Liēt and Jammah'a: Difference between revisions
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<b><i>Liēt and Jammah'a</i></b> is a romantic epic poem first popularized among sailors in the [[Skaugan Main]] during the [[First Century Valanthe II | <b><i>Liēt and Jammah'a</i></b> is a romantic epic poem first popularized among sailors in the [[Skaugan Main]] during the [[First Century Valanthe II Amastacia]]. The poem, part of a larger oral tradition of Skaugan mariners, recounts the romance between [[Liēt III The Opalescent]] ("Liēt Opal-Eyed"), Imperial Princess of [[Doloriane]], and Jammah'a, a [[djinn]] slave held in magical thrall by Liēt's mother, [[Liēt II The Serene]] ("The Implacable Queen"). The lovers conspire to free Jammah'a from his enchanted bonds and flee to his ancestral Cloud-Manse in the [[Elemental Plane of Air]], but their romance is revealed, scandalizing the elven court and leading to a series of reprisal killings. At the poem's conclusion, Liēt, rather than be forced by her mother into lifelong celibacy as a nun of the [[Abbey of Doloriane]], hurls herself from a rocky crag into the arms of "her lover, the air." | ||
Although the court setting and personages are based on historical figures from the [[Second Liētine Epoch]], the poem is a romantic pastiche of [[Elven]] court life and only loosely reflects the actual politics and practices of the time. The sudden death of Liēt III in 481 L.II, purportedly due to | Although the court setting and personages are based on historical figures from the [[Second Liētine Epoch]], the poem is a romantic pastiche of [[Elven]] court life and only loosely reflects the actual politics and practices of the time. The sudden death of Liēt III in 481 L.II, purportedly due to illness, created an Imperial succession crisis and gave rise to many folk legends, but no evidence of the alleged affair, or even of a Djinn servant in the Liētine Court, exists in the historical literature. | ||
== Revival and Publication == | == Revival and Publication == | ||
<i>Liēt and Jammah'a</i> faded into obscurity in the later years of the [[Second Valanthian Epoch]] until it was encountered by the bard [[Ka-Ess Lizardkin]] sometime in the early [[Third Century Valanthe II Naïlo]]. His version of the tale, an oratorio written for the [[The Spinecracker Amphitheater for Contemporary Poetics|Spinecracker Academy Orchestra]], is the first known | <i>Liēt and Jammah'a</i> faded into obscurity in the later years of the [[Second Century Valanthe II Amastacia|Second Valanthian Epoch]] until it was encountered by the bard [[Ka-Ess Lizardkin]] sometime in the early [[Third Century Valanthe II Naïlo]]. His version of the tale, an oratorio written for the [[The Spinecracker Amphitheater for Contemporary Poetics|Spinecracker Academy Orchestra]], is the first known published version of the poem. Ka-Ess is credited with adding the now-standard frame story, in which an Eagle-Prince, disgusted by the "savage spears and arrows of the featherless," observes the courtship of the two lovers and comes to respect the nobility of the maiden, who "lack'd wings yet she gave herself to the sky." Notably, Ka-Ess' version of the work retains the ambiguity of the conclusion, and whether Liēt is carried away into the clouds or plummets to her death in the waves remains unresolved. | ||
The meaning of the oratorio's dedication — "<i>For a [[Dagna the Fair|formidable woman]]</i>" — is uncertain. | The meaning of the oratorio's dedication — "<i>For a [[Dagna the Fair|formidable woman]]</i>" — is uncertain. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:14, 21 February 2023
Liēt and Jammah'a is a romantic epic poem first popularized among sailors in the Skaugan Main during the First Century Valanthe II Amastacia. The poem, part of a larger oral tradition of Skaugan mariners, recounts the romance between Liēt III The Opalescent ("Liēt Opal-Eyed"), Imperial Princess of Doloriane, and Jammah'a, a djinn slave held in magical thrall by Liēt's mother, Liēt II The Serene ("The Implacable Queen"). The lovers conspire to free Jammah'a from his enchanted bonds and flee to his ancestral Cloud-Manse in the Elemental Plane of Air, but their romance is revealed, scandalizing the elven court and leading to a series of reprisal killings. At the poem's conclusion, Liēt, rather than be forced by her mother into lifelong celibacy as a nun of the Abbey of Doloriane, hurls herself from a rocky crag into the arms of "her lover, the air."
Although the court setting and personages are based on historical figures from the Second Liētine Epoch, the poem is a romantic pastiche of Elven court life and only loosely reflects the actual politics and practices of the time. The sudden death of Liēt III in 481 L.II, purportedly due to illness, created an Imperial succession crisis and gave rise to many folk legends, but no evidence of the alleged affair, or even of a Djinn servant in the Liētine Court, exists in the historical literature.
Revival and Publication
Liēt and Jammah'a faded into obscurity in the later years of the Second Valanthian Epoch until it was encountered by the bard Ka-Ess Lizardkin sometime in the early Third Century Valanthe II Naïlo. His version of the tale, an oratorio written for the Spinecracker Academy Orchestra, is the first known published version of the poem. Ka-Ess is credited with adding the now-standard frame story, in which an Eagle-Prince, disgusted by the "savage spears and arrows of the featherless," observes the courtship of the two lovers and comes to respect the nobility of the maiden, who "lack'd wings yet she gave herself to the sky." Notably, Ka-Ess' version of the work retains the ambiguity of the conclusion, and whether Liēt is carried away into the clouds or plummets to her death in the waves remains unresolved.
The meaning of the oratorio's dedication — "For a formidable woman" — is uncertain.