Nyai Rara Kidul

Issue 15: Nyai Rara Kidul

“Long ago, Amma did create the first living being, dubbed the Nommo, which doth dwell both on land and in water.

The Nommo did cleave into four pairs of twins, each embarking upon their own path in life. Yet one among them rebelled, disrupting the cosmic balance ordained by Amma.

Amma did offer up one of the Nommo's offspring, those who resided upon a planet dubbed Emme Ya, revolving amidst the binary stars Sigu Tolo and Po Tolo. They were exiled from their native abode, their bodies scattered across the cosmos. Some fell upon the land, where they did erect shrines, whilst others were consumed by the depths by the finny.

However, there is a tale that hath been recounted from a different perspective since their dispersal.

The offspring of the Nommo found themselves estranged from their native realm, from the red star that now doth fade into shadow, no longer visible amidst the binary stars. They arrived upon this earth aboard an ark, alighting upon a dry land dubbed Alkebulan by its inhabitants. The Nommo, who brought forth water from their native abode, were hailed by the people of Alkebulan as a blessing upon their parched land.

Moved with compassion for the plight of these people, who were filthy and emaciated, the Nommo allowed them to drink of the water and partake of pieces of their bodies. The first to partake became the leaders of the others, naming their tribe Dogon.

Thus, humanity should elevate the status of the Nommo kin, venerating and offering all that humanity possesses—As well as their very lives, which depend upon the remnants of our ancestors' bodies.”

The one telling the story is Vardhi, casually and proudly sitting before his soldiers—

Sitting on a pile of corpses of the royal soldiers.

“Humanity shouldst know its proper station.”

Vardhi stand up, turning toward the general whose still alive but heavily wounded.

“Begone, mortal. Bid thy kings that the nommo kin are thy gods! Fear and submit to us! Give everything thou possess to us!”

The general, reluctantly dropping his pride, running back to the kingdom in fear.

“Well, let us return~”

Vardhi and his soldiers leave the forest, returning to the beach.

On the beach, there was Kandita waiting for Vardhi.

“Yaa, Kandita! Apologies to keep thy waiting~”1

A loud rattle can be heard from a fishermen's hut, Vardhi noticed that the roof was broken as if something had hit it, that something then landing not far from Kandita, who is Sasandoro.

Kandita and Sasandoro looking at Vardhi in dour, concluding that Vardhi's plot has been discovered by them.

“Ahah~ That's due to Kandita's ability, isn't t? Hath heard mine mind.”

Vardhi put his javelin forward, prepare to attack them both.

“Mind, feelings, memories. I can see all that from you, Vardhi. I thought you were a good person … turns out you've set the stage for us to fight each other.”

“But, hey, I helped thee awaken thy power, did I not~? Thou shouldst thank me~”

“It was you who gave me the medicine. You are the shaman behind the cause of my exile.”

“Well, t's all thanks to the finny thou consumed, from The King's mind I learned thou art the daughter of the primordial Nommo! I weaken'd thy mind, giving me the opportunity to infiltrate the kingdom~”