Difference between revisions of "Ghyll:Opoudelian Starker"

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Dibbed.  --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 15:46, 21 Jan 2005 (EST)
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The '''Opoudelian Starker''' is a figure of (popular) legend, a Ghyllian condemned to wander (from place to place) forever, immortal (and homeless).  Some say that he walks the earth, limping on his right (or left) foot; some that he sails the [[Dagger Seas]] (or the Shallow Gulf, or even the River Ocean beyond) forever in a ship filled with ghosts (also known as revenants), being forbidden to come to shore (except once every hundred years, or every seven years); others that he flies through the air and can never set foot (on the ground) again.
  
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The usual random trash:
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The legends give him many names, including Mathlus, Butthedeo, Karthaphilthius, Akhashverosh, Sanjiovan, and even (wonder of wonders) Marcus Aurelius Pontoppidanus, though he is not said to have any connection with the [[Dulalian Empire]] (or its antecessors) whatsoever.  In his aquatic (or captainly) incarnation he is most often called Vanderdecken or -vecken or -schusen, the last of which is doubtless a folk reminiscence of the famous (and deservedly so) inventor [[Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen]].  But according to the best opinion (that is to say, mine) the Opoudelian Starker is (or was) simply the Jhrool, simply the Jhrool.
  
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Captain Tuta Riquiras (sometimes transliterated as Rikiras or Requiras) was a famous buccaneer and smuggler whose memory is still invoked by [[Besq Boats|Besq Boat]] sailors, particularly those who pride themselves in being somehow apart from the rest of society (which is most of them). The swear word (I apologise for using the term, but academic needs should prevail even over manners) “breakas” comes from sailors swearing oaths “by Riquiras”.
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All legends agree that he was born (of humble parentage) in the (capital) city of [[Threel]] about a century before the [[Extraordinarily Bloodless Revolution]] and lived an ordinary (if amphigorous) life until he either swore a rash oath (of unknown purport) by, or cast a rash aspersion on, a holy man. The holy man (whose name is also very variable (in the legendarium), but most call him Hezu or Alvu) cursed the Jhrool to wander the earth (or seas or skies) until he is redeemed.
  
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As remarkable as his feats as a sailor were, he would probably be unknown outside of Besq circles were it not for his discovery of “Captain Riquiras’ Idol”, also called the “Brass Hell”, in -159 {{EC}}. This artefact isn’t actually brass, but some unknown metal of unnatural strength and lightness covered with gold leaf (though it is far more even than any gold leaf method known to artisans today). Engraved on the Idol is a horrific image that is disturbing and stomach-turning, even in comparison to other images of the [[Alezan pantheon]].
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The process by which his redemption (from the curse) can supposedly be achieved (if at all) involves the usual folklorish motifs of the Love of a Good Woman (or Women, or Man, or Men, as the case may be), the Coming of the Redeemer (which Redeemer is meant, generally depends on the (particular) philosophunculism of the tale-teller), or the Conquest of [[Mount Yurch]].  It is odd how the third persists (in the popular speech, at least) as one symbol of an unachievable (or nearly so) goal, despite its (successful) conquest (by a [[Grommies|Grommie]]) (nearly) a century ago.  In any case, this (the matter of redemption, that is) is one of the most diverse points of this most diverse of legends.
  
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Riquiras said the Idol was discovered when his men found an object while diving in the shallows of the [[Dagger Seas]]. They were unable to remove the object, but took from it the Idol, which was affixed to one side. The engraving proved disturbing even to some of Riquiras’ hardened buccaneers. One part of the engraving is said to resemble the object they had found on the sea bed, and they claimed that if it were to scale, it would mean the two deities standing in front of it would be slightly larger than Ghyllians.
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The Opoudelian Starker should not (and must not) be confused (but all too often is, even by (those posing as) scholars) with the [[Budgerigar Master]], an (in my humble opinion) equally legendary immortal.  Nor is he the same (in any way) as [[Captain Riquiras]], despite what [[Oblibestircus]] has to say on the (much controverted) subject.
  
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These particular representations are more offensive to the eye than other Alezan deities, as they mimick the up-right four-limbed appearance of Ghyllians. Some have suggested that they may not be deities themselves, but rather some perverse creation performed in mockery of our natural forms. The taller of the two holds his right hand high in a position of command or perhaps performing some curse on the viewer. The shorter stands apart from him slightly and seems to bear an expression of contempt. Whether the couple are lovers, parent and child, or two aspects of the same figure, has been the subject of much controversy. Other parts of the same drawing appear to be sigils for some dark form of [[morphomancy]] and their study was forbidden for a long time.
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'''Citations''':  [[Captain Riquiras]], [[Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen]], [[Threel]].
  
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Riquiras himself seemed immune to the psychological impact of the image and had it painted onto the sails of his boats to strike terror into his enemies. This was an unpopular decision amongst his crew, and they murdered him two years later.The original conceiver of the betrothal march is thought to have been [[Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen]], the noted philosophy and inventor who was thought to be born around -300 [[EC]]. As records from this time are hard to decipher, little is known about him.
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--[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 16:47, 21 Jan 2005 (EST)
  
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We do know that the battle for the [[Palace of Lost Souls]] was the final event in the [[Extraordinarily Bloodless Revolution]]. When it was over, the ruling class of [[Threel]] surrendered.  This highlights another puzzling aspect of the revolution -- what was the final outcome? While it would appear that the ruling class surrendered, there is no evidence to suggest any form of social change having occurred. The people of [[Threel]] had no change of government and their way of life seems to have gone on much as it was prior to the revolution.
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[[Category: People]]
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'''Citations''': [[Captain Riquiras]], Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen]], [[Threel]].
 

Latest revision as of 08:42, 10 June 2005

The Opoudelian Starker is a figure of (popular) legend, a Ghyllian condemned to wander (from place to place) forever, immortal (and homeless). Some say that he walks the earth, limping on his right (or left) foot; some that he sails the Dagger Seas (or the Shallow Gulf, or even the River Ocean beyond) forever in a ship filled with ghosts (also known as revenants), being forbidden to come to shore (except once every hundred years, or every seven years); others that he flies through the air and can never set foot (on the ground) again.

The legends give him many names, including Mathlus, Butthedeo, Karthaphilthius, Akhashverosh, Sanjiovan, and even (wonder of wonders) Marcus Aurelius Pontoppidanus, though he is not said to have any connection with the Dulalian Empire (or its antecessors) whatsoever. In his aquatic (or captainly) incarnation he is most often called Vanderdecken or -vecken or -schusen, the last of which is doubtless a folk reminiscence of the famous (and deservedly so) inventor Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen. But according to the best opinion (that is to say, mine) the Opoudelian Starker is (or was) simply the Jhrool, simply the Jhrool.

All legends agree that he was born (of humble parentage) in the (capital) city of Threel about a century before the Extraordinarily Bloodless Revolution and lived an ordinary (if amphigorous) life until he either swore a rash oath (of unknown purport) by, or cast a rash aspersion on, a holy man. The holy man (whose name is also very variable (in the legendarium), but most call him Hezu or Alvu) cursed the Jhrool to wander the earth (or seas or skies) until he is redeemed.

The process by which his redemption (from the curse) can supposedly be achieved (if at all) involves the usual folklorish motifs of the Love of a Good Woman (or Women, or Man, or Men, as the case may be), the Coming of the Redeemer (which Redeemer is meant, generally depends on the (particular) philosophunculism of the tale-teller), or the Conquest of Mount Yurch. It is odd how the third persists (in the popular speech, at least) as one symbol of an unachievable (or nearly so) goal, despite its (successful) conquest (by a Grommie) (nearly) a century ago. In any case, this (the matter of redemption, that is) is one of the most diverse points of this most diverse of legends.

The Opoudelian Starker should not (and must not) be confused (but all too often is, even by (those posing as) scholars) with the Budgerigar Master, an (in my humble opinion) equally legendary immortal. Nor is he the same (in any way) as Captain Riquiras, despite what Oblibestircus has to say on the (much controverted) subject.

Citations: Captain Riquiras, Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen, Threel.

--John Cowan 16:47, 21 Jan 2005 (EST)

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