Chapter from The Chronicles of Kujumancali, written by the apostles from Qinirelegu. The text was composed largely from the account of the apostle Qisigu years after the fact and edited by the others corroborated with correspondence from his relatives.
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The memory of Qisigu remains deeply ingrained with the night of Qejonu’s destruction. None within our isolated town could have predicted the wretched deities' final destruction by the hand of its own blood. No Culiqaquist grieved the destruction of the hideous and hateful demon, instead pleased at how justice was deliciously squared. The town square was a bustling place, filled to the absolute brim with activity of people walking and making preparations. As busy and filled with life was it as the colonies of the ever-laboring dutiful ants. From the haughty church's chimney great smoke erupted. Qisigu made his way into the town's square later than most, the cobbled stone ground being filled with people and animals, those fated for sacrifice. He left his own sacrifice to fetch later in a sturdy stable.. In activity it exceeded that of the weekly Tianguis even before the hateful sun retreated her heinous face from the sight of blessed human kind. Only then could the festivities truly begin
Nahili Sugihu quickly walked over to him with winged and jolly words, “Cousin! Come over here, don’t be so serious! It is time for great joy.” His face was already somewhat flushed due to the alcohol which he had evidently consumed. Though that was hardly out of the ordinary for him. “Why, we thought you would never come!” Qisigu let fly some chuckles and hugged the man, greeting him as family does. “I apologize Sugihu. I had some duties to perform. Some which I think are important.” Qaqere Juja arrived soon after and shook his head and chuckled good-heartedly before winged words left him, “Brother, they couldn’t possibly have been of great importance. You always prepare for too many things. Is this not a day of joy and relaxation, feast and be merry! We finished our own duties hours before.”
Qisigu shook his head and soon spoke to the two of them, primarily to his brother, with words that flew in an apologetic manner, “Aye, I apologize. I finished some work I hadn’t previously had the time to do and then I got lost deciphering the astrological tables. I ended up not coming at the time which we agreed to in the morning.” Juja was the first to laugh saying, “I left many of my duties to my children, they’re old enough to handle responsibilities now. I’ll look over their work in a little while, and correct any mistakes they made. That’s the good part of my progeny being older, a counterbalance to their greater insolence.” Sugihu laughed at the final part of Qisigu’s winged words and said to him, “Why, my cousin, you revise them too many times. Their meaning is clearly laid out, we worked on them together.” Qisigu simply answered in a somewhat defensive melody of winged words, “I understand that Sugihu. I just thought there may have been some things to decipher with the death of Qejonu, but there weren’t things that I could make out. Only vague information about the coming change and turmoil.” Sugihu nodded and answered with words that flew in a slow manner, “Nothing different from what we previously agreed upon then.” Juja grinned widely at both of them and said to them in words that joyfully flew, “Well, with the destruction of the great demon it seems that great things are soon to come! Horrible turmoil for the infidels and great joy for us!”
Both of them nodded their heads approvingly and laughed merrily. Their laughter was halted when a vendor came with cheerful words, a foreign arrival of a few years prior. From one of the unclean bloodlines due to the deeds of his distant ancestors. He was a young man, no longer a foolish youth but he hadn’t quite left the prime of youth and vigor, “Ah, glorious men! All the three male heads of the family eh? A most glorious sign from the good Lord.” The three of them nodded, Sugihu saying, “Indeed my friend, what gift greater than continued health and life can the Lord of the Cosmos grant to his humble followers.” The vendor smiled and nodded in a good nature and said, “Precisely so! I thank the great lord that out of the four sons I had, three of them have survived their perilous first five years!” The three of them nodded alongside him bitterly and sweetly at the same time. Qisigu nodded with calm winged words leaving him his eyes glazed over in the remembrance of events, “Aye, I’m quite thankful for my son. I’ve got only a single child, my wife died long before your lot came to this town seeking refuge. Perhaps with Qejonus death our neighbors will finally know peace.” Qisigu looked up towards the still bright sky of the aging afternoon sun, as clouds galloped in high heaven, and spoke with more proud and certain words, “But no matter, no death is in vain. All feed the cohort of the celestial Qese Rilu who follow eternal Culiqaque. Ah, humans are silly beings. What has caused more sadness for us than death, when death is what will buy a better world for the children of our children?”
Sugihu broke out into a sudden laugh and said with winged and obscenely cheerful words, “But no more dwelling on such glorious yet dark thoughts! Today we celebrate the destruction of a wretched being, a bulwark that our grand Lord broke as he will do all things wretched and dire!” All the four present nodded with the vendor saying, “What is more cheerful than alcohol, blessed in its myriad forms! Here I’ve got sweet pulque, of a good quality. I bought the batch of plants when I first came to dwell in this town, nothing more than a sapling were they then. “He laughed and said to them, “I debated using them,but as my wife said to me,” what better time exists than today to celebrate with the bleeding plants”?” Qisigu nodded and gave a bottle gourd he had on him to the honorable man, “Aye, give me some of the good stuff my friend. Sweet pulque has always been my favorite. Blessed be the Maguey.” The vendor smiled and with astounding quickness the empty gourd was now flowing in the milky liquid. In exchange half a dozen cigars of good tobacco found their way into the vendor's hands. The man then turned to the two others present whose glory and nobility clearly shone, the fat hanging upon their bones a great emblem of their prosperity. Juja agreed immediately and bought some as well, but Sugihu said to the man, “Ah, my friend, I’ve drunk plenty of beer already. I’ve got to save some space for the heavy and sacred liquor once the sun sets, haven't I?” The vendor however gave him a lopsided smile with devious words flying from his mouth, “Aye, but isn’t it said that the human intestines have their parts separated in two so as to digest the sweet and the bitter separately? I believe the Great Saint proclaimed it so himself. Come on my friend, I am sure you can fit some space in those innards of yours!.” Sugihu looked to his relatives and nodded solemnly, as a kind of apology to them. Winged words flew from him in a defeated manner, only somewhat serious, “I can’t possibly refuse when you say it like that. Give me some of that glorious liquid.”
Soon enough, the three men were drinking the pale Pulque from their respective bottle gourds. Not one to leave an argument unfinished, Sugihu said to his cousin, “What were you going on about, what with the movement of the heavenly children of the Supreme Father? I know you, surely that was not all you had to say” Qisigu said to him with words that eagerly flew, “I was simply saying that I believe we misinterpreted the movements of the stars and did not account for sufficient factors. It was vague, but I think I was correct. I once more read the sacred texts, at least skimmed over them.” Qisigu was interrupted by his brother Juja who said, “Please, what else have you to unseal from the sparse summaries and notes from old Naqihu we’ve got left after all the purges? I assure you there is not one more word you’ve left to unseal.” Qisigu rolled his eyes as the two of them laughed and with good-natured words flying peacefully but sternly from him, “That may be so. but I’ve been receiving some rather auspicious dreams, as has my son. And regardless I’ve observed other omens in the beasts of the field, the bugs that crawl upon the black earth, and the birds of high heaven.” He clenched his teeth in great anger, “Cursed may Rilu Jiguhi be! Cursed be Qejonu! Perhaps if the texts were whole, I would be able to know more. ” He looked at both of his relatives and let fly words with utter emotion imbued in them, “But I do know this! The woe and change which is to come will be great. And I can’t be certain that it will end up falling in its entirety upon the infidels. I can only hope and pray that this joy is not the last we will experience. I simply can’t be sure. I am entirely incapable of soothing my psyche.”
Sugihu shook his long hair with words as mocking as they were winged escaping the barrier of his teeth, “Dreams, wild fauna! Cousin, you ought not to put much value into them. The night sky is only flown by the almighty one and his kin. They reveal the truth, but only in the vaguest manner. You know how many demons prowl the land, more ever since Gajohu jumped back into fighting Jiguhi. Do you remember what I said to you about my son?” As they walked around the square Qisigu responded, “I know, he and others have been harassed by demons in their hunting trips. That is part of the reason I give credence to the possibility of woe befalling our people. ” He sighed yet spoke again in a more cheerful manner, “It’s all so unclear. Yet I hope Qejonus death is a mark of coming blessings.” Sugihu nodded but said, “Aye, but they’re nothing to worry about. Demons really are pathetic little things, without support from those foolish infidels they’ve bamboozled they really can do nothing.” Juja for his own part shook his brother's shoulders and said to him with firm and friendly words, “Stand up proud and joyful my good brother! When did the stars not predict damage? Every month, they predict woe and some young human or animal is stripped of life by some terrible illness. Yet life goes on in a pleasant and beautiful manner. Be joyful and be merry, or do they speak to you in words as they do prophets? What point is there in gnawing at our clothes and tearing our hair for things which remain in the balance, outside our knowledge and control?” He nodded to the two of them and said with absolute pride, “At the very least, I choose to place all this in the hands of the good Lord.”
Qisigu nodded and spoke in words that flew joyfully, “You’re correct. Ah, but I didn’t spend the entire time worrying about Omens. Of course, after having woken up nice and late.” The man veering between the young and middle age took out a couple of pieces of worn paper and said, “I wrote and studied some speeches to tell the people once the animals are stripped of life in the dark night.” Sugihu chuckled and uttered words which flew in imitation, “You take the most out of our departed uncle, eh? Always writing, always worrying, always preparing. Always laboring in physical and mental tasks.” That got some good chuckles out of all of them. Juja blew to them words with great longing, “Ah, if only my son had the same attention to studying letters as to physical labors! Why, he can remain focused for hours doing the most mundane riding or sawing or something of the like but try to get him to write or read anything. You might as well try to make a pig lay an egg!”
Qisigu was rather pleased that he had successfully steered the conversation away from the prior topics. He chuckled at that yet reprimanding words flew from him, “Now, you’re being too harsh on him. He wasn’t a delight to teach, I’ll admit. Especially not when I’ve only read a hundred pages of a dead Saints writing as my whole education. But we did get him to write, didn’t we? The lot of us together.” Sugihu corroborated and said, “Aye, I’ve seen him write a few times. His handwriting is neat enough. But say, where’s your son? He was with us just a moment before Qisigu arrived.” Juja looked around as uncertain winged words left him, “I think I last spotted him somewhere near the other side of the square, passing St. Naqihu’s tree. Oh well, he’s a good young man. Naive as youths are of course, but so are all who’ve only lived for fifteen years. So were we. He can fend for himself against most things. I disciplined him properly back when he was younger and more malleable. Sublime is the human mind!”
We enjoyed ourselves walking and talking with ourselves and others for some more hours, time flying by quicker than can be seen with ease. Truly, the human mind's perception of the ethereal substance is entirely malleable shifting and stretching with ease depending on the action performed. Qisigu soon commented to the lot of them with words that flew in a surprised manner, “Would you look at our sacrosanct Lord! Why, his vibrant face is begging to show over the horizon. We ought to prepare ourselves.” Calmed words blew from Juja, “Don’t worry brother. The instruments were taken from the Temple in the morning, and we’ve still got a little over an hour before that wretched and bright demon fully removes its horridly vibrant face from our view.” Sugihu still uttered, “He does have a point, we ought to make sure everything is in order.” It was agreed without much struggle or even talk that Sugihu would make sure the instruments were in order, Juja would make sure the liquors and blades were readied, and that Qisigu would inspect the animals ready for sacrifice. As had been done multiple times in prior celebrations.
Finding the animals fit for sacrifice was not hard, many were gathered and bound around the square like an upsized version of the weekly marketplace. Much to his pleasure, none of horrible quality were found . Qisigu went near the great tree of St. Sini Naqihu, a blessed man and powerful prophet. Great man, he gathered a thousand souls to serve the good Lord. Qisigu then took out the horn of a fearsome ox, whose life ended some years prior by the pitiless steel, . From his lungs the powerful wind galloped forcefully through the firm surface of the lifeless fraction of the corpse. The sound resonated through the place, which since he arrived seemed to resemble an anthill even more closely. People prepared to leave and more people came through into the town, yet their footsteps and voices sunk to silence as the great sound galloped in their ears. Once a moment of silence was achieved the man let out words which powerfully galloped, “My dear friends! The dreadful demon will remove its wretched face from our view. Any, from bloodlines of any degree of purity, come! Leave your great offers for our benevolent lord! ”
Soon, people came to bring the first batches of offerings. People arrived from varying degrees of purity, different levels of being tainted by wretched sin, and presented themselves to bring their first offerings. Even if only those of the sufficiently pure and blameless bloodline would get to feast upon the abundant flesh of creatures offered to the good lord. The creatures less noble both in stature and in temperament were set to be offered. Brought there were pigs, fattened with both human bodily excrement, leftover meals, and wild forage. Brought were domestic goblins and dogs, too old for the climbing of trees and the hunting of beasts and pests. Brought were chickens and turkeys still alive, small creatures which peck at flora and fauna alike.
Soon, those offerings were complete as volunteers helped maintain the creatures calm before their inevitable slaughter. They would be safe for now, for it would not be good if wretched Kabam were to smell and observe them as the life and blood left them. Next were brought the things which did not bleed, which wouldn’t lose their sacred blood when facing the Pitiless steel. Small fish were brought dry and salted, long having been taken from the streams and rivers they prowled in while alive. Crickets and other small insects were brought out after having been starved and then dried and salted as well. Good tostadas and other meals made with fried corn were brought alongside crude statues made from amaranth and honey, kneaded by women and children with much care. Tamales were brought forward, each made in the homes of those who offered and filled with either beans or fresh corn. All contained spicy and strong peppers, but some were naturally sweet, while others had been doused in lemon and salt. As the offerings were finally placed those of bloodlines lacking in sufficient purity soon left to their own dwelling places, before wretched Kabam fully removed her hateful face from the blessed sky. Before the blessed father showed his kind face to watch his children honor him.
The last offerings were brought close to the still-unused fire pit as innards of the sanctified church were laid bare for all to see through its gaping main door instead of the back entrances. It was laid bare for everyone to enter once they found themselves deep in the sanctified festivities. Heavy liquor such as distilled Rum and Tequila were brought. They were few in number when compared to the vast oceans of native alcohol like Tejuino and Pulque, but they stood out like a vibrant flower in the middle of the dry season. Instruments soon were taken out as well, to incite the jealousy of the hateful sun. The unused musical instruments ranging from ceramic ocarinas, flutes of hard reed, drums made from many-layered hides of ox and deer alike, and graceful lyres. None of them were to be used in the presence of the hateful Sun, she was not to be graced with instruments which had been made within the sanctified building. Their sweet music was reserved only for blessed and magnificent humankind, and the supreme father of gods and men.
Before the sun began Qisigu walked upon the vast wooden stage that could be seen as one of the great hallmarks of the town center, the place worn out by thousands of steps of avid dancers, alongside the haughty church and the richly elegant tree of St. Sini Naqihu. The tree with all its grandeur and offerings clearly shone out above all others things, seeming like the town's firm root. The one to speak was Qisigu who said to them all in winged and arrogant words after having blown the fearsome horn, ”Oh, most exalted children and precious creations of the Lord! See how Hateful Kabam disappears out of our sight. Cursed may she be, death befall all her horrible children! Wretched deceivers of humankind! Joyful is the death of Qejonu, may all of his demonic race join him and the Infidels who refuse to open their eyes find wretched destruction by the hands of the Lord of all things! ”
A resounding thunder of clapping and loud yells of victory were heard among those present. From the door of the sacred church there came a procession of only a few young women, volunteers, carrying torches of sacred fire from the eternal flame hosted within the ever-smoking church's chimney. Soon, a great smoking fire was set alight in the center of the bountiful town. Like an opposite of the St Sini Naqihu tree, one destroying dead wood with quickness while another blossomed with the firm living matter. As the hateful sun fully disappeared its light was eclipsed and extinguished by the fire which shone as an earthly counterpart to Culiqaque, he who dutifully burns in heaven, good father of gods and men. Soon, the menagerie of creatures were forcefully dragged forth near the flaming fire. Music began to play with all the myriad instruments as they matched in an endless circle around the fire with their blaring instruments. The music was joyful, but not as loud as it would grow later through the night. The music had to match the Lord of the Cosmos journey. Still, it rose to do battle against the resounding crickets and cicadas who still furiously flared.
The three heads, Juja, Sugihu and Qisigu stood in front of the dancing flames as joyful winds curled and galloped around them. The organizer of joyful instruments Sugihu said to all of them, “Bring forth all your sacrifices; they shall be cut down for the great Lord.” Juja spoke soon thereafter with words that melancholically flew, “It is not a true communion, none of sufficient authority are present to make it so, but Culiqaque sees everything from high heaven. He knows our plight, and he understands perfectly well.” Volunteers soon rose up to aid, all from the clean and pure bloodlines. The creatures were guided even nearer to the fire which burned and danced like a thousand forking tongues, full of life and eager to devour both wood and flesh alike.
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Prayers were uttered and the three of them began to slit the throats of the large animals such as the lean goblins, the dogs with their sagging skin, and the pigs with a great deal of fat which hung from their wide bones. The lazy birds soon followed, stripped of their small heads. The ones to slit their throats were the three great heads with the pitiless steel. The lifeless corpses were then dragged by strong young men who went on to butcher the rest of the animal, removing it of its blood and of its intestines. The blood was left to drain on great buckets. The fowl's blood wasn’t allowed to clot, for they had not served in life. But the dutiful dog and goblins' blood was finally allowed to rest, a short nap before their spirits were locked in eternal service to the Lord of the Cosmos. Without their blood, their wit and vitality felt them. The breath of life left them and ascended to high heaven.
The flesh was cut into parts, gouged from the animals bodies and taken over to the forking flames at the central sacred flame. Some were placed in pots with liquid and left to stew in their own liquids, some were hung in pieces over the flame, some were roasted above clay comales with rich oil, tallow, or butter. The intestines were treated into wonderful sausages. No part of the animals were lacking; huge hearts of pigs, the gizzards of lively birds. The hides of the great creatures were removed. Those of pigs were fried in order to make delectable chicharron, while those of dogs were put aside for future use. The fowl were stripped of their feathers before their delectable flesh could be consumed.
As the heavy liquors were opened Juja proclaimed joyfully, “Let the festivities begin!” None drank the pure liquid, rather volunteers mixed it with other drinks such as Tejuino, that sweet drink of corn not allowed to gather alcohol. Those who made larger offerings drank more without attracting judgement from their ever watchful peers. The pleasing music flew into wide heaven as the beasts and birds corpses were stripped of their flesh. The naked bones were slowly being revealed without any hide,muscle, or sinew. A great many agile dancers gathered upon the wooden platform where Qisigu had first made his announcements.The wood creaked from the resounding thunderous footsteps from young men and women, those whose knees had not yet been ground down by the unstoppable strength of time. Their feet went down with tremendous strength. Arranged in beautiful patterns alongside the force as if wishing to destroy the botanical corpses long stripped of life by Pitiless steel. Arranged in an unnatural pattern.
This went through many cycles as the night air was filled with the resounding footsteps of dancers, the sound of the fiercely crackling flames with their thousand forked tongues and smoking breath, as well the winged melodies of the musicians who marched in circles. Those of great skill in the arts were joined by those of little, the ambiance was lively and joyous as the shadows danced and wriggled under the fierce light of the flame. The father of gods and men looked upon them with his bright and round face, pleased by his sublime people engaged in rituals to honor his absolute power and righteousness. The blood of all the creatures had been placed within buckets and was all gathered in great barrels, much use would be provided in the ceremonies which were to be conducted later, once Kabam reared her horrible face. The other shambling hoofed beasts set to be sacrificed later in the bright night stood in stables far from the center, but were not allowed to participate in the festivities for such was the lot of man alone. It is to them that the Lord of the Cosmos originally awarded sovereignty, not to the Qese Rilu, not to the beasts of the field, and most certainly not to the wretched demons, dishonorable weavers of words.
Talk was almost impossible under the loud noises of human origin which outpaced and defeated the sounds of the other creations of the Lord, the cicadas and crickets which could be found on every blade of grass, the bats which chirped overhead, and the winds that joined the dancers and stirred the mighty and bright forking tongues to life. It was a most pleasant and joyful time, surely many desired that it never end. Qisigu did so at least. But Culiqaque continued his journey flying across the heavenly sky with his endless cohort of shining children. The being who was neither flesh nor spirit soon finalized five twelfths of its flaming journey. Qisigu once more blew from an oxens horn, a signal for the music to temporarily end. The instruments had changed hands many times, but something had always played since Kabam had first retreated her horrible face from view.
Only the sound of the wild things and the crackling tongues of scarlet flame filled the air. No sound of human origin crawled through the sky. Qisigu said to them, “My dear friends! Look up to high heaven, soon will Culiqaque reach the height of his journey!” Great clamors of applause and yells of victory resounded from the people, “It is time for the offering of the grandest sacrifices, for this dance to reach a turning point! Come ahead and bring your grandest yearlings, your noble lambs, your powerful oxen! Bring too the bloodied cross that slaughtered my uncle, our last glorious father in matters of flesh and spirit.” Qisigu saw some glances from Sugihu and continued on with further words laced with emotions, “May it know that our loyalty to the good Lord is eternal; that despite its maker's wishes we still honor Culiqaque. Let it truly realize that its god is dead.” Qisigu himself stepped down from the wooden platform and guided a yearling horse to the fiery flames. It was less agitated now that the resounding sounds were over, the creature not knowing what a fate it was to face. He did not begin until the decaying cross, still caked in ancient blood, was brought out. “Do not let it stand proudly,” he said with words full of mirth, “Make it bow before St. Sini Naqihu’s tree. Make the soul of the tree that remains attached to those wretched and bloodied planks eat grainy dust.” And so it was done, Jujas son knocked the planks of wood down, although not before whispering some words to it which I did not hear. “Made it taste the grainy dust on the cobbled stones!”
A great torrent of winged claps galloped from the eager crowd of the townspeople. The horse was somewhat agitated by the torrent of loud and sudden noises. Qisigu quietly patted the legs and belly of the mute creature, that depended more on tone than on words, and whispered, “Soon, your legs will be stern into a Pozole, your tongue cut up into tacos, and your intestines woven into fat sausages.” The mute creature understood none of the words spoken, but was calmed by the reassuring mood of the galloping winds. Qisigu patted the animal with his hands as winged words escaped him triumphant to be heard by the vibrant crowd, “It is a good horse, healthy and strong of spirit. A great life of service on the fields is ahead of it! However, that is not the fate that awaits it. To show gratitude to our great Lord, we will give this spirit in full health to feed his hard-working children. It will serve them instead. In a direct fashion.” The creature's throat was slit with great quickness, the blood and the life leaving it relatively quickly compared to the brutal forms of sacrifice performed by the heinous demons, the spawn of wretched Kabam. Beasts who gather pain and suffering as they were designed by the wretched sun. Once the deed was done he lifted the bloodied knife and proudly proclaimed, “May this sacred fire prepare the horse's spirit for service to the grand Lord of the Cosmos!” The men set themselves to laboring with their old knives to strip the horse of its hide and of its gut, to prepare it for consumption and its ascent to wide heaven. Its dark blood was not allowed to rest and clot.
The next to come was the great Sugihu, who carried his glorious body forward with great strength. He was the healthiest of the three, as evident by the glorious fat hanging from his bones, a mark of never having known hunger, need, or want. He brought with him three different lambs, one his and the two from other people, colorful and blessed grains of corn being spread out in front of them. The tree lambs were simultaneously let free from their bonds. Attracted by the corn whose grains it only rarely got to consume, Sugius lamb stepped forward without a shred of thought passing through its brain. It devoured the corn greedily, making its choice. The man bowed before the lamb with serious winged words leaving him, “You’ve felt the call of the lord, your death will not be in vain. It is the good Lord you will now serve.” The animal's throat was slit, the life leaving the creature. Such a sacrifice was repeated three more times, soon three lambs joining its place in the joyful and lively fire which invoked eternal change within the creature's flesh. Many others left, to remain encased in flesh and serve Culiqaques mortal children, rather than the divine. Sugihu retreated once his duties were done. Crafty Qisigu than said, “Blessed may the Lord be, that he has given us so many lambs to sacrifice. Victorious be he, and just as these lambs encountered their end due to their choice, may the Mexihuacan leaders encounter death at the hands of the Lord of the Cosmos! Through their deaths they shall serve, even if their spirits will be destroyed by the horrid demons. They will do what they did not do in life.” Once more, clamorous hoots of victory were heard and claps thundered through the smoky air alongside the dancing and galloping winds.
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Soon, Juja came guiding with him a great Ox. It walked slowly, weighed down by age, its head bare of horns. It had lost them long before, at the same time it lost its loins. He was aided by his oldest son and his oldest daughter, who had both danced on the wooden platform and played the flute and the ocarina. Juja loudly let winged words fly to the crowd, “I will be the first to sacrifice this great Ox. Oh! It is a great creature, and for long it has served me. Now, may it encounter reward and more restful duties in the hands of the Lord that breathed life into its ancestors.” The ox lost its life, the creature crumpling beneath the pitiless steel. Its blood was allowed rest, after vast amounts of time spent in service to humankind. People began to bring salt from the church to use with whatever flesh remained after the feasts were over.
The moon reached its highest point in the starry heavens. Qisigu said to all present with joyful winged words, “let the festivities continue! Our Father is watching us, let us provide him joyful song and vibrant dance!” Soon, the lively party continued. People were always employed in the creation of joyful music. The alcohol flowed freely, heavy liquors diluted with cheap corn drinks not allowed to ferment for long. Bountiful Tejuino combined with Tequila and Rum. The dresses of the dancing women billowed like the wings of a bird, or like the petals of a flower under the joyful winds.
Much time was spent like this. Some proved unable to continue the festivities, primarily those whose bodies were long worn by time ended up falling asleep on the floor of cobbled stone. Their bodies leaned on the lofty buildings of wood with bases of baked brick or cobbled tones. They were locked in a constant, never-ending struggle between the world of those who wake the mysteries of the dreamers. Eventually, the moon began to finalize its journey. It was to be expected, they lived within a warm region in the middle of summer. Lucky were they that the clouds bearing rain didn’t block the light of the kind father. Culiqaques endless chase would not be visible to the townspeople for very much longer.
The heavens were like a great unfurling piece of cloth, the old pattern of the heavenly stars, beautiful and intelligent, being replaced by Kabam's hateful light, wretched usurper. Qisigu once more blew the horn and summoned great silence. He said to the people with words that mournfully flew, “My dear friends, it appears the night is over.” He knelt with tired knees upon the hostile stone. He was no elder and was still capable of such an action, but it was still painful as many within the crowd joined him, “Great Lord! We pray that one day you may not have to leave us! We know we can’t offer a full human life to you, not when you aren’t present fully in the flesh. But still! You died for us countless times, you bled for us when you kneaded your flesh to make our frames, and burn for us with your vibrant face, to make the night pleasant and to rival the wretched demon. Lord! Please, we will bleed and suffer for you as well!” The man moved with his knees upon the harsh stones, in spite of the pain and tearing skin, and took a small yet sharp wooden stake. With the thin object, he pierced his tongue and spilled his blood. The blood was left upon the sacred tree of St. Sini Naqihu, which now contained the skulls of the deceased dogs, oxen, goblins and horses alongside the vibrant cloth and slowly rotting offerings. The stick was cast by the man into the fire which no longer flared but still smoldered, its heavy heat dancing on his skin when he approached it. Two and a half dozen men and women joined him in the sacrifice, in the willing suffering to showcase their deep reverence and loyalty.
The procession moved in a circle three times around the sacred fire and three times around the sacred tree. None who had knelt backed down from the glorious self sacrifice, but many didn’t dare to do even that. Their loyalty and devotion was not quite so powerful. A few kept the blood moving to avoid its coagulation before joining the procession themselves, occurring in two fashions. Juja and Sugihu didn’t back down from such a challenge and joined their relative in the kneeling and self immolation. They stood up and the bones were rounded up in a pile around the sacred tree. Once done Sugihu gripped his instrument and they began to march in a firm line, as a military group does, to visit the homes of everyone as the sun continued its journey. They carried with them great buckets of blood, both clotted and still clear. They carried with them many such wooden sticks and finally embarked on a journey outside the town center as Culiqaque finally fully disappeared from their view.
The procession walked around the bountiful town, their instruments serving as a call to awaken to any who slept. Some who dared spilled their own blood once they gazed upon their houses, letting it soak to the many trees that grew around their homes, those of their ancestors. At least, those who had them. Qisigu hanged behind as Sugihu formed the head of the procession as he had multiple times before in prior, if usually less grandiose celebrations. The ambience was brutally shifted when an old man from a more impure bloodline walked up to all of them letting out horrible screams for help. They wriggled and gnawed at all their ears. The elder pulled at his own clothes and then shook Sugihu, “Oh help me will you! Tear my flesh and spill my blood!” Sugihu was too stunned to speak but finally recognized the man. He was a long-time inhabitant of the settlement, having known Qisigus uncle before his dreadful death.
Qisigu soon let fly some words, “Calm yourself, elderly man! What troubles you so, what is the source of your woe?” The old man finally calmed himself and let fly words that struck into the procession's hearts like deadly arrows, “A demon spoke to me the most horrible words! I struggle to tell you what it said, oh, but it was most awful! It used magic to freeze my limbs! It climbed my chest before making a mess of my house and stealing the roosters I didn’t sell in the morning!” Sugihu finally composed himself and questioned the man, “What would you have us do? Demons can exist in many hosts at the same time. They are slithery beings, true maggots.” Qisigu reassured the elderly man after grabbing his wrinkled and sagging hands, “Oh, old man, do not be so afraid. Demons are pathetic creatures compared to the good Lord, that’s why they slither. Do not be afraid.” The old man clenched his teeth and cried out, “Oh, I wish I didn’t! But I can’t help it, please, spill my blood on the trees of my honorable ancestors!” Both Qisigu and Sugihu looked at each other before Qisigu finally spoke out with fearful and ashamed words, “We are sorry, wretched man, but we can do nothing.” The elder seemed as though he would break out in tears and begged with utmost sincerity, “Please! I’ve never dared to do it myself but I do not want to hear those horrible words while the beast leaves me senselessly paralyzed! I felt weak, helpless, wretched! Please!” Qisigu clasped the old man hands tied and sternly said, “I understand old man, but we can’t. Harming other humans is something only a priest can excuse, no matter the reason. We don’t want to risk ourselves, we’ve a name and soul to upkeep.”
Before the man could say anything else a young woman came and took the hands of the old man. It seemed she was going to say something stern to the old man before she realized the great procession of people all looking at her and at him. She bowed shamefully and said with similarly ashamed words with an edge of frustration, “Ah, I’m terribly sorry. My grandfather's wits have surely left him before the rest of his spirit. There is no such fearful being, not here at least. He made a mess of our home before tripping on me and running away before I could question him. He went out kicking and screaming widely. We did not mean to bother you.” The old man eagerly screamed out, “That is not true, the demon is real and dangerous! I beg you all to believe me.” She guided him away despite his lofty words, his aged limbs offered no great resistance. “It did not only threaten me! It claimed it would wreak immense despair upon us all! We ought to pray to the good Lord, I tell you all, I tell you all!” He was dragged off anyways by the young woman until he finally gave up on his screeches. Never before was such a hollow man seen, defeated as his face was contorted in an expression of absolute fear. His granddaughter cared nothing for that and silently chided him before they vanished from the procession's view.
Sugihu, Qisigu and Juja looked at one another with surprise and anxiety as the procession's members appeared either amused or frightened by the old man's promises and screeches. Qisigu smiled widely and proclaimed to the rest of the townsfolk, “Pay that no heed! The Lord of the Cosmos protects us all, let us continue with this processions shall we? Let's look forward to playing for the bones later today!” They continued on the music. It was a most joyful procession as blood of men and animals watered the lofty trees planted upon the human bones of the ancestors. People began to talk to one another, discussions of the incoming games abounded, as well as some lingering comments whispered about the old man. The music went quiet and eventually stopped once they reached Qisigu’s home. The march found itself abruptly ended, like a cut string going taunt. Qisigu stared with eyes wide and heart palpitations at the most horrible sight, his anxiety finally growing too great to contain.
His home's previously impeccable straw roof was destroyed, a great hole being left within it. The hole gaped like the mouth of a horrible leech. It was harshly and haphazardly broken, more so than the lifeless steel would cut. The windows had the oiled paper mostly impeccable, the locked windows opened cleanly yet appeared to have been chewed before that. Qisigu thought it likely a demon had broken through the roof possessing the body of a great beast, then taken advantage of his son's human frame to open the sealed windows. Any human could tear apart the simple mechanisms, but even the most powerful beasts would struggle. Aside from that, the outside was utterly normal. Juja tried to say, “Brother-” before he could finish his sentence, however, the man ran quickly as an arrow into his own home. No blood was splattered within the floor or within the furniture, but it was out of order, moved around. He called with his frightful voice, “Son? Son? Miraqu Leme!” He knelt with his bloodied knees and asked in a tone overflowing with sharp emotion, “Where are you? Where are you?” There he remained, scratching at his own neck with brutal force and breathing in irregular intervals. His mind was a shrivelled mess he could barely make any sense of. Others entered behind him, his cousin Sugihu and other onlookers, morbid curiosity having possessed them and gripped their limbs under its control. Sugihu struggled to find words, beginning yet stopping. Eventually he finally mustered the fortitude of himself, and said, “My dear cousin, come, I will help you stand. This is the most horrible scene, you are distressed. We will handle this, there is no need for you to worry. How about some more alcohol to heighten your spirits?”
Qejonu stood up with rapid quickness and hollered out with vibrant strength, “I need no help standing up, do you think me a babe!” He was gripped by an inalienable resolve once he heard such words, ones which wouldn’t let him go. The words that escaped the barrier of his teeth had hearts of iron, “No, no. We need to find my son. We can’t delay.” Sugihu once more struggled to speak, but eventually said, “Well, my cousin. We’ll handle that. There is no need for you to struggle. You may see some-” Qejonu said to him between clenched teeth, “No. I will be the one to find my son. I will slaughter whoever has dared to touch him.” Sugihu attempted to speak but his stuttering was interrupted by Qejonu who said, “Don’t you dare try to stop me, you useless slug! You can’t even properly finish your sentences and you hope to find my son? I will not let you get in my way, every second we spend here is one more danger!” Sugihu flinched back as if struck and spoke nothing as his cousin left the room, pushing aside the men and women gathered around the door with only hateful thoughts lurking within his head.
Such was the first attack of the dreaded demon Huse Napasa, such were the feelings fostered by people back in those days. None predicted that instead of making it into a coward, the death of Qejonu would embolden the most horrible demon. But the demon was clearing the road for its own destruction and making itself an enemy worthy of vanquishment.