Mythology of the Trickster // YMCA // SERF Facility
Upon stepping into the SERF, one enters an area bordering on desert, brush skimming back from the creeping wave of sand that will slowly overcome it. A village of some sort stands around you, buildings carved with ornate screens of a distinctly Islamic flavor. There is sand and underbrush around the edges of the village, but not in the center, nor at the tallest, most colorful building where Raven stands.
Eyes lined with kohl, loose pants of linen and a beaded batik vest, one can guess they are in a place of North African or Middle Eastern placing. The sun glints off a gold bangle on his upper arm as he beckons you forward. Around him, in a half circle are piles of silken cushions and before his own, rather ostentatious cushion, is a rather large hookah.
"Salaam Alaikum," the professor calls with a slight bow and gestures to cushions, "Let us sit together before we spin our next tale." Then half smiled and waited for everyone to get comfortable. "We are currently in Africa, what is present day Nubia, south of Egypt and in Northern Chad. The traditional religion here is Islam, of course, but as any religion given to a people and not evolved from them, there is a different flavor to it."
"The djinn, in Islamic tradition are tricksters, especially their prince, Iblis. First created by Allah, they are the only beings with free will and were most ardent supporters of their God." Leaning down, he took care to light the hookah, then added, "However, they refused one of his commands; to bow down before Adam. And they were exiled to the Earth to tempt and torment humanity."
Taking a long drag, Raven held the smoke before exhaling, "Another name for the djinn, is the smokeless fire."
The exhaled smoke moved out in a thin ribbon towards the center of the village, widening, taking on a shape, the shape of a man with impossibly white hair and blue eyes. Then separated, two more shapes appeared, a boy and a girl sitting together on a mat.
"The story I tell you is from the Hausa people, once the strongest force in Africa and ardent religious supporters of the Islamic faith," Raven continued. "And it begins like this: There was once a boy and a girl, very much in love. One day, Iblis saw them together, sitting on their mat and for no reason, cut off the boy's head." Taking another drag from the hookah, he exhaled, allowing the smoke to curl out more, snaking into a nearby hut.
The now-solid figures moved, the boy and girl leaning close to each other as Iblis conjured a machete. Reaching out, the girl moved to pick up a gourd and Iblis struck, beheading the boy. The girl screamed, and two more people appeared, running from their hut. They were older and moved to the boy, the woman wailing and beating her breast.
"The boy's parents were grief struck," Raven continued in hushed tones. "Their son, their only son. But Iblis stepped forward and offered them a deal." Another drag on the hookah, another exhale of smoke.
The blonde haired, blue eyed image moved in front of the parents and stretched an arm out beside him, to the center of the village. Three pits opened, one of fire, one of water and one of snakes. On the far side of the snake pit, the boy's head appeared. The djinn's lips moved, but the parents shook their heads in fear.
"Swim through these three pits, Iblis said, and touch your son's head on the other side, it will fly to his shoulders and he will be saved." Raven paused, "But the parents were very afraid. And declined the offer. The girl, however, accepted. Her love for the boy was stronger than her fear."
The figure of the girl rose and she moved to leap into the pit of fire, "The girl swam through the first pit and the fire burned her, like fire does." Her figure struggled through, but finally leaped out, moving onto the second pit. "She swam through the water, and the water drowned her like water does." The girl's head bobbed and sank, but finally she leaped out of that pit and into the pit of snakes. "She jumped into the pit of snakes, and the snakes struck at her as snakes do. But she made it." Leaping out of the last pit, the girl touched the boy's head and it flew to his shoulders.
"Iblis was very angry and stormed off to make mischief elsewhere," Raven finished and the figures turned back to smoke, curling upwards before dissipating into the sky. "Now what is the point of this story? There could be many. If God is all powerful, he knew and allowed Iblis to make his mischief. But for what purpose? To test the love of his followers?"
Then smiled and inclined his head, "Discuss if you like with me. Or... for the more daring... speak to Iblis himself. But remember, choose your words carefully and analyze his for every possible meaning."
As the blonde figure, clad only in linen harem pants, holding a gold staff appeared, Raven slumped down ungracefully among the cushions and dragged at his hookah, two ravens watching him from the overhang of the mosque he sat before.
((OOC: Speak to Iblis at your own peril and if you want anything good or evil to happen, let me know <3))
Eyes lined with kohl, loose pants of linen and a beaded batik vest, one can guess they are in a place of North African or Middle Eastern placing. The sun glints off a gold bangle on his upper arm as he beckons you forward. Around him, in a half circle are piles of silken cushions and before his own, rather ostentatious cushion, is a rather large hookah.
"Salaam Alaikum," the professor calls with a slight bow and gestures to cushions, "Let us sit together before we spin our next tale." Then half smiled and waited for everyone to get comfortable. "We are currently in Africa, what is present day Nubia, south of Egypt and in Northern Chad. The traditional religion here is Islam, of course, but as any religion given to a people and not evolved from them, there is a different flavor to it."
"The djinn, in Islamic tradition are tricksters, especially their prince, Iblis. First created by Allah, they are the only beings with free will and were most ardent supporters of their God." Leaning down, he took care to light the hookah, then added, "However, they refused one of his commands; to bow down before Adam. And they were exiled to the Earth to tempt and torment humanity."
Taking a long drag, Raven held the smoke before exhaling, "Another name for the djinn, is the smokeless fire."
The exhaled smoke moved out in a thin ribbon towards the center of the village, widening, taking on a shape, the shape of a man with impossibly white hair and blue eyes. Then separated, two more shapes appeared, a boy and a girl sitting together on a mat.
"The story I tell you is from the Hausa people, once the strongest force in Africa and ardent religious supporters of the Islamic faith," Raven continued. "And it begins like this: There was once a boy and a girl, very much in love. One day, Iblis saw them together, sitting on their mat and for no reason, cut off the boy's head." Taking another drag from the hookah, he exhaled, allowing the smoke to curl out more, snaking into a nearby hut.
The now-solid figures moved, the boy and girl leaning close to each other as Iblis conjured a machete. Reaching out, the girl moved to pick up a gourd and Iblis struck, beheading the boy. The girl screamed, and two more people appeared, running from their hut. They were older and moved to the boy, the woman wailing and beating her breast.
"The boy's parents were grief struck," Raven continued in hushed tones. "Their son, their only son. But Iblis stepped forward and offered them a deal." Another drag on the hookah, another exhale of smoke.
The blonde haired, blue eyed image moved in front of the parents and stretched an arm out beside him, to the center of the village. Three pits opened, one of fire, one of water and one of snakes. On the far side of the snake pit, the boy's head appeared. The djinn's lips moved, but the parents shook their heads in fear.
"Swim through these three pits, Iblis said, and touch your son's head on the other side, it will fly to his shoulders and he will be saved." Raven paused, "But the parents were very afraid. And declined the offer. The girl, however, accepted. Her love for the boy was stronger than her fear."
The figure of the girl rose and she moved to leap into the pit of fire, "The girl swam through the first pit and the fire burned her, like fire does." Her figure struggled through, but finally leaped out, moving onto the second pit. "She swam through the water, and the water drowned her like water does." The girl's head bobbed and sank, but finally she leaped out of that pit and into the pit of snakes. "She jumped into the pit of snakes, and the snakes struck at her as snakes do. But she made it." Leaping out of the last pit, the girl touched the boy's head and it flew to his shoulders.
"Iblis was very angry and stormed off to make mischief elsewhere," Raven finished and the figures turned back to smoke, curling upwards before dissipating into the sky. "Now what is the point of this story? There could be many. If God is all powerful, he knew and allowed Iblis to make his mischief. But for what purpose? To test the love of his followers?"
Then smiled and inclined his head, "Discuss if you like with me. Or... for the more daring... speak to Iblis himself. But remember, choose your words carefully and analyze his for every possible meaning."
As the blonde figure, clad only in linen harem pants, holding a gold staff appeared, Raven slumped down ungracefully among the cushions and dragged at his hookah, two ravens watching him from the overhang of the mosque he sat before.
((OOC: Speak to Iblis at your own peril and if you want anything good or evil to happen, let me know <3))