**Standard disclaimer still applies.
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Perhaps before I go into the details of my story of the strange invaders, I should tell you about my beginnings.
My name is Shipish-Un-Mat.
I was born a princess of the Repunkur tribe in the township of Shipish. We were called "The People of the Sea." My father and mother were fierce warriors and gave our old family of rulers the dignity they deserved. They were just and fair, maintaining order among our people. They were the protectors of the Repunkur.
When I was still in my mother's womb, I was blessed by the Moon Goddess with special gifts. I was told that the Moon Goddess came down to my mother when she pregnant for four and a half months. The Moon Goddess laid one hand across her forehead and the other on my mother's belly. She poured into me her mind. I was to be in the likeness of my mother: thick ebony hair, pale skin, dark eyes, delicate boned. Yet, my mind was in the likeness of the goddess. I was to have a superior aptitude for learning. I was to be a gallant mistress in the art of war. And I was to have the gift of foresight.
Everything the Moon Goddess told my mother came true. I looked like a younger version of my mother, but my mind belonged to the goddess of the night. I was a rapid learner, soaking up every bit of knowledge the Elders in the mountains taught me. My soothsaying abilities began to appear when I was the equivalent of fourteen years old. By then, I was becoming a concentrated warrior, able to protect myself and my people.
I became an expert in tracking through the mountains, the art of hand-to-hand combat and fighting with various instruments of weaponry. I was especially good with a sword.
When I was fifteen years old, there was a special ceremony in my honor. I was given a special sword that had been passed down through the Shipish princesses. I was blessed under the observance of the gods and honored as the Protectoress to remain a virgin throughout my youth and watch over the lives of my Repunkur people.
When I was seventeen, I was as respected as my parents and my older brother, Shipish-Un-Kur. We four were the cement that held our people together and held our enemies at bay.
But upon that year, there was a terrible battle against a southern tribe that called upon all the power of my family and our people's strength. The leader of the enemy tribe was a ruthless warrior who wanted our waters that were rich with fish. There was much blood shed upon Repunkur ground before the enemy was finally taken down by my older brother and I. Part of that blood was my mother's and father's. My people were in deep mourning for a long time, yet still angry and cautious. There were many of our loved ones buried after the battle. Our binds were not broken, though. Instead of sending down a whole army of our people, my brother took with him his stealthiest warriors. We infiltrated the township of the enemy's heir and killed him and his entire family, leaving no heir left to their throne.
After our covert triumph, my brother returned to properly claim the throne after avenging our family and our people's families. I returned to the Elders in the mountains to continue strengthening my power.
The Elders were always pleased about my ability to see into the future. They made sure to lay beautiful flowers and rice on the foot of the statue of the Moon Goddess every evening. I was made sure to harness my power to its fullest extent. Murtimi-kaju was my main mentor. She was a great aunt who had also been blessed by the Moon Goddess. Her powers, long honed by years of experience, were greater than my own. It was she who told me of my future.
My future with the Yaunkur.
Murtimi-kaju told me that my brother would grow foolish, and his heart would blacken. She told me that a Yaunkur man would be captured under Shipish-Un-Kur's direction, which would bring about fatal consequences. She said that this man's younger brother would become my future husband, and eventually dishonor my title of Protectoress. He would take my virginity before my youth was over when I turned thirty-four years old…but that I must accept this because should I fight him and help my brother to defeat them, my brother's black heart would eventually affect me.
She told met that I would come to see this myself in due time.
And she told me that I would have my revenge for my dishonor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps before I go into the details of my story of the strange invaders, I should tell you about my beginnings.
My name is Shipish-Un-Mat.
I was born a princess of the Repunkur tribe in the township of Shipish. We were called "The People of the Sea." My father and mother were fierce warriors and gave our old family of rulers the dignity they deserved. They were just and fair, maintaining order among our people. They were the protectors of the Repunkur.
When I was still in my mother's womb, I was blessed by the Moon Goddess with special gifts. I was told that the Moon Goddess came down to my mother when she pregnant for four and a half months. The Moon Goddess laid one hand across her forehead and the other on my mother's belly. She poured into me her mind. I was to be in the likeness of my mother: thick ebony hair, pale skin, dark eyes, delicate boned. Yet, my mind was in the likeness of the goddess. I was to have a superior aptitude for learning. I was to be a gallant mistress in the art of war. And I was to have the gift of foresight.
Everything the Moon Goddess told my mother came true. I looked like a younger version of my mother, but my mind belonged to the goddess of the night. I was a rapid learner, soaking up every bit of knowledge the Elders in the mountains taught me. My soothsaying abilities began to appear when I was the equivalent of fourteen years old. By then, I was becoming a concentrated warrior, able to protect myself and my people.
I became an expert in tracking through the mountains, the art of hand-to-hand combat and fighting with various instruments of weaponry. I was especially good with a sword.
When I was fifteen years old, there was a special ceremony in my honor. I was given a special sword that had been passed down through the Shipish princesses. I was blessed under the observance of the gods and honored as the Protectoress to remain a virgin throughout my youth and watch over the lives of my Repunkur people.
When I was seventeen, I was as respected as my parents and my older brother, Shipish-Un-Kur. We four were the cement that held our people together and held our enemies at bay.
But upon that year, there was a terrible battle against a southern tribe that called upon all the power of my family and our people's strength. The leader of the enemy tribe was a ruthless warrior who wanted our waters that were rich with fish. There was much blood shed upon Repunkur ground before the enemy was finally taken down by my older brother and I. Part of that blood was my mother's and father's. My people were in deep mourning for a long time, yet still angry and cautious. There were many of our loved ones buried after the battle. Our binds were not broken, though. Instead of sending down a whole army of our people, my brother took with him his stealthiest warriors. We infiltrated the township of the enemy's heir and killed him and his entire family, leaving no heir left to their throne.
After our covert triumph, my brother returned to properly claim the throne after avenging our family and our people's families. I returned to the Elders in the mountains to continue strengthening my power.
The Elders were always pleased about my ability to see into the future. They made sure to lay beautiful flowers and rice on the foot of the statue of the Moon Goddess every evening. I was made sure to harness my power to its fullest extent. Murtimi-kaju was my main mentor. She was a great aunt who had also been blessed by the Moon Goddess. Her powers, long honed by years of experience, were greater than my own. It was she who told me of my future.
My future with the Yaunkur.
Murtimi-kaju told me that my brother would grow foolish, and his heart would blacken. She told me that a Yaunkur man would be captured under Shipish-Un-Kur's direction, which would bring about fatal consequences. She said that this man's younger brother would become my future husband, and eventually dishonor my title of Protectoress. He would take my virginity before my youth was over when I turned thirty-four years old…but that I must accept this because should I fight him and help my brother to defeat them, my brother's black heart would eventually affect me.
She told met that I would come to see this myself in due time.
And she told me that I would have my revenge for my dishonor.