Introduction: This is the first Elanthian tale ever told by Therrilliar. It is based very loosely on a legend Therrilliar's player composed for his Glorantha Runequest campaign.

In the ancient times, when the gods were young, the rivers flowed wherever they were wont to flow. Some flowed up hills to be warmed in the noon day sun.

Others flowed up mountains or out of deep holes in the ground. Often the rivers would change direction or course as the mood suited them. And one of the spirits of the rivers was Segoltha, whose soul imbued the very river to which she gives her name.

Now in those selfsame days lived a son of Eluned named Kalak-varikka, who was a spirit of the very deepest of the ocean depths, lord of the strange creatures that fishermen never see and only the sea elves whisper of in vague legends.

And Kalak-varikka was strongest of the sons of Eluned, for he dwelt in such deep waters that to even move required the most incredible amounts of strength. And his strength was renowned far and wide.

As it happened one day one of the creatures who dwelt in the depths of the ocean came to the shallow waters, first to chase and eat a slightly smaller creature, and then to see what the strange glowing spot was above him.

When he finally came to the surface and saw the sun he was blinded and dazzled, and became enraged.

Eventually he thrashed his way into the Segoltha River and began to endanger the fisherfolk and the river creatures that dwelt near the river with the blessing of the river spirit.

Word of this eventually reached Kalak-varikka, for Segoltha and Eluned's shallower sons were not strong enough or learned enough in the ways of the deep creatures to slay the beast or to drive it back into the depths from whence it came.

And the son of Eluned came to the surface and entered the Segoltha. And there he espied the spirit Segoltha and he was struck by her beauty and she by his strength.

And though their meeting was brief, for Kalak-varikka was quickly able to drive the beast back to his domain, it was, as they say "love at first sight", and this was an immortal love, whose bounds are beyond the comprehension of lesser lived races.

While Kalak-varikka and Segoltha pined for each other, there came to the depths the hideous demon Nucklevee, whose offspring still haunt the oceans.

And Nucklevee had heard of Kalak-varikka's strength and challanged him. Instead of calling upon his brothers for aid, Kala-varikka accepted Nucklevee's challenge.

Alas! For Nucklevee then called forth his minions and en masse they ambushed Kala-varikka. The ocean spirit fought back valiantly, and defeated Nucklevee and his foul minions, but not before sustaining a mortal wound.

As he lay down to watch the last of his essences flow into the ocean, his greatest regret was that he would never see Segoltha again. And Kalak-varikka let out a great cry of despair, which Segoltha heard, far away though she be.

And she rushed to the sea to find her beloved. And after a great travail found him dying at the bottom of the ocean. She immediately sent her pure, watery essence to him, to staunch his loss, but it was to no avail.

In complete despair she prepared to send Kalak-varikka all of her essence, so that they could together perish in each other's arms.

But the other rivers, kindred of Segoltha, heard her anguish, and as one they resolved, every river from the least country creek to the mightiest torrent, to plunge themselves into the sea and to commit a portion of their essences to sustain Kalak-varikka.

With a sudden rush they all headed to the sea, and their combined essences managed to sustain the spirit of the deeps, though not enough to cure him fully.

Thus, do all rivers and streams in Elanthia flow towards the ocean, so that Segoltha and Kalak-varikka may consummate their truest and purest of loves. So the next time ye look upon a flowing river, think upon true love and be heartened.

Script of the Tale [any bard may use this script as long as Therrilliar is credited]

#Tale-Why Rivers flow Downhill

put say I will tell ye the tale of why rivers flow downhill, as told to me by Therrilliar d'Onlor.

pause 5

put recite In the ancient times, when the gods were young, the rivers flowed wherever they were wont to flow. Some flowed up hills to be warmed in the noon day sun.

pause 15

put recite Others flowed up mountains or out of deep holes in the ground. Often the rivers would change direction or course as the mood suited them. And one of the spirits of the rivers was Segoltha, whose soul imbued the very river to which she gives her name.

pause 20

put recite Now in those selfsame days lived a son of Eluned named Kalak-varikka, who was a spirit of the very deepest of the ocean depths, lord of the strange creatures that fishermen never see and only the sea elves whisper of in vague legends.

pause 15

put recite And Kalak-varikka was strongest of the sons of Eluned, for he dwelt in such deep waters that to even move required the most incredible amounts of strength. And his strength was renowned far and wide.

pause 15

put recite As it happened one day one of the creatures who dwelt in the depths of the ocean came to the shallow waters, first to chase and eat a slightly smaller creature, and then to see what the strange glowing spot was above him.

pause 15

put recite When he finally came to the surface and saw the sun he was blinded and dazzled, and became enraged.

pause 8

put recite Eventually he thrashed his way into the Segoltha River and began to endanger the fisherfolk and the river creatures that dwelt near the river with the blessing of the river spirit.

pause 15

put recite Word of this eventually reached Kalak-varikka, for Segoltha and Eluned's shallower sons were not strong enough or learned enough in the ways of the deep creatures to slay the beast or to drive it back into the depths from whence it came.

pause 15

put recite And the son of Eluned came to the surface and entered the Segoltha. And there he espied the spirit Segoltha and he was struck by her beauty and she by his strength.

pause 15

put recite And though their meeting was brief, for Kalak-varikka was quickly able to drive the beast back to his domain, it was, as they say "love at first sight", and this was an immortal love, whose bounds are beyond the comprehension of lesser lived races.

pause 20

put recite While Kalak-varikka and Segoltha pined for each other, there came to the depths the hideous demon Nucklevee, whose offspring still haunt the oceans.

pause 12

put recite And Nucklevee had heard of Kalak-varikka's strength and challanged him. Instead of calling upon his brothers for aid, Kala-varikka accepted Nucklevee's challenge.

pause 15

put recite Alas! For Nucklevee then called forth his minions and en masse they ambushed Kala-varikka. The ocean spirit fought back valiantly, and defeated Nucklevee and his foul minions, but not before sustaining a mortal wound.

pause 15

put recite As he lay down to watch the last of his essences flow into the ocean, his greatest regret was that he would never see Segoltha again. And Kalak-varikka let out a great cry of despair, which Segoltha heard, far away though she be.

pause 15

put recite And she rushed to the sea to find her beloved. And after a great travail found him dying at the bottom of the ocean. She immediately sent her pure, watery essence to him, to staunch his loss, but it was to no avail.

pause 15

put recite In complete despair she prepared to send Kalak-varikka all of her essence, so that they could together perish in each other's arms.

pause 8

put recite But the other rivers, kindred of Segoltha, heard her anguish, and as one they resolved, every river from the least country creek to the mightiest torrent, to plunge themselves into the sea and to commit a portion of their essences to sustain Kalak-varikka.

pause 15

put recite With a sudden rush they all headed to the sea, and their combined essences managed to sustain the spirit of the deeps, though not enough to cure him fully.

pause 15

put recite Thus, do all rivers and streams in Elanthia flow towards the ocean, so that Segoltha and Kalak-varikka may consummate their truest and purest of loves. So the next time ye look upon a flowing river, think upon true love and be heartened.

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