Once upon a time, in a land far west of the Kawani, there lived two herds with very different cultures. Despite their differences these herds coexisted peacefully with each remaining in their own territory. There were no disputes, no creative differences and each seemed to appreciate that one another had differing opinions on very specific topics. It was (in a manner of speaking), an ideal world and had they not lived in isolation one might have said they would have been the envy of any outsider. Unfortunately very few things in this world remain completely undiscovered and eventually all things are tainted by the more negative and dark aspects of nature. These two tribes were to prove of no exception.
Through their own naivity towards the wider world, they invited a set of explorers into their homes. They fed them, sheltered them and regaled them with stories that harked back hundreds of years through their lines. Intelligent as they were, they often explored philosophy and through no fault of their own, basic nature encouraged them to be curious. In return these explorers discussed a world far beyond the coasts and slopes, the variety of soquili that existed in this unknown world, the conflicts, strife and wonders that existed. The explorers were particularly vocal of their own religious views, intrigued by the cultures of both tribes and the lack of regard they had for such a foreign concept as 'mother nature'.
...They had something similar, it just wasn't the 'creator' as the explorers were inclined to believe.
Many references to what 'outsiders would do' would prove to be the downfall of these isolated locals. Impressed by the proactive nature of these explorers, the youth of both tribes began to change. Their opinions began to shift and while they remained firm in their fatih, the methods used in the act of worship were soon open to debate. The youth began to wonder, the youth grew troubled and eventually they grew divided. The explorers may have taken their leave before the situation became quite so grim but their presence lingered in the unrest and upheaval that followed.
They refused to accept differing views.
The explorers had proclaimed that religion was 'united' in their lands and yet here these two mighty tribes stood, divided by their faith. The lack of conflict and the overwhelming acceptance of these differences was ignored. The instruction and guidance of the elders over the course of many hundreds of years was dismissed. In the eyes of the youth, these lands should be united and strong too.
Alas, such disagreements combined with unwavering faiths are bound to failure and no sooner had this unrest brewed than the fights began. At first they were mere spats; gangs of youths breaching the borders to 'convert' their neighbours. These were not well received and hostility was soon to be the first and only response to such visitors. With the injury tolls rising and the borders thoroughly sundered it took very little time for hostile retaliation to turn into all out war. The elders were silent, their children unwilling to listen as they tore one another apart in the name of the divine and their so-called faith. Hundreds of years worth of tradition was cast into the flames and it seemed that nothing would be able to save these unfortunate and naive souls from destroying each other.
Many years passed by, the problems escalated and the numbers of each tribe dwindled.
A dark shadow cast itself upon both lands.
The conflict could no longer be ignored and those that had chosen to hold their silence surrendered to this fact. Their children may not have wished to listen, but these elders could no longer hold their peace. Their children had had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes, to come to their senses and they had failed to do so. They had instead reverted to extremes that disturbed even the most elderly and experienced of the herds. Thus it was with this in mind that the elders of both tribes called for a meeting, one that was to remain secret to the youth until an agreement and solution could be reached.
They met upon the meadows, a 'safe zone' as one might say. Those of the coast moved in land for this auspicious meeting and those of the mountains descended from their mighty perch to discuss the terms.
It was agreed that the lands had been deeply scarred. The rivers ran red with blood and the soils were tainted by the slain. Unholy death had befallen both tribes and the hostilities had summoned forth impure and dark spirits. In order for peace to be restored, it was agreed that the lands would have to be cleansed. The cleansing would be done by two elected elders, one would represent each tribe and would cleanse particular regions. The intention was to restore the borders, to set in stone what had been a constant for so many years before the explorers had marred the lands. It was unfortunate that the procedure for cleansing this land would introduce a tradition to both herds that no elder would have wished to adopt. Alas, this was the only way to ensure that peace remained - more accurately it would ensure a ceasefire and in time the elders would pray that their children would come to realise the error of their ways.
No sooner had this deal been struck than both parties returned to their lands and with firm hand and voice, informed their children of what had come to pass. There were no arguments, so substantial were the losses that the youth lacked the voice they once had. Thus, the deal struck upon neutral stoils came to pass and the ceremony to cleanse the lands was put into affect...
A foal was chosen from each herd, one that the shamans were certain had the qualities necessary for the ceremony to be a success. These foals were then taken to these neutral lands and it was there that these elders invoked the spirits. They prayed for many hours, called upon their chosen deities and begged for them to show mercy. Understandably these foals knew nothing of what awaited them but in the hours that followed this shamanistic ritual their fate became clear. The gods showed divine mercy and upon the humble prayers of these elders they purged the lands and channeled the unholy and hostile spirits into the foals that had been selected for this purpose.
It was in these moments that these two foals were forever bound, destined to be locked in eternal combat. Their job was simple (yet grim), they were to be the hostile aspects of the tribes, they were to channel the rage and fury the youth had displayed. However, they were forbidden to take this fury out on any innocent, they could only pursue one another.
It was said that should either of these individuals fall to unnatural causes then the balance would be lost. Should one succeed over the other, this would be considered cataclysmic and the spirits that had been sealed within these earthly vessels would be unleashed to exact their fury upon the lands once more. Thus, the shamans have claimed that these soquili are bound to such extremes that when one falls to old age, the other is sure to follow soon after. As a result, when an elected soquili reaches their peak the elders within each tribe observe the newborn foals of the herd and select the heir to this grim legacy.
...And has such a sacrifice succeeded?
None can confirm this success, for the agreement that was drawn up between both tribes ensured that never again would an outsider be welcomed into their midst. Too dire were the results that neither tribe could possibly survive if such an event came to pass again.
