The Fisherman and the Outlanders

The story

In the days of old Resdaynia, before we found our names again, there was a fisherman that lived on the shore of Lake Llaryniseth. The fisherman was old, and a man of God. One day he sat on the dock and fished, as he did every day. He thought about the sacred names of God and Iesus and the lost names of his people, stolen by the Sharmats of the Strait.

Just then a beautiful, dark woman approached his cottage from the south. The woman was O'zhi in her dress and gait and came with false words to trick the fisherman. The fisherman reminded himself as she came to be mindful of the false path and to show no benevolence to trickster outlanders. The woman said:

"Keihesse’zhi! I come to show you the ways of Gaea. She is kind, and beautiful, and to commune with her is to know God."

The fisherman thought for a moment and replied:

"Gaea is not one of the sacred names of God. She is the Sharmat. You seek to trick me into following the mistaken path. From her bosom comes a shackle."

The O'zhi woman came to a terrible anger and threatened to kill the fisherman. He said nothing and continued fishing. For four hours she accused him of heresy, but the fisherman gave no reply. On the fifth hour she left.

The next day the fisherman set out his line again, and thought more of God and his ancestors. A tall, beautiful pale man came from the north. He was Dunedain in his dress and gait and came bearing false words to trick the fisherman. The man said:

"Fisherman! I bring news of Eru. He is an orderly and fair being, and to know him is to commune with God."

The fisherman thought a while and replied:

"Eru is not one of the sacred names of God. He is the Sharmat. You seek to trick me into following a mistaken path. From his beard comes a blight to sicken my people."

The Dunedain came to a terrible anger at the fisherman and threatened to murder him. The fisherman said nothing and continued fishing. The Dunedain accosted the fisherman for five hours but the fisherman remained silent. On the sixth hour, the Dunedain left.