By Scott Bingham
The Creation of the Lizardfolk and Tari Dar
Through the bloody and violent death of the Nameless One at
the hands of his disgusted brother Mar’ies, the tears of Ishari over her broken
child’s form caused the birth of the Geato Abira. It is said that Tari Dar
marks the place the Goddess of Truth knelt over the torn body of her child as
she wept. As the goddess’s tears fell and mixed with the blood of the Nameless
One the lizardfolk were created, taking shape and first breath beneath the
mutilated corpse of the fallen god. They emerged from the soil and discovered
Ishari in anguish over the murder of her child. Owing their creation to Ishari
the lizardwomen erected the Grand Spire to honor her and to please her, trying
to assuage the torment the great Goddess dwelt in. Looking upon the lizardwomen,
Ishari loved them and blessed them, leaning down to kiss one among their
number. Legend says that this was the birth of the first Sala-ma, for when the
lips of the Goddess of Truth brushed the eyelids of the lizardwoman, her mind
became clear and her eyes could see beyond the mortal realm. Being now divinely
connected to their goddess the Geato Abira cultivated and protected this gift,
seeking to pass such a blessing down through their daughters to further honor
Ishari. From these first few lizardfolk sprang the Geato Abira and in that
place was Tari Dar built.
The Grand Spire and the Core
At the heart of Tari Dar stands the Grand Spire, the very
same said to have been raised to appease the Goddess of Truth. Built by Geato
Abira hands the Grand Spire is massive in size and reaches toward the heavens,
symbolic of the source from which the lizardfolk came to be. Though simple in
design the Grand Spire is a wonder to behold, rising above the marshland and
visible from nearly everywhere within the Geato Marsh. Travelers wandering the
marshes often use the Grand Spire as a point of reference, using the shining
light reflecting off of its surface as a central point while navigating the
mazelike wetlands. Due to the sacredness of Tari Dar and its closed borders
none have gotten close enough to fully inspect the Grand Spire but outsiders
speculate that the spire was constructed from vast amounts of sapphire, the
only known use of the massive vein running beneath the city of Tari Dar. For
those who have entered the secluded way stations of Tari Dar it has also been
determined that long and winding branches wrap around the spire with a lover’s
embrace, symbolic to the Geato Abira of their love and connection to the
Goddess of Truth.
Beneath the Grand Spire lies the Core, a small network of
caves that is entirely insulated from light and sound. To the Geato Abira this
is the most sacred of all for it was within the Core that the first lizardwomen
were conceived. To them the Core is the very womb that they were birthed from
as they first came to be. The Core’s interior is pitch black, soundless, and a
seemingly impossible labyrinth despite its limited expanse beneath the earth. When
the Talos Bak Sal wish to add another sight sister to their ranks the Core
plays a crucial role in determining her worthiness. The Sala-ma will be placed
within the Core alone and the Talos Bak Sal will wait for her to emerge. If the
lone lizardwoman can navigate the Core and successfully return to the land
above she is considered to be loved of Ishari and worthy of being one of the
goddess’s high priestesses. This sacred initiation is also a proving ground of
a Sala-ma’s command of the seer-sight which plays a critical part in the Talos
Bak Sal’s role in Geato Abira society.
In times of need that concern the entirety of the Geato
Abira the Sala-ma of the Talos Bak Sal will meet at one of these holy places to
govern the Geato Abira using the great gift of truth, the seer-sight. Inside
the Core, the very womb of their existence, the Talos Bak Sal ponder the world
within, seeking the answers to what course the Geato Abira must take to better
themselves as a people and what changes should be made in their interactions
with one another. Round the base of the Grand Spire the Talos Bak Sal ponder
the world without, determining their relationships with outsiders and those who
are not Geato Abira and examining how to better their strength and influence
outside the borders of Tari Dar.
Guarding these holy places at all times but never entering
within is the ever vigilant and outward facing Gale Sal or the Watchful Eye.
Members of the Watchful Eye consist of Sala and Sal-Talon warriors who have
proven themselves and are deemed the most worthy of their post. Whether through
battle or personal achievement these warriors have demonstrated to all Geato
Abira that they are the strongest, most capable, and above all cunning warriors
to be found throughout the marshlands. To be among the Gale Sal is considered
by the Geato Abira to be the highest honor a warrior can achieve. The Gale Sal
seem tireless in their vigil over the high priestesses and sacred places of
Ishari but on rare occasion the Gale Sal have been known to send one of their
number to resolve a dispute between the various tribes. Even scarcer than this
is the involvement of a high priestess accompanied by a contingent of Gale Sal
for though they are the highest authority among the Geato Abira they seldom
leave the safety and sanctity of Tari Dar.
The City of the Blue Stones
The City of the Blue Stones is so named because of the
massive natural vein of sapphire that the city rests upon. The unique clarity
of the water throughout the marshland has also led outsiders to refer to Tari
Dar as the City of the Pure Waters though the Geato Abira rarely use such an
allusion. The Geato Abira will claim that both phenomena are because of
Ishari’s tears which had not ceased to fall even as the first lizardwoman rose
from the Core. Holding such a place as the very center of their creation the
Geato Abira feel that it was here that they could feel closest to their
goddess. Tari Dar is a holy city, dedicated to Ishari and closed to any who are
not Geato Abira with the exception of a few designated areas that are strictly
supervised and enforced.
Multiple temples dedicated to Ishari spider web across Tari
Dar and all entrances to the city are underwater and effectively guarded at all
times. The few areas that are open to those who are not Geato Abira are limited
to above ground way stations on the very borders of Tari Dar. Each of these
possess a strong warrior presence and to enter even these one must be cleared
by a Sal Abira. Visitors can stay as long as they wish with the understanding
that they will enter no further into the City of the Blue Stones. Many who make
the journey do so to experience the culture of the Geato Abira, to seek out the
counsel of their priestesses, or to honor the goddess Ishari. Many of the
Kindred and Krishtog frequent these fringe stations and still others of
Desylinn’s peoples have visited these open areas.
Tari Dar is a wonder of a city in its ability to be
self-sustaining. Although many merchants and traders make the journey and
peddle what they can at one of the many way stations, a majority of Tari Dar’s
economy comes in the form of offerings and donations by the thousands of tribes
throughout the marshland. It is not uncommon for a Sal Abira to make a
pilgrimage to the City of the Blue Stones to pay homage to Ishari and to seek
guidance for their individual tribe, bringing with them an offering
to Ishari or gifts for her priestesses the Sala-ma. They may take a small
contingent of priestesses and warriors with them or travel alone to Tari Dar.
It is rare to find a Taresal within Tari Dar as the gender as a whole is looked
down upon. The gift of the seer-sight is believed to belong to the divinely
chosen females of the Geato Abira and any male possessing this gift is seen to
do so wrongfully and to spite their goddess. Taresal with a respected
command over the seer-sight however have been known to be permitted within city
limits, though they are often closely monitored.
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