Chapter 3 - Namtar And The Golden Thread

Namtar, the Digyr of Every Destiny, son of Furah, Digyr of the Western Winds. He built for himself a windmill on the plains of El’Shana.

He built the windmill out of granite stones and used bones of the ancient beasts to build the blades that would be moved by the wind. For it is inside the windmill that Namtar spindles the golden threads of destiny.

Inside of the windmill is his workshop, and it's like a spider's web, but made of gold. Made of many woven and intricate destinies of the creatures created by the digyr.

As a creature is born, Namtar spindles the thread, and when the thread is complete and when it has been connected it becomes taut, so that it stretches out in a straight line.

No physical thing can stop the thread, and so it is that when you go to Namtar’s windmill you will see the taut threads sticking out in every way. To look upon them is to look upon a shimmering light.

It was one day, while Namtar was spindling the threads, as he did every day, that he heard a soft bump against the door of his windmill. This was odd, you see, for Namtar did not have many visitors. (This is of course why he built the windmill on the plains of El’Shana)

Namtar called out, for he was busy, but he received no reply. So Namtar left his work, and he opened the door of his windmill, and there before him was an amalgamation. It was a small creature, just so that it could fit in the palm of his hand. It had the wool of a sheep, and head and legs of a sheep, but the stinger and wings of a bumblebee.

“Surely, you must be of Livadi, young meadow dweller,” said Namtar, and invited him in. The BeeSheep was weary from his travels and buzzed softly in response. Seeing that the small amalgamation was weak and exhausted, Namtar placed him upon the table and set about preparing for him some milk, and sweet potato crisps.

Upon eating and drinking his fill, BeeSheep was revived, and buzzed a great thanks to Namtar for his exceeding kindness.

“I am happy to help the little ones,” said Namtar. “Pray tell, what brings you to my windmill this day?” And BeeSheep answered him.

“Ah, searching for your lost goddess I see.” Namtar nodded. “Yes, indeed, a noble pursuit.” 

Namtar began to walk throughout his windmill, touching at the golden threads as he passed through them.

Each time he touched a thread it began to glow, for Namtar could see within the thread, and he could see each destiny.

“Here it is,” Namtar said finally. He pointed to a thread whose line went up and out of the window and pointed into the sky. “This is the destiny you seek, little BeeSheep, for it is your very own. I can see in your thread that it is your destiny to find Livadi of Far Meadows. Be warned, little friend, for your trials have nary begun. Do not trust the world as you see it, but for how it truly is.”

BeeSheep buzzed his thanks, and he began to fly along the thread, following it up through the windmill, and out the window. He followed the thread up and up, and ever up again, passing the tops of trees, and the tops of mountains.

He passed clouds, and the proxies that lived within them. Then he passed from the blue of the sky, into the first of the heavens. Now being in the heavens, BeeSheep went a little higher until he reached the Forged. And the thread which he followed went right through it.

BeeSheep was sorrowful when he saw this, for he was unsure how to pass beyond the hammered dome.

Determined, BeeSheep looked closer, and there the golden thread went straight through a small hole, a fracture in the dome created by a falling star. (He knew it was a falling star for the pieces were scattered about the small hole.)

And so it was that BeeSheep was renewed in his quest and taking hold of a small piece of the broken star, he began to chisel away at the Forged. He intended to make the hole bigger so that he might fit.

When the hole was big enough, BeeSheep crawled through the fracture, once more following the golden thread. And not knowing what lay beyond, BeeSheep brought with him the shard of the star which he had used to dig. It would provide him light and protection.

Translator’s Note: It should also be noted that what the “Forged” refers to here, is the sky. In many ancient cultures, the sky was a dome, and it was forged as a protective barrier, so to speak, and so that meant that the stars and planets visible above were simply decorations. What’s interesting is that BeeSheep is able to pass through it, and into something beyond.