About Tunare's Benevolence
Meeting Places
Myths & Legends
Other Stuff
Who is EnApkallu?
"So, you want to know about our EnApkallu? Come sit by my side my friend, and I will tell you..."
The elderly druid beckons you over to her perch upon the roots of a mighty tree. You make yourself comfortable on a soft cushion of moss and her tale begins...
"In the mythical land of Mesopotamia, it was said that Seven Sages lived in the space that is no space, the sweet waters outside of time. The role of these sages was to guide the rulers of the land, to bring them messages of wisdom, justice and patience. They held the secrets of healing powers and of the powers of love, of arcane arts and of story keeping, of battle strategies and of peace with death. It was their art to rule without dominating, to lead through compassion, and with their council peace infused the land. These Sages were called Apkallu.
The Mesopotamians had seven; we have only one.....
Gaiah was only a child when she first answered the call of Tunare and founded Tunare's Benevolence. On the joyous day that she came of Age, and was given the power to choose her last name, she retreated into the caverns of Surefall Glade, where she knelt for many hours in communion with Tunare.
As she sat in prayer, her eyes were drawn to the flowing waterfall behind which she meditated. There in the dancing waters shifting shapes began to appear, men that were half fish, spirits with wings crowding around her whispering their words of wisdom in her ears. Behind it all was the warm smile of Tunare as She gently reminded Gaiah to be ever thankful for the Gifts brought to Tunare's Benevolence by those followers of her brethren Deities who had worked alongside her in building Our Family. And the pictures in the water changed to become the faces of her trusted officers and friends, then there faces blurred to show the pantheon of gods and Gaiah wept tears of rapture as she stared upon the reflected shadows of the Divine.
When the vision faded... the waterfall's surface now reflecting only the light of the setting sun through the trees, Gaiah arose from her meditation. She now knew that within Tunares family lay all the gifts of the Apkallu, and within her the wisdom to become a channel for those gifts had blossomed. "
"When Gaiah stepped out from behind the waterfall, I was there", the old druid says. "I remember she shone with a light almost too beautiful to look upon, and I knelt in humility and reverence at her feet, for I could see that she had been touched by the hand of Tunare. It was then she told us her full name Gaiah EnApkallu, and it's meaning... Apkallu for those mythical sages and their many gifts, and the prefix, En which means leader."
"Gaiah ruled for many years in wisdom, fairness and respect. She took the legacy of her name to heart as she built Tunare's Benevolence into the warm and welcoming family it has become. She excelled as a leader in guiding with a gentle hand and embraced the strength that each class brought to our guild, regardless of race or religion.
As she aged Gaiah's heart longed to be closer to Tunare. She saw that our guild had become strong and that within it was contained everything that was needed to continue on. One sad day she summoned her officers to her side and told them that the time was approaching when she must leave Norrath and follow her yearning to finally meet her Goddess. We all knew that that this was a journey from which there would likely be no return, for Gaiah had been touched by Tunare from birth and driven by Her Will throughout her life. Once she stared upon the face of her Goddess she would never be the same. Some vital part of her was going home to stay. From that moment of first meeting with Tunare, Gaiah would walk with us on Norrath only as a ghost, a wise spirit to guide us, our EnApkallu.
As the implication of Gaiah's words sank in the caverns where we were gathered fell quiet. We followed her gaze to where it rested on the bowed head of the warrior Servane. Of all of us, it was Servane who had given the most of himself to the guild over the years. In our guild's budding years it had been his pockets that formed our guild treasury, his sword that had stopped our foes, and his shoulders upon which the worries and cares of our members had rested. The duties that are now shared by many, he once bore alone.
But Servane had recently departed our ranks, leaving his little brother Alchi Myst to guard our interests. He had been off in lands which most of the guild would not dare to go, battling dragons, making new friends and attaining higher and higher levels. Would he come back to us, now that Tunare needed him?"
"Will you return to us Servane?" asked Gaiah. "Our officers want you to lead Tunare's Benevolence"
Servane repiled," I will take the title of guild leader with honor Gaiah, but you will always be EnApkallu. Tunare's Benevolence is my family, and I have missed them with all my heart in this long absence. With your officers at my side, and your wisdom as my legacy I will lead Tunare's Benevolence for as long as I am able. "
Gaiah smiled. "I know you will make Tunare's Benevolence strong Servane. And from Tunare's side I will watch our guild grow, and will be there in spirit to guide you. And on the day that you too pass the torch of leadership to another, should Rallos Zek permit, you will join me as EnApkallu, as will each of your sucessors in turn from now onward."
The old druid stops in her tale and pours a cup of morning dew from an old earthen jug. "So you see, my friend we have only the one EnApkallu now but as we grow and change we will have more, and each will add their gifts to the guild. Tunare's Benevolence will weave its own legends into the tapestry of Norrath's history. May each one of the threads be beautiful and bright."
As her story ends the air around her
blurs and she seems to melt into the tree behind her. Where she had been
a pile of foraged food and water remains. Feel free to take it with you,
my friend, for your journey. And may Tunare bless your path.
-silxie sower
