Bjaktl and the Windwalker

The first people ever to see Bjaka were the sailors of the. She was a mighty sailing ship, used by the Jarin afore the Ivinians came, to move cargo between Mèlderýn and Jara which is now called Orbaal. She would sail south to Cherafir, loaded with amber and furs, and return with pottery and precious metals.

When the ship sailed across Jarin Bay, her pilot would use Mount Fyso to steer by. The mountain was tall and could be seen from many leagues off. On one particular voyage, however, the crew noted that the peak was shrouded in gray clouds, although the sky was bright and clear. Some of the sailors said this was a bad omen, but the pilot laughed and gave them no heed.

That night, as the anchored in a sheltered cove, and the seamen drank and gambled, one of the sailors named Biden noticed flame and lightning jumping from cloud to cloud atop the mountain. He told the others to look, and they did, but by then the flame and lightning were gone. Biden tried to convince them of what he’d seen, but they said he was deep in his cups and did not believe him.



After the ship had set sail the next morning, one of the clouds left the mountain and flew towards the ship. It came closer, easily outrunning them, and landed on the deck. The cloud was gray, and swirled first one way, then another. It seemed to some that the cloud was alive, for it pulsated, in and out, as if breathing. After a few moments, a voice came from the cloud, a voice like that of a king, loud and commanding. The cloud said:

The cloud stayed on the deck, awaiting an answer. The terrified sailors urged the captain to agree, but he was greedy. He asked Bjaka if they could keep some of the cargo in exchange for helping him unload it. Bjaka roared, changed color from gray to black, and a mighty whirlwind struck the ship and began to tear her apart. Bjaka flew towards the captain, picked him up in the wind, and threw him screaming into the bay. All the sailors jumped overboard, rather than face Bjaka’s fury.

But the sea had become a maelstrom and none survived, none that is except the sailor Biden, snatched from the water by Bjaka and carried to Mount Fyso. Whether this was an act of mercy or not is unknown for Biden was never heard from again.

As for the, she was stripped of her cargo, which was transported to Mount Fyso by small gray clouds, the servants of Bjaka. The wind demon then let out a mighty roar, and cast the ship onto the rocks, where she shattered into a thousand pieces.

And since that day, no ship sailing Jarin Bay has been safe. Bjaka still, when the mood strikes him, lands on ships and takes their cargo, and the lives of seamen, but he no longer speaks to anyone. With the, he gave his first and only warning.

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