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ong long ago, when the desert was almost unknown to the Shendar and they
had yet to learn of it's wonders, a woman walked the sands and was called
Arila the Faithful. She had lived as Baveras would want her, and to her
clan she was most precious. This angered a nearby
venazla sand demon, that a mere woman be so well thought, and he
planned to capture her and steal her power. The demon waited until she
walked alone on the sands, and lept out at her.
"Ah ha!" he cried, "I
have caught you, feeble woman."
Arila laughed at him and told the demon, "No one
can hold me, for the desert is free to the Shendar."
The venazla was angry at this outspoken woman,
and cast great magics. He brought forth from the ground one-hundred
sharpest knives to surround Arila, like a pen made for creatures.
"Now I have captured you, and you will give to me your power!"
he leered.
Arila laughed again and said "Foolish demon, Baveras' will, not yours,
hold sway in the sands - your knives are like blades of grass to me."
- And indeed they became so - tall blades
of grass with Baveras' will.
The demon was furious and stomped the sand greatly. "Then if they are to
be grass, they shall still be sharp, and tall, and strong, that you may
not bend them with force of arm." - And
indeed the grass was so - it was sharp to touch,
and tall, and very strong for grass.
Arila smiled at the furious venazla. "Demon, it
is not by force of arm that one can conquer the
deserts, but only by Baveras' will, Baveras' faith, and Baveras' gifts."
And Arila knelt and whispering a prayer, poured precious water at the base
of the grass, which bowed before the gift of Baveras and freed Arila from
the demon's trap. So now Arila's trap
is known as the Ar'pun, and still it is sharp
and tall and strong. But always will it bow to the gifts of Baveras.
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