Children of the mother Pot: Mortal Spear

Introduction.

FIRST AND FOREMOST LET ME PASTE THE ORIGINAL LEGEND OF GIPRI AND HIS BROTHER LABONGO, THE SPEAR, THE BEADS AND THE UNLUCKY ELEPHANT.

When you have got a hint about this legend, you will then know what to expect in an Epic fantasy version of the same.

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Once upon a time there was an old man who lived with his clan in a beautiful, fertile and lush land, teeming with animals and birds in northern Uganda.

The land was gifted indeed, with a beautiful river, the Nile running through it, its blue waters bringing life to the land, sustaining the old man's clan, their plants and livestock.

For a while the man, his family and his two teenage sons, Labongoand Gipir lived in peace in this paradise they had discovered when they moved south from the land called Bahel-Gazel.

Days turned to weeks, weeks to months and months to years. The old man's health began to deteriorate and he's strength dwindled with each passing day. Soon he couldn't gather enough energy to get out of bed. He summoned his elder son Labongo to speak to him.

He told them how he didn't have much time left; their ancestors were beckoning him. He turned to Labongo and gave him a special spear.

The spear was the one that symbolized leadership in the clan and had been passed down from generation to generation. It was now Labongo's turn to lead and protect the clan. The spear was perfectly decorated with carvings and it gleamed regally in the African sun. Labongo had always waited for this moment.

It was finally his turn to rule and take over the clan. He promised his father never to let him down.A few days later the old man died and sadly the tribe had to move on without him. Labongo took over headship. He was an authoritative leader, but sometimes let his emotions get the better of him.

Luckily there were no major wars and calamities befalling them. The boys grew into men, took on wives and had children. The fertile land always provided for them plenty of food and the Nile never dried up. There was plenty for man and livestock.

One late afternoon while Labongo was out hunting, an elephant strayed away from its herd and found its way to their lush maize garden. The women and children ran to their huts in fear. Gipir who was resting inside one of the huts awoke to terrified shrieks and ran out to see what was wrong. He saw the elephant destroying their precious crop.

Without another thought, he ran to the hut where they kept their spears, grabbed one and threw it at the elephant. The elephant was injured and it ran away with the spear stuck into its side. Gipir had saved the day. Everyone came out praising him of his braveness.

Labongo came back to find the homesteads buzzing with excitement about the events that had happened. They relayed to him the story of how Gipir single handedly went against the massive elephant and managed to chase it away.

He was stabbed with jealousy because it was he who was tasked with protecting the clan. He went to the hut where the spears were kept and Alas! He discovered his precious spear was missing.

At the height of the confusion, Gipir had grabbed the royal spear and the elephant had run away with it still stuck to its side!

Labongo was livid and called upon his brother. He told him how that spear meant everything to the clan and he expected to hand it down to his son, just like their father had done to him.

He accused his brother of jealousy and told him he must retrieve the spear. Gipir couldn't believe what he was hearing.

How was he expected to trail and injured elephant and recover the spear? The forest south of where they lived was known to harbor big herds of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and predators like lions, leopards.