Lore & Chronicles

Tale told by Storyteller Lutrykin - Atysmas Storytelling Assembly in Jena Year 2591 (2016-12-26)

Eukisse’s Hat
Why Mektoub Mounts wear red caps at Atysmas.

Long long ago, back in the Old Lands, even before the founding of Coriolus or Zoran, when homins lived in small villages, there was a young Fyros hominette who lived in a village in the Desert.

This hominette, who was named Eukisse, was an orphan, and was raised by the village as a whole to honour her parents.

She had studied hard and learned much about the different fibres that she could harvest in the desert, how to comb them and spin them to make thread and yarn.

Eukisse also knew all the different dyes that she could colour the fibres with, how to prepare them and how to combine them. She made many new colours.

She also knew how to knit all kinds of garments, socks and gloves and vests and hats, and she would make them in all the colours she knew how to create.

Because she was so busy with spinning and dying and knitting she did not have much time to make friends.

When she had a little time and tried to approach the other children in the village they pointed and laughed and said: "Kiss, kiss, go play with your piss."

As we all know, yubo piss is an important ingredient in making dyes work correctly. However, children can be very cruel.

One day Eukisse made a recipe for a dye that was so bright a red that you could say it glowed when it was applied to Anete fibre.

She knitted a hat of the glowing red Anete fibre, put it on her head and went to the village square to show it off, but the other children mocked her, saying that a glowing hat would only attract predators.

Now the time of Atysmas came near and all the children looked forward to the presents that the Sint (Father Atysmas) would bring them.

The night before Atysmas she said her prayers and then tucked herself into bed to sleep until the morning. A dust storm was rising and the wind was blowing hard, but her hut was solid and she was not afraid.

As she was beginning to go to sleep there was a knock at the door of her hut. She wrapped a blanket around her and opened the door.

There stood Father Atysmas himself. Behind him were his mektoub mount and his train of Packers, all loaded with gifts. Eukisse could barely see them through the dust.

"Eukisse, will you loan me your glowing hat? The dust is so thick I need more light to lead my packers so that I can deliver the presents.”

Of course Eukisse was glad to do so, but Father Atysmas was disappointed. "It needs to fit on the head of my mount. This is too small."

In a flash, Eukisse grabbed her knitting needles and knitted with the glowing yarn as fast as she could. In no more time than it takes to tell, she had made a Mektoub sized hat, glowing brightly in the darkness of the dust storm.

Father Atysmas delivered all his gifts that night, thanks to the glowing hat. The last gift was to Eukisse, a new set of the shiniest knitting needles she had ever seen.

Ever since then at Atysmas time the Mektoub Mounts wear red hats to remember the time that Eukisse saved Atysmas with a red hat.

Epilogue: The children of the village never did invite her to play with them. Children can be cruel.
However, Eukisse finally married a handsome homin who was able to see her talents even if she wasn't popular and they were happy together for all their life.

Tale by Kyriann - Atysmas Storytelling Assembly in Jena Year 2606 (2019-12-29)

Lillipukin and the botanist

Once upon a time there was a lutrykin so tiny that Father Atysmas didn't really know what to do with him.
If he asked him to drive the sleigh, the mektoubs wouldn't move an inch, if he sent him to the toys workshop, he would almost get crushed by the plush yubos and lets not talk about going to harvest anything, a simple piece of sawdust would make him totter.
So he was preferring to perch him on his hat, at least there, he wasn't in danger of losing him.
And our lutrykin was bored, perched on his hat, without having the slightest chance to take part in all this bustle.
And then one year, just before Atysmas, when the bustle was at its height, Father Atysmas found himself well and truly annoyed. It was imperative to take a message to Ke-Piang Geoi, a hawker who is usually in the Void, but absolutely no one was available. Father Atysmas lamented in despair when he heard a small chirping voice:
— But I, I could carry the message! I would so much like to help!
Father Atysmas startled. It has to be said that, in all this turmoil, he had somewhat forgotten his little lutrykin.
He took him in his hands and put him in front of his face and then thought, thought, thought…
— All right, I have no other solution… Lillipukin, I'm going to entrust you with an essential mission. You're going to ask Ke-Piang Geoi where he put my order. You're going to go on the back of one of the mektoubs. He'll take you to the Staring Stronghold. When you get the answer, you will shout “OOOOOOOOOH!” in the mektoub's ear, and he will bring you back here. Do you understand?
— Yes! chirped Lillipukin. Thank you Father Atysmas! You'll be content with me, I promise you!

No sooner said than done, Lillipukin is transported to the Void at full speed.
But when he arrives at the Stronghold, he is compelled to note that the hawker is not there.
— But how am I going to do? I can't leave without the answer! I promised Father Atysmas I would bring it back to him.
— Come on, you, go ahead, he can't be far!
But Lillipukin may slap with all his strength and try to shake the reins, but the mektoub doesn't move a muscle.
— By Jena's pigtails, I'll have to manage without you!
When he was angry, our lutrykin wasn't very polite! But we'll forgive him for this misuse of language, the situation was difficult.
— Never mind, I get down. I'll manage to find a way back up.
He clings to the trunk and begins to climb down, when the mektoub, annoyed by an itch, abruptly turns around and sends poor Lillipukin into the air.
— AAAAAAH! Lillipukin shouts before crashing in the slope.
— Ow, ow, ow, ow! Lillipukin rises somehow and starts to climb back up the slope, afraid that the mektoub has gone back to Father Atysmas because of the scream.
When he finally reaches the top, exhausted by the run, he finds, relieved, the mektoub that hasn't moved.
Lillipukin falls on the grass.
— Pfff! I'm exhausted.
He leans against a fragaria stem and soon falls asleep tired.

— Hmmmmmm, but what is then this outgrowth?
Lillipukin wakes up with a start and sees a huge amber eye bent over him.
— AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! he shouts.
— OOOOOOOOOH ! shouts the amber eye. And in a great crash, a great mass falls to the ground while Lillipukin sees the Atysmas mektoub fly off.
— Nooooo! But it's too late.
Lillipukin turns towards the heap mass. He realizes that what he took for an eye is a kind of telescope and that the rest of the mass is a huge Matis sitting down.
— What were you thinking, shouting like that? Because of you, the mektoub is gone and I'm stuck here and Father Atysmas will never entrust me with anything ever again!!!
Sobs shake the little lutrykin from head to toe.
— I'm very sorry, Ser, if my presence has caused any trouble. May I inquire about that? This is, how can I put it, the first time I've encountered an entity of your kind and that surprised me, I must confess. I thought for a moment that I had discovered a new variety of fragaria, but I don't know of any plant capable of making such a scream! I'm failing in all my duties! I am Tolo Di Niolo, a modest botanist from Karan.
— Lillipukin, Father Atymas' Lutrykin and at the moment, so much full with problems, that I don't know if I will ever get out of it.
And Lillipukin tells everything, Father Atysmas' request, the vanished hawker and the mektoub flying away.
— Hmm, I see. Would you allow me to try and find a solution for you? I've had an idea running through my head since I saw you, but it's a bit experimental!
— I'll do anything to prove that I can do something useful!
— So here's my idea. Perhaps you have already noticed that there are small flying animals with propellers in the Void. Some of them are green. I call them Heliarachnes. They're very fast. I was figuring they'd just the right size to serve you as a mount. And if you manage to tame one, then you could ride as you please and find Ke-Piang Geoi to deliver him Father Atysmas's message.
The lutrykin leaps to his feet.
— Yeeeaaah! What a wonderful idea. Let's go at once and try and capture one!
Lillipukin falls back sit, discouraged.
— But if they're so swift, how can we catch one?
The Matis has a wry smile.
— Don't worry too much. I know I don't look much, but from my research I've developed a certain ease in capturing these tiny beasts. There's, right above us, everything you need for capture.
— It is a dorao, you can recognize it by its long trunk and the creepers hanging from its foliage. With the creepers and a branch, I can build a net.
While explaining, Tolo Di Niolo jumps up to catch one or two creepers and starts to weave them together, making the net at lightning speed.
— There you go. I'm ready. Would you like to climb on my shoulder? I know a spot a little further down the slope where you can often find heliarachnes.
With Lillipukin well clinged to his armour, the botanist launches into the slope with the net ready, and with a sure skill, captures a heliarachne.
— And hop! Let's see our catch.
Tolo skillfully seizes the little beast to show it to Lillipukin still perched on his shoulder.
Two bulging red eyes, a round bright green body and a propeller-shaped toupee, Lillipukin finds the little beast very friendly.
— Onward, Ser Lutrykin, climb on your mount!
Lillipukin sits on the back of the heliarachne and Tolo frees the tiny beast, which starts to leap up in the sky, hoping to bewilder this unwanted traveller. Soon, they disappear from the sight of Tolo who begins to fear the worst for his little companion.
Lillipukin, he, clings desperately to the toupee so as not to fall despite the raging roars. Turns and other loops follow one another but the grip doesn't let go! It must be said that little lutrykin was used to clinging on to Father Atysmas's hat in all circumstances and therefore had a tremendous amount of practice. Gradually the pace of the tumbles slowed down and Lillipukin could consider leading the manoeuvre by gently moving the toupee. He passes close to a group of other heliarachnes that come to surround Lillipukin and his mount, following them, as magnetized.
Lillipukin is jubilant, too happy with his dressage and leads the whole group to Tolo to thank him.
He sees him, then, riding up the slope at full speed, chased by a zerx that has taken him in pursuit. He presses his mount and throws it, along with the whole group, at the head of the zerx, roaring, turning, blinding and disorienting the filthy beast with their tumbles. The botanist runs for cover. The zerx ends up falling, trying to catch the heliarachnes that blind him, and rolling down the slope.
The botanist is saved!
Lillipukin can now proudly present on his destrier in front of his friend.
— I can never thank you enough, Ser Lutrykin.
— You're joking, botanist! You've just given me Atysmas' greatest gift, you've given me back my freedom and the possibility to be a full-fledged lutrykin. That's I who owe you all!
Father Atysmas' deep and grave voice resounds then.
— Yes, it is a wonderful gift that you have given each other.
— Oh! Father Atysmas! You are there?
— When I saw the mektoub come back all alone, I suspected that something had happened and I arrived at the right time to see this epic fight. You're a brave lutrykin, Lillipukin! Now hurry up and find Ke-Piang Geoi and go back to the workshop! Your heliarachne is yours forever. As for you, Botanist, I can't give you a gift precious enough to thank you for giving back the joy of life to my little lutrykin, but I hope the bards will sing this episode for a long time.

That's the end of my story, but next time you go to the Void, take a good look if, on the back of a heliarachne, you don't see a little lutrykin, and remember of his botanist friend.

Tale by Lutrykin - Atysmas Storytelling Assembly in Jena Year 2606 (2019-12-29)

Caprysmas

Once upon a time there was a capryni who was born on Atysmas Day. His parents named him Caprysmas.
It seemed like he had been blessed at birth by the gifts of Father Atysmas and all the fairies.
He was handsome, strong, tough, skilled with his horn and hooves and so brave that he was a pillar of the herd that lived near Avalae.
Yet he was not loved, for he was very proud of all his advantages.
He had only one friend, a capryni so kind that the whole herd adored him.
This friend admired Caprysmas, who, in return, knew how to be charming and give lots of wise advice.
With all the others, Caprymas was haughty and heartless.
He was particularly hard on a small Capryni, very weak but whose greatest defect, in Caprysmas' eyes, was to be quick-witted and the habit of defending himself with derision.
One day, landed in the herd, a capryni with the halo of belonging to an Yrkanis herd.
Of course, this frisky and very coquettish young capryni quickly became the darling of the herd, triggering the hostility of Caprysmas.
Unbeknownst to all, he left for Yrkanis and learned that his rival had been expelled from there for having endangered the whole herd by fleeing one day when he was supposed to stand guard.
Back at Avalae, Caprysmas was determined to have the newcomer sent away without revealing his secret, preferring to keep it for himself to have a hold on his rival.
But, the little capryni with the sharp tongue had fallen under the spell of the newcomer and he managed to avoid him being banished definitively although he was relegated to a very subordinate position.
Soon some great news arrived: Father Atysmas was looking for runners to complete the team of his sleigh.
Caprysmas left, in all confidence, to see Father Atysmas: he was convinced that the position of head of the team was his, that it was only waiting for him.
Words can hardly describe the rage that seized him when Father Atysmas refused his declaration, showing him how much his over proud attitude made him commit villainies.
Refusing to listen further, he took refuge in the company of his only friend and attempt to forget Atysmas' sleigh.
But, wasted effort, the whole herd was in turmoil: Father Atysmas was organizing a great race between Yrkanis and Fairhaven to find the members of his team.
Time then was dedicated only to preparation and training , each one trying to give the best of himself for this great feast.
Stubborn in his refusal, Caprysmas first tried to prevent his friend from joining the others but he thought back to Father Atysmas reproaches and, with a heavy heart, let him participate, both envious and happy to see him so joyful.
The great day arrived. All the runners of Atys were gathered in front of Yrkanis, ready to set off.
At the last moment, Caprysmas decided to take the start and when the signal was given, he jumped like the others.
But he was the only one who was totally out of practice and he found himself very quickly towards the end of the pack.
Humiliated, he was about to give up when he saw his friend come back to him with some members of the herd who came to encourage him.
This kindness gave him back his heart and little by little, he regained the lost ground because despite all his flaws, he remained a champion among the caprynis.
In view of the Maze of Sprite, he had reached the head of the race.
It was then that he saw his rival trying to cheat by taking a shortcut, dragging the little one with the sharp tongue after him.
Although he knew the corner was full of dangerous cuttlers, Caprysmas, listening only to his courage, set off in pursuit.
At a bend in the road, he had to face the fact: the rival had used the little one as a shield and had cowardly abandoned him facing the cuttlers.
Caprysmas plunged into the fray, skewering the cuttlers and pushing them away with his powerful hind hooves.
The little capryni refused to run away and remained at his side in an epic but unequal and doomed battle…
It would hadn't it been for the friend of all, who, having gathered the whole herd, came to Caprysmas' aid.
United in battle, the caprynis arrived in Fairhaven, exhausted but proud of themselves.

It was a mektoub who won the race, but Father Atysmas, who had seen everything, gave a place in the team to Caprysmas who made do with that place and, when he returned to his herd, everyone celebrated him.

And his rival, you will say to me? I'm afraid he ended up in the stomach of a torbak, but that's not to say in an Atysmas tale.

Tale told by Lutrykin - Atysmas Storytelling Assembly in Jena Year 2606 (2019-12-29)
Initially written by Napseis and told during 2011 Atysmas.

The trees of Atysmas

Tonight I'm going to tell you the adventure - the true story! - of four homins.
Our group of friends is composed by a Tryker, a Matis, a Fyros and a Zoraï, all gathered together to celebrate Atysmas in peace.
Having decided to celebrate in Verdant Heights, our four companions met up in Yrkanis and decided to go and enjoy the show that the snowy forest would offer them.
The forest surrounds them, white and pure in its cocoon of snow.
Mischievous as usual, the Tryker plays about in the snow.
Realizing that he is far from his companions, he decides to hide fireworks in a fir tree to surprise his friends.
And what a surprise!
The tree stood there, majestic and illuminated! In front of so much beauty, they said to themselves that they absolutely had to let other homins enjoy it.
How they would like to admire these enchantments, every evening, in the quiet of their home, smoking good moss perfumed with sap of enola!
Without delay, our friends start thinking. The Fyros offers them, directly, to cut down the tree and bring it back.
The Matis tells them that he will know how to preserve the beautiful plant, although he thinks the process is a bit brutal.
Finally, the Zoraï tells them that he will know how to enchant the tree so that it never stops shining.
Back in the city, the children hurry around the strange procession, delighted and overexcited. It's beautiful, it's big, and it shines!
Moved by the delighted shouts of their children, the parents decide to ask the homins to share their find.
And so it is that, from now on, in each home at Atysmas, a beautiful illuminated fir tree is to be found, symbolizing the union of the sparkling Trykers, the cunning Matis, the wise Zoraï and the industrious Fyros.

The Great Library preserves HERE the six tales heard during the Atysmas Storytelling Assembly of Jena Year 2611 (2020-12-27):

• The Princess and the Slaveni
• The Truth About fyrak
• What the light says
• Chiang's Atysmas Walk
• Jingle Bocks
• Lighting the Stars

The Great Library preserves HERE the five tales heard during the Atysmas Storytelling Assembly of Jena Year 2616 (2021-12-26):

• Atysmas Poem
• The Tough Osco
• Nennorae White
• For Atys with gratitude
• The King's melting

The Great Library also preserves four tales heard at an earlier Atysmas vigil (for the moment only in their French version):

• Conte du Noël gourmand (Tale of the Greedy Christmas)
• L'Esprit de Noël (The Spirit of Christmas)
• La légende du Labyrinthe des Lutins (The Legend of the Maze of Sprite)
• Un chant d'Atysoël (A Song of Atysmas)

Frido the Frippo
Near a meadow where mektoubs and raspal were grazing, there was an old root thicket. In this thicket, near a barn and granary, there lived a family of talkative frippos. But the homins had moved on, barn and granary were empty. And as it turned to become winter soonish, the frippos started to gather grains and nuts and jubula and staw. All frippos laboured day and night. All, but the frippo Frido. ``Frido, why don't you work?'' they asked. ``I am working'' replied Frido, ``I'm collecting sun rays for the cold and dark winter days''. And as they saw Frido sitting there, gazing at the meadow, they said ``And now, Frido? We are all working, what do you do?'' ``I'm collecting colours'' he said, ``as the winter is long and grey.'' And once it looked like Frido was half asleep while all others were working hard. ``Are you dreaming, Frido?'' the frippos asked with contempt. ``Heck, no'', he said, ``I'm collecting words. There are long and dark winter days and we will not know what we shall talk about.'' As winter was approaching, and the first snow fell, the five small Frippos retreated into their hide-out between the roots and branches. In the first days they still had plenty to eat and the Frippos told many stories about singing Varinx and dancing Tyranchas. The whole family of Frippos was happy! But more and more of the nuts and Jubula eaten, the straw ran empty and the grains were only a remote memory. It suddenly became quite cold between the roots and branches of the old root, and no-one felt anymore like talking. Then they suddenly remembered when Frido talked about sun rays, colours and words. ``Frido!'' they called, ``what abour your provisions?'' ``Close your eyes'' he replied and climbed a large root. ``Now I'm sending you sun rays. Do you already feel how warm they are? Warm, nice and golden?'' And while Frido was telling about the Sun, the four Frippos already felt much warmer. Was it Fridos voice? Or was it some magic? ``And what about the colours?'' they asked excitedly. ``Close your eyes again.'' said Frido. And as he talked about blue Liosta and orange Gonji in the yellow fields of Ba-Che and of green leaves of the Jubula bushes, then they saw the colours so clearly and vibrantly as if they had been painted within their small Frippo heads. ``And the words, Frido?'' Frido cleared his throat, waited a moment and then told from a small stage: ``Who scatters the snow flakes, who melts the ice?'' Who makes the loud weather, who makes it silent? Who brings the lucky clover in Frutor? Who dims the day, who lights the Moon? Four small Frippos like you and me, live in heaven and think of you. The first Frippo in spring makes the rain laugh. The summer Frippo is the painter and has to colour the flowers. The autumn frippo sends his regards with nuts and Bac-Che. The winter frippo needs warm shoes for his cold feet. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are the four seasons, no more, no less. Four different happiness``. As Frido finished all Frippo clapped jollily, laughed and shouted ''Firdo, you are a poet!`` Firdo blushed, bowed and said humbly ''I know, you beloved Frippo-faces.``