MYTH OF THE WINDCALLER

by Charles Van Aller

and

Josh Drinville

In Orlanth’s Stead there lived a demi-god whose name is long forgotten, only referred to as

Windcaller by historians and mythologists. Mentioned rarely he is known to have fought by the side of

mighty Orlanth several times and was a great admirer of the martial prowess of the death god Humakt. He

was a great warrior, a champion of Air, defeater of chaos. He and his name were lost during a battle

against the devil but such was his fame his path has not been forgotten. What is related here however is not

his demise but his great Sister Quest, also known as the Quest of the Silver Star.

One day, while at rest, a messenger came to tell of a great travesty. Windcaller’s sister had been

taken captive by followers of the Sun Emperor. Windcaller howled in anger and vowed revenge against

those who would defile his beloved sister and their family. He took up his sword, Angerclaw and his great

steel spear, Soulpiercer, and set out to find her and her captors.

Many days and nights did he travel, never stopping for food, drink, or rest. When he finally came

upon his sister, she was at the feet of an Angel of the Sun, demon of Yelm, broken, downcast, and chained.

Windcaller raised Angerclaw and bellowed his great challenge to the Sun Demon. The foul beast heard the

cries of anger and laughed saying to Windcaller:

“You think to defeat me, upstart pup! I am first among the followers of the mighty and

magnificent Emperor. My power is great, my supporters greater. I would not waste my time with

the likes of you. Begone simpering fool.”

Although the insult was grievous, Windcaller looked about him and saw the mighty hosts which

now surrounded the Angel, he knew that despite his great rage, he would do naught but die under such an

array. Instead he chose the intelligent path and spoke to the fire Demon:

“Baseless cretin, repugnant slug, you have taken one of my blood and I wish her back. I swear on

my sister’s life to do whatever task you set for me in exchange for her freedom.”

The Angel thought over what Windcaller had offered and came to a decision. If the fool wishes to

be destroyed, to be it, the demon thought and answered him thusly:

“So you think to be able to accomplish that which the Favored of Yelm could not. Fine then, I

accept your boast fool. In exchange for her life, you must bring to me the Silver Star which lies

within the fortress of Yia. Bring this to me and I will release her.”

Windcaller left without another word to fulfill the demands of the Angel. With anger fueling his

steps, Windcaller walked all the world in search for the fortress of Yia. Many enemies did he battle and

many places did he search, but the Windcaller could not find either the fortress or anyone who knew where

to find it.

Finally Windcaller returned to Orlanth’s Stead. He was destraught over his apparent failure when

he saw Lhankhor Mhy. Seeing the great sage, Windcaller begged for his help. He related the story of his

sister and his need to find the fortress of Yia. Saddened by the events Lhankhor Mhy wished to help the

nephew of his friend but could not. The sage explained that there was a curse against anyone who spoke of

the location of the fortress of Yia, but he could send Windcaller to one who could point him in the right

direction. So he sent Windcaller to the Dragontooth Sage at the farthest end of the world.

Windcaller departed the lands of the Orlanthi with a new purpose and new hope. To the ends of

the world he traveled. Across the ocean and through many uncharted lands did he tread but Windcalled did

not give up his search. When one day he laid down to sleep under a great tree in an unknown land, a great

spirit of Air came upon his sleeping form. Recognizing kinship, the two demi-gods made a pact of honor

between them. Finding that the Air spirit knew of the Dragontooth Sage, Windcaller prevailed upon him to

show the way to the Sage. The Air spirit did one better, he carried Windcaller to the feet of the

Dragontooth Sage himself.

There, Windcaller looked upon the Dragontooth Sage himself and shuttered, for the form of the

Sage was not what he expected. Despite how unsettling the appearance may have been, Windcaller’s

courage prevailed and he called to the Dragontooth Sage to tell him where to find the Fortress of Yia and

the Sage answered thusly:

Water from Sky,

Cold as Death.

Fire doth leap,

Yet without warmth.

Air not stirring,

Yet does man.

The riddle confounded Windcaller as he thought and thought. Long and hard Windcaller thought,

but could not come to a solution and he knew that Lhankhor Mhy could not help. He thought of the first

two lines, Water from Sky, Cold as Death., and this made him think of great Heler, Orlanthi god of war and

rain. So to Heler’s home Windcaller went.

Heler could not think of what this riddle could mean. He did know of Fire without Warmth

however. He had come from the sky, but was born of Water so he had many pieces of knowledge. Heler

told Windcaller that he would tell him of the Fire without Warmth if Windcaller would go and find

Eurmal’s boggles, who had stolen something from him.

Agreeing, Windcaller set out to find the boggles who were creatures of Illusion and Disorder. It

took a lifetime to find the boggles and when he did Windcaller could not catch them. Calling upon the pact

he had made with the Spirit of Air, Windcaller caused a great gust of wind which pushed all the boggles

into a large pile of squirming bodies and flailing limbs (which is why many say that troubles always come

in threes, for the boggles could never separate themselves again). In the wriggling mass Windcaller found

the stolen goods and returned them to Heler.

Heler then spoke of the Fire without Warmth. In a land to the north, he would find one who

walked without heat but carried the Light of the Emperor. This one he said could give answers to

Windcaller’s quest.

North he did travel, to the feet of a great forest covered in Winter. Here a great battled raged

between the Wood and Winter. He could see among the Wood a warrior whose Light shone brightly in the

midst of battle but whose Fire could not burn even the driest of leaves. Windcaller, undaunted by the might

of Winter’s forces raised his mighty friend Angerclaw and waded into the battle. Fighting his way to the

center of the Wood’s forces, Windcaller demanded an answer from the Cold Fire. Cold Fire, a son of the

Sun, found the intrusion of a Stormson into the Wood to be a great affront, but agreed to help on one

condition. that Windcaller would promise that the winds would not blow in the Wood. Windcaller was

reluctant to make such a promise, but in the end he relented, his sister’s life was at stake. (which is why

only breezes blow in the woods now, Windcaller walks there, but the might of the storm obeys the ancient

pact)

Cold Fire told him of the place where Air does not stir, but is filled with man. It is in a place far

from the Air and Sky. There would Windcaller find what he is looking for, beneath the Earth and within it.

A place of Darkness and still.

Windcaller set forth from the Wood. He traveled to the gaping mouth of the Pits of Night and

walked within without a backward glance. In a place, long forgotten and below the world, Windcaller

found the fortress of Yia.

Onward toward the gates he strode, his destination ahead of him, he would not be denied now.

With all the righteous anger and heroic determination at his command, Windcaller advanced on the fortress.

Assailed he was by the guardians of the fortress.

First came the Black Rage. Demons who tore at his soul carving gashes in his very personality.

With a secret told to him by his friend, Fleshman, he banished them with a word and an impaling blow

from Soulpiercer.

Next came the Fires of Hell. Fearsome servants of the Darkness. Flame that burns without light.

With the might of the Air and the slashing of Angerclaw, the Fires of Hell were extinguished in his wake,

such was his fury, such was his determination.

When the last embers of the Fires of Hell were extinguished, the Corrupted came. The Corrupted

were the souls who would never find solace, in Hell, in Heaven, or in the Air. Blasphemy they spoke to the

Windcaller and almost did the Windcaller succumb. It was in his final moments that his sister’s voice came

to him: “Brother, I need you. Please help me.” that the Windcaller broke free from the chains of corruption

that the Corrupted had thrown about the Windcaller. With a sound like the clap of thunder, the Windcaller

shouted down the blasphemous corruption all about him and strode onward.

At the gates of the fortress, Windcaller demanded by right of battle to see the master of the citadel.

The watchers at the gate summoned to the Windcaller the Master. The Master of the citadel agreed with

the Windcaller’s quest and granted him the choice to either take the Silver Star and leave, never to return,

or to battle the Star’s guardian and make the Star his own. Windcaller chose the former for he joyed in the

open air not the confined darkness. So he took the Star and headed to where the Sun Demon stood.

Unknown to Windcaller, some of the Angel’s horde had tracked him here, hoping to take from

him the Silver Star and gain the Air Woman as a prize. Ambushed the Windcaller was. Fierce and deadly

were the demons of the Fire Horde, but Angerclaw and Soulpiercer forged a path through their masses for

the Windcaller.

When at last free of battle, Windcaller made to the Angel. There, on earth burnt crisp, the

Windcaller fulfilled his quest and exchanged with the Angel the Silver Star for the Air Woman. The

Angel, enraged at the Windcaller’s success, completed the bargain and returned the Air Woman showing

that even a Scion of the Sky can carry the Wyrd of Honor.

Feasting and celebration met their return to Orlanth’s Stead. Great joy and gladness were felt at

the return of the Hero and the Air Woman. Such is the joy, it is the joy of life.