inspiring!
lick.a.witch
Beautiful image and wonderful narrative. Altogether a fabulous series. ^=^
flavia49
fantastic picture!! intriguing work and series (proses and images)
KatesFriend
I am always impressed how you can place such a personal, character driven story into such a broad universe and history in a way that is very fluid and concise. Great and brutal historical figures like Saratus looming large on the horizon as your characters embrace the culture that evolved in part because of this figure. All this from an onion peel.
praep
Again very nice. Great shot and lights my friend.
icerian
I like your ideas, excellent phatasyful capture.