From: Harald Smith 617 726-2172 (SMITHH@A1.MGH.HARVARD.EDU)
Date: Fri 17 Jun 1994 - 05:03:00 EEST
The Crippling of Lokarma
(The following is a piece of the Imtherian Lightbringer cycle. Lagavar is the Lightfore planet and is considered the hero/leader of the quest. Khalana is the healer. Orlantio is the trickster and not the leader in the Imther version. Kagozhim Gearmesher is a dwarf and the keeper of knowledge. Lokarma is the Imtherian goddess of trade and is seen regularly in the sky--the star known elsewhere as Wagon.)
Now when the Lightbringers approached the River of Swords, they could see a large crowd gathered there. All were pale, shadowy forms which cried in anguish or wept profusely. They shied away from the light of Lagavar--all but one, but looked hungrily upon the party.
Lagavar was surprised for this was none other than Basmal, the Lord of the Lightnings. "Who are these folk that you stand amongst and how came you to be with them?" asked Lagavar.
Basmal scowled, "These are the dead who lack coin for their passage. They are left behind, forgotten and unloved, in their death. Therefore they weep and will always weep lest someone find their rotted bodies and offer up their fare. As for me, ask that foul traitor amongst you." Basmal pointed angrily at Orlantio. "He stripped me of my spear and claws, then cast me here. My followers are gone and none came to give me a coin. I am stuck here, too, but I can and will strip him of his very skin." And Basmal stepped forward to rend Orlantio.
But Orlantio ducked behind Lagavar and Lagavar stood firm. "Stop cousin! Though I see your hate and understand it, you cannot have him."
Basmal bellowed in rage. "I will make him pay!"
"No," replied Lagavar firmly, "you will begone and let us pass. For
though he is a traitor, I still need him for the final dance."
Basmal glared and stomped, but finally left their company. "Good riddance to you, too, broken hand!" Orlantio called out after him.
"Hush, insolent wretch!" answered Lagavar. But Orlantio continued
taunting the wretched dead until they reached the river's edge.
At the edge of that harsh river, where all the world's swords rush by to destroy any who would touch its stream, sat a Ferryman in his boat. Now the Ferryman was a gloomy god bound by oaths sworn upon the black waters to carry those souls who had their coin into the Second Hell.
"Master of this boat, we seek to cross this river," stated Lagavar
simply.
The Ferryman surveyed the party but shook his head. "You are not dead and only the dead may cross this river."
The Lightbringers had expected this and Lokarma, she of the coin, stepped forward. "Ah, but we have the proper payment. Surely that will mitigate such a trivial detail. Accept these seven coppers, one for each, so that we can be on our way."
The Ferryman shook his head. "You are not dead and no seven coppers will make you so. You may not cross."
Lokarma, still smiling, answered, "I see your price is higher for such as us. We offer you five coppers apiece so that we can be on our way."
Still the Ferryman frowned and shook his head. "Such an offer has no meaning here. You may not cross."
Lokarma touched her cheek and pondered this before continuing. "You position is hard, but I think you could allow us passage for, say, 100 coppers apiece or if that won't do, a wheel of purest gold, freshly
cut." She smiled at her skill.
But the Ferryman was unmoved and repeated his position once again. Lokarma offered jewels, but the Ferryman refused. Lokarman offered magics, but the Ferryman would not budge.
Orlantio shook his head. To Lagavar he said, "Slay him and be done with him. He only blocks our path and we can guide a boat as well as he."
"Violence is not the only way, fool," said Lagavar angrily. "The
Ferryman has a task which we should not stop. We will go and find
another way."
And as they were about to leave, Lokarman cried out, "Wait. I have one more offer." She turned to the Ferryman. "You who are so dark and gloomy, why are you so? Do you not enjoy your task?"
"I do," replied the Ferryman, "but I long to see my kin who dwell
elsewhere and have their own tasks. But I am bound to stay here to keep
my vows."
"This then is my final offer. Go and see your kin. For if you give us
passage, I will perform your task until you return and ensure that your
vows are kept."
Now at this offer, the Ferryman looked puzzled. He thought long and hard upon the matter. "Very well, for this offer I shall give you passage with one final condition--you must give me your hamstrings as surety of your word."
Lokarma was reluctant to do so for she was a dancer and did not like to be left without motion. "Is one sufficient? For with just one I could not keep up with the others and would die by myself in this hell. I am a goddess of her word."
"No," replied the Ferryman, it must be both."
So Lokarma came and sat in the boat and gave up her hamstrings. The others then entered the boat. Under the steady strokes of the Ferryman they crossed the river of swords and reached the far bank.
There the Ferryman scrambled out and up the bank with a smile upon his face. "Farewell and remember, you are now bound to my oath--see that the dead do not back up or the black waters shall consume you! I will return when I am ready." And then he was gone into the shadows of the Second Hell.
Lagavar asked Khalana, "Can you heal her so that we can depart together?"
Khalana replied, "No, for to heal her I must give up those very strings needed to make my magics."
Lagavar went up the bank then and the others, all but Lokarma, followed him up the bank. "You have undertaken a grave task for our sake, dear sister."
Lokarma shook her head sadly, "If it is needed, then so it shall be. I will follow as I can when the Ferryman returns."
Lagavar broke a branch from his torch and lit it. "Keep this with you as a reminder of our task. It will guide you to me when you can come. Know that your tasks are not yet at an end and I will need you yet again."
Lokarma took the torch and kissed Lagavar goodbye. "I look forward to
that meeting."
Then with slow strokes, Lokarman dipped the oars into the sword waters and crossed back to fetch the dead. Lagavar and the others moved sadly and quietly on into the shadows of the Second Hell.
Notes:
1) It is said in Imther that the Ferryman eventually returned but made
another bargain with Lokarma--that she must return regularly to relieve
him of his task so that he could visit his kin. That is why Lokarma
moves so slowly across the sky, for she only reluctantly agreed and
tries to prolong her time away as long as possible.
2) An ending popular amongst the Grigor marl is that Lokarma fell in love with the sad Ferryman and agreed to marry him. Since she was still bound to assist Lagavar, she did so, but gave the Ferryman a hamstring so that he would know that she would return.
3) An another alternate ending says that on the way across, Kagozhim fashioned a new pair of hamstrings out of gold and copper which he gave to Lokarma in secret. When they reached the far bank, Lagavar insisted that his party be allowed out so that the Ferryman would have room to show Lokarma how to work the boat. But when they were out, Lokarma jumped out too using her new hamstrings and the Ferryman was left in the boat. But the new hamstrings were not as good as the old ones and always have to be repaired--that is why Lokarma takes so long on her journey.
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