Caretakers of enlightenment: the Bamku of Fluvillk
[Series Two: Episode Two] Kriliah journeys to Fluvillk to deliver their first message to the remote Bamku beings but events take an unexpectedly personal turn
In the previous episode the trio of newly appointed Ambassadors receive guidance from a surprising source.
In this episode, Kriliah journeys to Fluvillk to deliver their first message to the remote Bamku beings. Events take an unexpectedly personal turn for Kriliah.
Location and map: This story takes place in an area called Fluvillk on The Drifting Expanse. There are three key story locations: Oodook Lookout, Speriths Point and Skera Stone Circle. You can see these on the map below. To see where Fluvillk is on The Drifting Expanse, scroll down to the map at the bottom of this letter.
This space. These colours. The dry arid air. The blinding yellow sun in the hot pink sky. It reminds Kriliah of all those years spent at Tenich Outpost. They shiver in spite of the blistering heat, unwelcome memories flooding their mind. Kriliah stands alone at the very edge of a towering russet-coloured chunk of rock, frilled with deep, treacherous chasms and sharp cliff edges.
They close their eyes and still their breath. The landscape around them begins to take form in their mind. Plenty more of these cracked chunks of rock, separated by dark shadowy cut throughs. To Highward, they see a Stone Circle. A little further Rightward, sharp, razor-edged fingers of rock. Not the most hospitable of places. Yes, there is a deep hum of inner knowing in their belly - the stone circle is where they must head. With the map of the terrain firmly visualised, Kriliah strides through the cool, dark passages between the steep gorges, making their way to the stone circle. It is surprisingly peaceful in spite of how foreboding it looks.
To Highward, Miz stands on a smooth, elevated rock form near Skera stone circle and quietly observes Kriliah’s passage through the fractured landscape from the Oodook Lookout . A visit from a two-legged being is an unusual occurrence in this part of The Drifting Expanse. Miz is majestic and graceful. His kind have the athletic, ebony torso and arms of a Matabele warrior and the body of a kudu antelope. His face bears the soulful markings of the kudu. Atop his head, a set of spiralling kudu horns emerge.
Miz watches as Kriliah approaches Speriths Point. Miz makes a sharp noise through his nose and two warriors emerge from the surrounding rocks. Together they move to Skera, the stone circle. The Bamku elders gather and await the inevitable arrival of the two-legged visitor.
“Welcome to Fluvillk. I am Miz, the appointed leader of the Bamku. What is your business here?”
As one of the To’Boam ambassadors, Kriliah’s task is to bring Zhael’s message to the beings of this remote place, which to all intents and purposes, is cut off from the usual Drifting Expanse technologies. It is time to share Zhael’s story and say why they’ve come.
Miz acknowledges Kriliah’s story with a curt nod. “Thank you. We will talk further on these matters. But first, it is important to us that we know our visitor’s origins. Where are you from, Kriliah?”
“Like I said, I come from To’Boam. Previously I was at Tenich Outpost, just Beneathward from here.”
“No. Before Tenich?”
With an evasive look, Kriliah mumbles, “I don’t remember”.
Miz takes a long look at Kriliah, watching them squirm with discomfort. Reaching up to his magnificent horns, he positions a horn beaker just under the tip of the left one. A golden, gloopy, flowing substance trickles into the beaker. When it’s full, he hands this to Kriliah.
“When you are alone, and safe, apply this to your closed eyes. It will help you connect to your memories and ancestry.”
Peevishly, Kriliah responds, “I’m not interested in doing that”.
Miz solemnly continues. “Well, we are very interested. You came here, into our homeland, bearing a communication from this Zhael, whom we know nothing of. We have a message for you. So, we offer you this trade. You want us to trust you and take on board what you’ve told us, and wish us to travel to To’Boam to add our learned wisdom to the archives. Yes?” Kriliah nods, wondering what more will be asked of them.
“In return, we want you to overcome your personal obstacles. It is no accident that you came here, for we are beings who strive for continued enlightenment. This is not a well known fact on The Drifting Expanse, but this indeed is our sole purpose. We may look like warriors but it is the spirals of our horns, that are the key to this purpose. They represent repeated journeys to enlightenment. Each curve is a new step on that journey. The healing substance within helps and supports us to connect to and acknowledge each of our lifetime experiences, no matter how painful. Your own journey, perhaps so painful that you no longer care to recall it, has halted. Yet it must progress for you to move towards enlightenment. Will you accept this trade?”
Kriliah grimaces, turns their back on the assembled Bamku and collapses onto a nearby stone, head in hands. The Bamku respectfully withdraw from their sacred circle to give Kriliah space. Later, as a foggy dusk falls, Miz returns to Skera to find Kriliah pacing nervously. He gives Kriliah a piercing look.
Kriliah’s voice trembles. “I know I have to do this, not just for Khael but also for myself. So the answer has to be yes. I’ll do it but only if you’re there to guide me. I think I’ll need all the help and support I can get.”
Miz nods. “It’s time for us all to move forward then. Come. Let us talk and prepare.”
The Drifting Expanse
This evolving map shows the locations of each of the episodes, from Series One and this new series. The locations are marked with their names and the series and episode number. e.g. S1:3 Hexton City is series one, episode three.
Fluvillk is just Highward of Tenich Outpost, where we found Kriliah right at the beginning of Series One.
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