Legends of Ancient Estontetso

A great task has been undertaken by the Estontetsan Academy of Science ESTACOS, Institutes of Gorami Culture INGORACU and of History and Archaeology INHISTO. It is about nothing less than collecting and safeguarding the legends that circulate in our country and shed a very peculiar light on its history, since they substitute historiography for eras when there was none.

If we learn to read them correctly, legends describe technical developments and historical events and explain the interdependence thereof.

Here are the best ones.

Spinning And Weaving Songs[]

We yarn, yarn, yarn in the owto-barn[]

The most common song that may have been sung for millennia is still sung by folk song associations. (Listen to a modern adaption!)

Bale Song[]

Day-o, day-o! (Night has come and we want t'go home.)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o! (Night...)

Work all day on a drink of tea. (Night...)
Stack cloth bales 'til the ev'ning come. (Night...)

Come Mister tally man, tally me my bales. (Night...)
Come Mister tally man, tally me my bales. (Night...)

Lift six pound, seven pound, eight pound bale. (Night...)
Six pound, seven pound, eight pound bale. (Night...)

(Listen to the great Afrazurean singer Harry Belafonte's version!)

Spinning yarn and weaving cloth have been practised for at least 30,000 years ([TECH: WP]). These are cultural techniques that were known long before Longerath was populated. Only a few old songs, probably sung during this work for ages, still transmit old knowledge from its beginnings.

The Legend Of Wynn The Mason[]

Wynn was the son of Estono. They used to live in the open.
When Estono grew old, he began to freeze and asked Wynn to build a shelter where he wouldn't feel cold. So Wynn built a hut out of reeds for him.
When Estono grew older, he began to freeze in the reed hut and asked Wynn to build a lodging where he wouldn't feel cold. So Wynn built a logde out of logs for him.
When Estono grew even older, he even began to freeze in the log cabin, and he asked Wynn to build a house where he wouldn't feel cold. So Wynn built a house for him out of a timber frame filled in with bricks which he made out of dried clay.
When Estono grew quite old, he even began to freeze in the half-timbered house, and he asked Wynn to build a solid house where he wouldn't feel cold anymore. So Wynn invented and organised the building of a house for him out of stonemasonry. This house was the best of all. It was decorated with pillars, got windows from glass, and one of its rooms even boasted a fireplace.
When the fire was kindled in the oven, Estono's life light went out, and his clan, who called themselves "Estoni", took to the sea and travelled to the land of long raths, which we now call Longerath. Here they continued to build stone houses with columns which they dedicated to the Gods.

Note: The development of stonemasonry happened between 8000 and 7000 BP, so maybe before the accostage ([TECH: WP; I had a better source but do not remember it]).

The First-Ever Heroes[]

When in the dawn of history the first humans came to Longerath, they were led by a heroic couple. The man was called Wynn. He was a ship-builder, seaman and famous navigator. He had designed the ships on which they sailed from Mystgallia to Longerath, he had trained the sailors, and he had led them here. The woman was called Fryyd. She was his wife. She was a prime cattle breeder, cook, and she was a superb educator to her children and grandchildren. She was the heart and core of their civilisation.

The journey across the Estontetsan Ocean took eleven months. So it was no wonder that on the high sea, shortly before their accostage, Fryyd gave birth to their child in common, a son, which was given the name Wynnfryyd. When they ran upon the shore, Wynnfryyd was the first to step onto the new-found land.

Wynnfryyd grew up and did heroic deeds, such as clearing forest land and founding settlements. His greatest achievement was the invention of horse breeding. In this he was assisted by his old mother. When he was eighteen years of age, he married and had two sons who were called Wynny and Freddy. They were the forefathers of all Estontetsan tribes and kings.

Note: This happened prior to the 5th millennium BP (History of Esto.); domestication of the horse succeeded c. 5000 BP [TECH: (WP)]. Taming (not yet breeding) cattle and agriculture occur between 11,000 and 6000 BP; they knew it before, but only developed it on a large scale right after the accostage.

The Holy Fathers[]

Another legend delivers other names and reveals them as the progenitors of all the well-known tribes and kingdoms in the region.

Esto ⚭ Matra

┌────────────────┴──────┬─────────────────┐

Bezu ⚭ Meza

Empu ⚭ Mogli

Lambu ⚭ Samba

┌───┬───┬────┼─────┬──────┐

┌───┬──┴─┬────┐

┌───┴─┬───┐

Daso

Rello

Tazoth

Kager

Goro/Gregur

Pegan

Auran

Makud

Esbor

Micholo

Esho/Qello

Alem

Burbur

(The names Goro or Gregur and Esho or Qello vary in different oral transmissions.)

Note: This covers the period between 5000 BP and 2000 BP. (History of Esto.)

Identities of heroes across different ledends[]

Estono	=	Esto
│
Wynn	=?
│
Wynnfryyd	=?
┌──┴──┐		┌────┼────┐
Wynny & Freddy	=?	Bezu & Empu & Lambu
│ │		│ │ │
Thirteen Tribal Progenitors

The primal father is Estono or Esto.

His son is Wynn, who as the only forefather to cross the ocean is also looked upon as a primal father and may be identical to Esto/Estono.

Wynn has a single son, Wynnfryyd, who may also be identical to Esto/Estono.

As grandsons we find Wynny and Freddy who may as well be identical to Bezu, Empu and Lambu.

Wynn, Wynnfryyd, Wynny and Freddy can all be identical to Bezu, Empu and Lambu.

All the thirteen tribal progenitors can only be seen as succession to these selected forefathers.

The Legend Of Micholo, or
The Radiant Rise Of Royalty[]

Micholo was by far the greatest hero of his time. The walls of his castle were twenty paces wide and fifteen ells high, and silvered. He hurled the spear ninetynine paces. With the bow, he hit the bull's eye at three hundred thirtythree paces. When he had to ride long distances, he changed horses on the fly without stopping.

Micholo wanted to become a king of his people. In his endeavour he was challenged by his cousin Burbur. On their grandfather's advice they agreed to let the Gods decide. So they headed off to seek out the most famous of all the druids, Berlin.

Legendary three rivers — River Triple and the Triangular Island

Berlin lived behind a mountain range believed to be unsurmountable, in the middle of a vast swamp, on an island formed by three rivers flowing one into the other. Micholo's and Burbur's journey took three days to reach the mountains, then three weeks to climb them. They would have climbed forever had they not met the witch Hermione who showed them a secret path through a cave. However, it took them another three months to cross the swamp, an undertaking they only accomplished with the help of the dragon Norbert.

Finally they set up camp on the banks of the river Triple. Through haze and fog they could already see the other bank where the druid should live. But the water of the river was heavily agitated. They did not know how to cross it. They tried to swim but nearly drowned. They built a boat out of a tree trunk but it sunk. They hailed across the river to summon the holy man, but he did not hear them. After three long years, the water surface suddenly smoothed out, the sun broke through, and they discoverd a bridge made of gemstones, namely pyrites, rubies and diamonds.

Micholo and Burbur boldly crossed the bridge calling out for Berlin. It was not difficult to find his home, a well-built wooden house inmidst the island. The door was open. They entered and found themselves facing a friendly looking old man who, instead of greeting them, asked them for firewood. Ashamed, the retreated. They had travelled all this way because of their great wish and had not even thought of a hospitality gift. They set about cutting firewood and carved wonderful figures into it to please the druid. When they came in again, a huge table sumptuously set for a welcome dinner awaited them.

They set down as directed, and while they enjoyed unknown dishes, Berlin talked to them. "At home in your peaceful settlement, you quarrelled about who should be king. Your voyage has made you comrades. Your carvings on this wood shows that your thoughts and skills are alike. You shall both be a king." They were most amazed. They had not talked about their request yet but the old man knew all about it. "Do not wonder. I watched, observed and studied you for three years. I know you better than you do yourselves." Then he rose from his seat and said: "It is time for you to leave, because you will need all your time and effort to solve the task I put before your kingship." He ordered them to climb the moontain and pass through the cave again. Their task was awaiting them in the middle of the cave. "You will find two royal swords buried in the rock on either side of the cave. Your juvenile fire and your feeling for the right form will do the rest. Take these with you, and your royal kingship will not be denied by anybody."

When they arrived in the middle of the cave, they did not see swords but only metallic surfaces. They tried hard, but what they drew from the rock were not swords, but only shiny lumps. They remembered the druid's words about fire and form. They succeeded in melting the metal and casting two marvellous swords. With these, they returned home. They were jubilantly received and henceforth attended to their peoples as kings.

Note: Iron mining and smelting were invented roughly between 2900 ([TECH: WP]) and 2450 BP ([TECH: WP]) which matches the foundation of the Kingdoms of Micholerdia and Burburreica prior to 2570 BP (Timeline of Esto., History of Esto.). – The colours of the "bridge made of gemstones, namely pyrites, rubies and diamonds" obviously refer to Estontetso's yellow, red and white flag.

The Legend Of Artax, or
Steely Liliana[]

This is the legend of Artax, the brilliant ruler of the kingdom founded by Micholo and therefore known as "Micholo's Erde" in Gorami language or otherwise known as "Micholerdia". Artax was a wise ruler, a bold warrior, and an ingenious artisan. When he was young, he studied different crafts, but he was most interested in smithery. When he ascended to the throne, he wanted to forge his personal sword, as tradition required. He wanted it to be sharper and more enduring than those of his times. So he went to the best-known blacksmith of his realm called Wylant. There he forged a sword. It was not much different from the usual ones, and he was a bit disappointed. He left it on the charcoal fire when they went for lunch. When they returned, the sword was glowing red in the fire. Wylant quickly removed it with tongs and threw it into the nearby stream to cool. After a while, Artax resumed his work and hammered the bent sword back into shape. Then he left the workshop to try it out. There was a pile of firewood still to be cut in pieces. He put one on the chopping block, wielded his sword, and when it came hurtling down, it cut through the wood and through all of the block right into the ground. Such was the sharpness of its edge. Now Artax was full of joy about it, and therefore Wylant gave it the name "Joyous". The material it was made of was called "artaxo", in modern Estontetsan language "aço" (in Ingallish language known as steel). The army was then equipped with artax swords and easily conquered nearly all of Longerath.

Note: This legend related to the successful foundation and rapid expansion of the Liliani Empire from 2000 BP onwards seems to tell the truth as far as the development of ferrous metallurgy and its enabling or promoting influence on the historic development is concerned. — Smiths produced steel from circa 2500 BP as part of the production of swords, and the production of high-carbon steel is attested after circa 2190 BP; by the century 1800–1700 BP, steel was famous for its quality and sought-after by the Liliani military (WP). A certain Aristotle (2084–2022 BP) reports smouldering on charcoal to take up carbon, i.e. from 2100 BP at the latest, a certain Plutarch (1655–1575 BP) reports of tempering by chilling in water or oil, i.e. around 1700 BP at the latest (WP).

The Legend Of Artil, or
Lightning and Thunder - Death and Destruction[]

Once upon a time, when the mighty and magnificent Empire was threatened from the powerful and large South, a man lived very secluded in a lonely hut in the forest near Hörde. People told each other of much firelight and smoke and also of occasional thunder like explosions. One day the hut burnt down and the man disappeared. Some time later he turned up at Duceta Castle and demanded to be let in to the emperor; he had an earth-shattering invention to report. With doubtful looks, the guards eyed the man who called himself Artil and the things he had with him: a sack of coal-black powder, an iron pipe the diameter of a thigh and a box full of pebbles. He claimed that by means of the powder he could throw the stones from the pipe farther than a man could with a slingshot.

The guards called their officer, who called the field marshal, who finally decided that Artil should demonstrate his device to the Emperor in the field below the castle tomorrow morning after mass.

0195BP 1505 commons-Hand cannon for a knight called a petronel — Hand cannon (petronel) 195 BP

The demonstration succeeded. With thunder and lightning, the stone flew some 200 paces and even knocked over a bale of straw. The Emperor immediately ordered Artil to develop his invention into a weapon of war. This laid the foundation for the Empire's military superiority over the South. He could finally dare to wage war against the South. The invention was henceforth called "artillery" after its inventor.

Note: This would have happened before the outbreak of the Longerathian Wars, i.e. before 427 BP. The lesson of this legend is intriguing historians because gunpowder and firearms are believed up to today to have only been found and invented in, or imported across the Cislendian Ocean to, Longerath 50 years after the beginning of the wars (earliest cannon reported in 374 BP, earliest military use in 369 BP), while such finds or inventions occurred in Melania 50 years earlier, from where we have news about military use of powder in 468 BP already, and about firearms in 412 BP. If the legend were true, the idea would have to have been imported earlier, leaving it unclear why there are no relevant reports.

Timeline ([TECH: WP]):

~~468 BP Siege of Kaifeng: gunpowder in use~~
427 BP - 392 BP Natestian War
~~412 BP oldest surviving handgun in Melania~~
381 BP - 359 BP Catherinian War
374 BP earliest firearm, a primitive cannon
369 BP Siege of Cividale: first military use
355 BP - 351 BP Morangese Rebellion
354 BP Battle of Crécy (in the Hundred Years' War): not yet decisive
~~346 BP Sea battle: Cruisanans use gunpowder, but cannons are not documented~~
326 BP Siege of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte: cannons essential, city walls conquered with cannons for the first time
302 BP Field cannons
301 BP - 287 BP Edmundian War
265 BP Battle of Gerberoy (final phase of the Hundred Years' War): field artillery decisive
247 BP Conquest of Constantinople: siege artillery decisive
225 BP Hand cannons (petronel)
195 BP Hand cannon
50 BP Rifles