Founding Legend of Sirchasia

The **Founding Legend of Sirchasia** is the Sirchasian legend of how Larčiç the Creator founded the Sirchasian state in 1200 BK, which is described in detail in the **Chronicle of Larčiç the Creator**.

The earliest written forms of the chronicle have been dated to roughly the 400's BK, the earliest around 460 BK. The most widely known version, written by a unknown Greek author in a mix of vulgar Greek and old Aletian translations, is dated to the 100's AK, specifically sometime between 120 and 130 AK. Other versions written in old Aletian or old Sirchas are also known, though many of these lack some sections of the complete one or have been partially damaged, leaving the Greek translation as the best one in regards to uncovering the full legend.

## The Chronicle

### The Tale of a Šarhas Nomad

The Chronicle of Larčiç the Creator begins with a section titled the *Tale of a Šarhas Nomad*, which describes a day in the life of a *Šarhas* (Sirchasian) nomad.

The tale begins with the nomad waking up and doing his morning routine, followed by the grand hunt of the day which lasts 'multiple hours' and then the preparation of the food, the preparation for nighttime and finally the 'lowering of the sun'. In some versions this section is longer and in some is just a few sentences long, though all versions make an attempt to show the importance of the nomadic life to the ancient Šarhas.

The *Tale of a Šarhas Nomad* is followed by the *Tale of the Making of Larčiç*.

### The Tale of the Making of Larčiç

The *Tale of the Making of Larčiç* is the second section of the Chronicle of Larčiç the Creator and describes the supposed making of Larčiç by the gods.

The tale begins by describing Šarhas gods, Maras and Šarmus, who had created the land 5000 years before Larčiç and ruled over it jointly, creating the Šarhas and giving them knowledge. Maras was the one responsible for teaching mankind the secrets of life, such as hunting, hut-making, fire, cooking and companionship. Šarmus was responsible for creating mankind and the natural world, molding all the forests, lakes, rivers, animals and other natural features of the Earth. It is claimed they excersized equal influence over the weather, the sun and the moon and other cycles and changes of life.

In the five-thousandth year since the creation of the land, Maras and Šarmus decided that mankind needed a leader of their own. This was decided upon for two reasons. Firstly, mankind had come to such a development stage where they could understand and appreciate the existence of the gods and employed hunting and 'plant growing' (early agriculture) to their own survival and benefit, which entitled them to be further unified under a leader from mankind to lead them further. Secondly, Maras and Šarmus believed that with mankind advanced to this stage, they didn't require to be assisted with their survival and thus could be let go of the gods protection to be free and independent in their will while still worshipping the gods for their past assistance.

With this in mind, the two gods set to creating the perfect member of mankind to lead the rest of them to glory. This took two months, during which they merged all the rocks, fires, plants, rivers and bones of the land into a single form, a form they named *Larčiç* - Life. They then began to mold this form into the shape of a human, giving it life and thoughts, along with the power and knowledge required to lead the Šarhas to glory, though this Larčiç was to unveil on his own and for now remained hidden. Once the great leader of humankind was finished, Maras sent a message to the Šarhas, while Šarmus sent a message to the forests, rivers, plains and mountains. The message informed them of the coming of a great leader 'who would shake the land and unite the great tribes together for a great ride'. With this message sent, they lowered Larčiç to the ground with all the tools and a hut required to survive in the wild and gave him the final thing his form was missing - life.

The *Tale of the Making of Larčiç* is followed by the *Tale of the Rising Sun*.

### The Tale of the Rising Sun

The *Tale of the Rising Sun* is the third section of the Chronicle of Larčiç the Creator and describes Larčiç's survival in the wild and arrival to the land of the Harma.

Upon the granting of life to Larčiç, the gods Maras and Šarmus left Larčiç and returned to their home atop the mountains. Larčiç then awoke and went on a hunt. During this hunt he quickly learned all he needed to know to survive in the Šarhas homeland. He then returned from the hunt and went to sleep. Maras decided to contact Larčiç in his dreaming while disguised as a spirit of the dead. He informed Larčiç that he was to go eastwards and find a great lake, where he could establish himself a true base and refurbish his hut. Thus the next morning Larčiç woke and made his way eastwards, finding the lake by noon and, after a short hunt, setting up a new hut on the lake's shore to rest in. After this, the gods would never directly speak with Larčiç ever again, instead sending messangers and informants to Larčiç exposing their requests.

After staying on the coast of the lake for a week, Larčiç made his way to it's other side. There he found two Šarhas nomads resting in their hut. Following a short conversation, they agreed to let Larčiç join them. After living next to the lake for another month, the two Šarhas and Larčiç packed up their tents and headed to the south in search of better hunting grounds. Along the way one of the Šarhas was injured by a wild animal and nearly died, but Larčiç managed to save them, revealing his great healing powers to him and the nomads. With this they decided to permanently include Larčiç in their party and continued moving southwards. During this time Larčiç also showed his great skills at hunting and general strength and agility. After months of travel, the party arrived at the small Šarhas town of Vass, where they were gladly accepted by the local people.

The group slowly became a part of local Vass culture, Larčiç especially, learning to speak the local dialect and their specific hunting methods. Larčiç time and time again displayed his great skills to the warriors and elders of the settlement, leaving a very good impression on them. For this he was made the leader of the town's guards six months into his stay in the town. He remained in this position for the next two years, defending the town from two raids by other Šarhas tribesmen and organising grand hunts to catch larger prey to feed the town. For his great service to the town he was rewarded with the position of Madiç - the town's priest, who was responsible for religious affairs such as prayer and animal sacrifice, and the holding of various town ceremonies.

The *Tale of the Rising Sun* is followed by the *Tale of the Madiç of Vass*.

### Tale of the Madiç of Vass

Larčiç would be Madiç of Vass for one year, during which time he held ceremonies to Maras and Šarmus, the Sun and Moon, the hills and plains. He prayed for the prosperity of Vass, of the Šarhas, for great hunts and great feasts. While he never directly communicated with the gods, they did hear his prayers and he knew they had heard, so they granted Vass all that Larčiç asked of and blessed them during all ceremonies. For this Larčiç became beloved by the people and elite of Vass, who granted him further reign and ability, though their gold and animal skins he turned down. This only made him more popular and beloved due to how humble he was.

When a year of his term was coming to an end, the elders of the town asked Larčiç to prepare for the Anšan - midsummer festival. Larčiç prayed to the gods and requested approval for the festival. Šarmus sent a lightning to the Earth that day, declaring the day not right for the festival. Larčiç informed the elders of this, who ordered him to pray for tomorrow. But for a week the result was the same and the thunder only got louder, until Larčiç was forced to conceed the gods' will and inform the elders that the festival would not occur this year. The elders refused to accept the gods' will, but still respecting Larčiç highly, simply decided to make the festival earthly in nature.

Larčiç knew this would not go over well and the gods would be mad, so he prayed to them and asked for them to keep calm even at this sight of defiance. The gods gave no sign of their answer, but Larčiç continued to pray. After another week the festival took place. At first all seemed fine, but the weather became hotter even as night neared, until most became short of breath. Larčiç desperately pleaded to the gods to relent, but they only increased the heat and dry. Multiple of the elders were near death and would have died if not for Larčiç. The heat would keep up for a week and many would have died if Larčiç hadn't kept them to life with his healing abilities. Once the gods believed the residents had been thoroughly punished, they finally let go of the heat and even gave some rain upon the prayers of Larčiç. For his great service to the town in this time of worry, the elders pronounced Larčiç as one of them even though he was far too young for such a position.

The "Tale of the Madiç of Vass" is followed by the "Tale of the Great Pact".