PRALORI

WHAT MY UNCLE TOLD ME

Who are you?

I am Irvon the hunter, son of Enastor, a descendant of Relama Elkhorns who showed the way in the Darkness.

Who are we?

We are the Three Point Antler herd of the Pralori, which consists of both humans and elk.

What makes us great?

The fertility of our elk make us great, for everything else stems from this. Because of the many elk our herd has, we are feared by the farming people, and respected by the true people. So long as we keep the old ways and never submit to evil, we will remain fertile and people will know our name.

Where do we live?

This is Pralorela, the land of the sacred elk, where our people have lived since the Dawning. Our warriors and our magics prevent other people from living here, even though it is the best land in the world, and many others would seek to live here if they could. Everywhere in Pralorela belongs to our people, and each herd may travel where it wishes, for everything here is sacred to Pralor.

How do we live?

We live by cooperation with the spirits, and with the many elk you see about you. The best elk are for riding, but you will not see the farming people doing so, because they do not understand how to appease the proper spirits and so have to make do with inferior riding animals which they can enslave, such as horses. Only the Pralori are great enough to ride the magnificent elk!

By keeping the spirits friendly we also ensure that there is plenty of food for us to eat. That is why the land in which we live is so bountiful: because our leaders know how to talk to spirits. When you learn the proper rites, you will be able to hunt for many kinds of food, without fear that the animal spirits will be angered and haunt you.

All of this land belongs to the elk, and also to us. We do not cower in shelters of stone and wood like the farmer peoples. Instead, we carry our homes with us, and the strongest elk carry our tools and hides ready to be put down wherever is the right grazing land at that time. Follow the stags and the shaman, and they will not lead you astray.

At times we trade with the farming peoples who travel through our lands. Because this is not the proper place for them, and because they are ignorant in many ways, they rely on us to protect them from the spirits of the land. In return they give us a share of their goods before we begin trade; otherwise we would have to fight them and drive them from this place lest the spirits become angry with us for abusing their trust. The best gift the farming peoples bring is bronze, which cuts better than a sharp stone and can be fashioned into spear-tips and cutting tools.

What is important in my life?

When you were born the shaman blessed you, so that the spirits would know you for one of us, and not harm you as an outsider. When you took your first steps you were given the weasel skull you carry as a gift, so you know that your special magic will be to make your foes quake in fear.

In a few years you will be old to enough to take the men's rites and become an adult. You must show them your magic, and bring back an animal to feed the herd. If you can do so, then everyone will know that Pralor has accepted you, and will show you the proper respect. Then you will be able to ride elk on your own, instead of having to be guided by adults as you are now. You will have earned your own tent, and go to live among the unmarried men, just as your sister already lives among the unmarried women.

Until you are married you must pitch your tent with that of the other young men, and must ride alongside them when we travel. You may not meet with unmarried women unless there is a married person or a shaman with you, for otherwise Trickster may fill your heart with wicked thoughts.

One day you must chose a woman from another herd to marry. Make sure she is a good woman, one who can have many children, is wise in the ways of healing and herding, and one who is happy being with you. You will leave the herd then, and go to join that of your bride. Your new herd will celebrate the marriage at the autumn ceremony, when the elk are rutting. With the blessing of the spirits, you will go on to have many strong children.

When you die, your body will be returned to the earth, and the shaman will petition the spirits to make your passage to the other world easier. Eventually you will return to us as a new baby or fawn.

What is the difference between men and women?

Men are the hunters, who bring back meat to feed the herd, and also the warriors who protect the women, children and elk in time of trouble. Women gather plants, both for eating and for healing. They know how to nurture children and fawns and understand the secrets of fertility.

Rekorn the Seer may look like a woman, but he is in fact, a man, as you can tell by the clothing he wears and the way he binds his hair. It is because he is a man that he can lead the rituals before a hunt, and teach the hunters how to avoid angering the animal spirits. But because he looks like a woman, he can appease other kinds of spirit too, which are associated with women's knowledge.

Who rules us?

Rekorn the Seer is our shaman, and he is the first leader of the herd. He knows all the special ways, and can lead the magic rites through which we know Pralor. He knows the best places for the elk to graze, and all the paths across the land. Only he can speak with spirits, although Selasta daughter of Theline may soon learn to do so, if she can find a guide in the Other World. If she does so, then she will become a man, just as Rekorn is. Her appearance will not change of course, but everyone will know she is a man. Because of this, she will never be able to marry, and this is part of the great sacrifice that the shaman makes for his herd.

You must always be grateful to the shaman for the hardships he endures on our behalf, and be respectful of his great wisdom, not just his magics. When Selasta is a shaman, she will assist Rekorn in better ways than she can now, and if Pralor wills it, she will eventually become the herd's new leader when Rekorn eventually dies.

Kurdo son of Uriva is our chieftain, and he leads the men on the hunt, once it has been blessed by Rekorn. He also leads us in trade with outsiders, and in war when times are hard. He has great skill in hunting, and knows many fighting-magics, and is able to advise Rekorn on these matters and to protect the herd when our shaman is working on our behalf in the spirit world. This why the chieftain is sometimes called the second leader of the herd.

What makes someone great?

The greatness of a man is measured by how well he serves his herd. If you are able to bring back many good food animals from the hunt, and know how to make spears and bows, then the herd will respect you and provide for your needs. Being able to father many strong children also makes a man great, for this provides for the future of the herd and ensures we will not be forgotten. You must also learn your magic well, and put it to good use. Fighting bravely in defence of the herd is important, but better yet is knowing how to avoid trouble so that we do not have to fight, and our lives are not needleslly endangered.

What is evil?

Trickster often tempts us to do things we should not. He has no love or appreciation of the herd, and tries to put selfish thoughts in our hearts so that we turn against others. He makes the coward feel fear, so that he puts his own safety above that of the herd. He makes the greedy man desire greater things for himself than for the herd. He makes the sluggard relax his guard when he should be looking out for danger. He puts wicked feelings in your loins when you look at women to whom you are not married, and makes the foolish man curious about the secrets and magics of women, knowing that these things are against the laws passed down to us by our ancestors.

If you submit to Trickster, then the spirits will be angered, and no longer recognise you as one of us. You will become an enemy, an outcast, living without herd or family. The spirits will steal your mind and eat your soul, until you become an empty shell and die alone and unloved.

What is my lot in life?

You will become a hunter, and provide for the herd in that way. You must also learn the other men's arts, of bowery and fletching, and the making of spears and other tools. When you marry, your loyalty will belong to your wife's herd and work for them as you will have already worked for us. But you should not forget your old herd, for it is in this way that the various herds of our people are bound together.

If you are fortunate, you will have many strong children and make your new herd proud. If you show your skill and know your magic, one day you may even become chieftain and lead the herd in hunting, war and trade. You must make sure everyone knows your strengths, because otherwise they may not respect you as they should. That is why we men recount our many deeds around the campfire whenever we celebrate.

How do we deal with others?

You are a part of the herd; their wellbeing is even more important than your own. So long as you help the herd to the best of your ability, then, even if you die, the spirits will reward you and you will not be forgotten. If you are injured or made ill by evil spirits, the herd will help you with healing magics. Food and goods are shared amongst everyone, so that no one person ever suffers so long as the herd remains strong. Being a part of the herd gives your life meaning; if you ever have to leave to follow a spirit-quest or some other special task, we will help you as we can, and you can always return to us so long as you do not abandon our ways.

The other herds of the Pralori are also important. They keep to the ways as we do, and we exchange elk with them just as we exchange husbands in accordance with the ancient ways. You can trust other Pralori in most matters, but they are not obligated to help you in the way that your own herd is.

Outsiders are different. They do not belong in our land, and must never settle here. Those who live in stone shelters and rend the earth with ploughs are the worst kind, for they have abandoned their old ways and so are clearly not to be trusted. Other people, such as the Damali and Galanini peoples, are inferior to ours because they do not work together as we do, but they can be dealt with as individuals if the need arises. The Lotari cannot be trusted, because they are followers of the Trickster and have no loyalty, even to each other.

In general, it is better to avoid outsiders than it is to fight them. Combat may cause deaths among the herd, and expose us to needless danger. That is why we trade with the farming peoples who travel through our land. So long as they do not try and stay here, and make their journies as quickly as they can, we have no need to fight them, so we may as well make the best of their presence that we can. But even so, we must keep a close eye on them, for they cannot be trusted and would try to do evil things if we let them. Combat is a last resort, but one that every man must be prepared to use without hesitation when the need arises.

Who are our enemies?

An enemy is anyone who would anger the spirits, or act against the herd. Sometimes, farmer people come among us who try to take our land, our elk or our women, and then the whole herd unites to fight them.

The forest people to the east and west are also our enemies, for they do not like the elk eating their bushes and shrubs. They are not human, and cannot be dealt with in any way except fighting. Fortunately, they are cowardly, and are too frightened to enter our lands. So the best thing to do is simply to avoid them, and never enter the deep forests where they will ambush and kill you.