User:Eldus Seranus/The Song of Aranak

The Song of Aranak

by Eldus Seranus

The epic poem of Aranak the Hunter, last of the Chimer and hero of the Ashlanders

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Volume I

[Authors note: This volume is based on Azura’s prophecy for Aranak, given to the Wise Woman Minaati of the Ahemmusa Tribe at the time of his birth, which I estimate was around 1E 680. The prophecy was recorded on a scroll, but had been forgotten, until I recovered it deep inside the sunken Ahemmusa Burial Caverns off the Bitter Coast.]

Shine, oh light of Azura!
On the Tribe of the Bitter Coast,
Into the mind of the Wise Women,
May your voice be heard on the wind.

Praise to your words and vision!
That a son comes to Jurada,
And the Gulakhan Aran-Dan,
Your light shines on the Ahemmusa.

True was your light from Dawn!
That Aranak is the Chimer Uncursed,
The Hunter, and Hortator's Friend,
Keeper of Silvarsil - your spear of Starlight.
True was your light from Dusk!
That the Hunter would be hunted,
Chained by the Sower of Strife,
Keeper of sorrow and bearer of Doom.

But let us forget not your promise!
That Dawn cannot be held back,
And Dusk will end for the Hunter,
Just as the fern sprouts from the ash.

Volume II

[Authors note: This tells of Aranak’s early life among his kin. At the time, the Ahemmusa had settled along the Bitter Coast. Aranak claims that he was a notable huntsman of their clan – even at a young age, but little information is available of this time apart from his own personal account, which was recorded much later. His spear Silvarsil, "Starlight", was given to his father by Azura, and with it he aided Dranoth Hleran in slaying Skar.]

Watch, oh eyes of Azura!
The Ahemmusa in their coastal mires,
Fishing the waters of the Inner Sea,
Living off the rich bounty of the land.

See the life of the Hunter!
With ashen fern he stalks the dreugh,
His mother Jurada gilding robes with shells,
Aranduur his brother herding guar.

Look to your spear Silvarsil!
His father Aran-Dan once wielded,
With it he broke the legs of Skar,
And by your blessing earned its keeping.
Look to your spear Silvarsil!
Passed down to the Hunter,
Who slayed the Pale Dreugh of old,
And brought peace to the marshes.

But not would peace last!
For Nerevar would bid them “Come,
And scout the Ashlands of our foes,”
So East they marched with his companions.

Volume III

[Authors note: The Battle of Red Mountain has a controversial history, but this volume is based largely on Aranak’s own description of events. He served as an Ashlander scout and was a close friend to Nerevar and his companions. During the battle, the Hortator saved him from falling into the fires of Red Mountain. He was later stricken unconscious, and awoke sometime after to find that his kin and Nerevar had died.]

Cry, oh voice of Azura!
In the shadow of Red Mountain,
For the fallen of your Tribes,
And the noble of your people.

Sing of the bitter War!
Between Chimer and Dwemer,
And Nord - and for Ashlander,
For the break of Time and home.

Hear the Hunter’s weeping!
For his father felled by the Voice,
And his brother Aranduur cut down,
By the cunning steel colossus.
Hear the Hunter’s weeping!
For his friend and mentor Nerevar,
Who saved him from the Mountain’s fire,
Slain in secret by his counsel.

But not would the Hunter know this!
For under ash and rubble he laid,
Seeing not the passing murder,
Nor the mystery of Lorkhan’s Heart.

Volume IV

[Authors note: Being close to 20 years of age, Aranak was still quite young for a Chimer, and the events of the battle evidently traumatized him. Returning home, he spent long nights in the swamps alone, when one day he encountered Molag Bal, disguised as an injured man.]

Hear, oh ears of Azura!
The cries of the Bitter Coast,
Where the Hunter returned upon learning,
The death of kin and Moon-and-Star.

Listen to his mourning!
And his mother’s sorrow in the reeds,
For Aranak too would soon depart,
Reaped by the Harvester of Souls.

Remember the Deceiver’s trick!
To pose as a wounded man,
Cut by the dreugh in the swamplands,
Saved by the Hunter casting Starlight.
Remember the Deceiver’s trick!
To lead Aranak astray alone,
Offering remedy of wounds,
And returning life to his fallen loves.

But not would he find remedy!
For the Deceiver’s web ensnared,
And the Hunter tasted death,
His soul stolen from the world.

Volume V

[Authors note: Aranak’s account of Molag Bal’s realm reveals little about the environment, but is vivid in descriptions of the Dremora and their methods of torment. He describes that his spear Silvarsil had been transformed into Lorsil, “Doomlight”, upon passing into the realm. It appeared as a dark flail of many tails during hunts, but during sedentary torture, morphed into a burning steel harness that branded his chest and arms.]

Hold, oh arms of Azura!
The Hunter suffering in chains,
Bound to Coldharbour’s wrath,
By the Prince of Domination.

Feel his pain and torment!
At the hands of the Dremora,
Who hunt the soul-shriven,
And slay them endless times.

Hear the horn of Daraxes!
And the Xivilai huntsman Zurod,
The Conqueror wielding Lorsil,
Your holy spear corrupted.
Hear the horn of Daraxes!
The Hunter wrapped in Doom by night,
And whipped by its flayed tails by day,
Into the wood where the huntsmen go.

But cunning is the Hunter!
For his chains caught Daraxes’s heel,
And cast him into a fiery chasm,
Where he returned to Darkness.