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Literature Text
Once upon a time, there were three Kaeru women from the land of Rani. One day while they were traveling to the market, they came upon the broken-down wagon of a Venal merchant. The three women of Rani assisted the poor merchant to get to the market. When they arrived to market, the merchant expressed his gratitude by allowing the women to take one item of their choice from his wagon.
The oldest Kaeru woman, a mother to many children, chose a sack of rice so that she could buy more food for her family. The middle Kaeru woman, a wife new to marriage yet with no children, chose a roll of fine cloth to make clothes for her husband. The youngest Kaeru woman, not yet engaged, looked among the Venal’s wares and found an old sword. The two older women laughed at her choice since she was still young and thought nothing of her choice.
Once their shopping was completed, the three Kaeru women began their walk home. Things were fine until they found a wounded bandit who was on the side of the road. The oldest Kaeru woman paid the bandit no mind as he was a bandit and said all criminals should suffer. The middle Kaeru woman gave a small bow of her head as a greeting yet also continued to walk on. The youngest Kaeru woman felt pity for the bandit and decided to help him despite being a criminal.
“Why do you help a thief?” the oldest Kaeru asked. “You set him up to do more crime.”
“Because it is decent to do good deeds, even towards lawbreakers,” the youngest replied.
“He will rob and kill again!” the middle Kaeru said. “Decency is wasted upon filth.”
“Then he should be cleansed,” the youngest replied.
As the two older women proceeded without her, the youngest Kaeru woman tended to the wounds of the bandit as best she could. When he was well enough, he thanked the woman as he retreated into the forest. The young woman then hurried to catch up with the other two women so they would return to their village together.
A few days later, the bandit arrived in the village and found the young woman’s house. He snuck in and began to look through her possession for something to steal. With the sword in hand, the young Kaeru woman slashed at the bandit and killed him on the spot. The commotion was heard and the two older women she traveled with saw the death she committed. Upon looking in his bag was found a sack of rice and the cloth that the Kaeru women had.
“Please help me give this man a proper funeral.”
“Why should we help a thief?” the oldest Kaeru asked. “You ask us to honor a man who almost stole from you and had stolen from us?”
“Because it is decent to respect the dead, even to those who were bad,” the youngest replied.
“I told you that decency is wasted on filth! Your kindness almost ended your life!” the middle Kaeru said.
“Then I would have died knowing my kindness had effect in this world,” the youngest replied.
The young woman sheathed her sword and proceeded to drag the body through the streets and took him to the temple to have his body prepared for the funeral. After the pyre was set, the young woman prayed for the bandit and walked home.
The tales of her kindness had reached the ears of the young Lord of Rani. As quickly as he could, he rode out to meet this young woman. Arriving at her doorstep, he presented himself in fine clothing and offered to her a water lily. He then asked for her to marry him. With the prospect of living in luxury as a noble, she accepted graciously and handed the young lord the sword as her sign of acceptance.
She only requested that the young lord know that the sword was stained with the blood of a man who could not break her resolve and that it carries with it the spirit of gratitude. The young lord carved onto the sword the word “mercy” as a symbol of his understanding and stated that the sword would never be used to kill in any event but self-defense. The Lady of Rani had become known far and wide for her steadfast kindness, loved by all who knew her, and lived happily ever after. As for the sword, it is what we know now as the Merciful Sword and has remained a symbol of Rani.
The oldest Kaeru woman, a mother to many children, chose a sack of rice so that she could buy more food for her family. The middle Kaeru woman, a wife new to marriage yet with no children, chose a roll of fine cloth to make clothes for her husband. The youngest Kaeru woman, not yet engaged, looked among the Venal’s wares and found an old sword. The two older women laughed at her choice since she was still young and thought nothing of her choice.
Once their shopping was completed, the three Kaeru women began their walk home. Things were fine until they found a wounded bandit who was on the side of the road. The oldest Kaeru woman paid the bandit no mind as he was a bandit and said all criminals should suffer. The middle Kaeru woman gave a small bow of her head as a greeting yet also continued to walk on. The youngest Kaeru woman felt pity for the bandit and decided to help him despite being a criminal.
“Why do you help a thief?” the oldest Kaeru asked. “You set him up to do more crime.”
“Because it is decent to do good deeds, even towards lawbreakers,” the youngest replied.
“He will rob and kill again!” the middle Kaeru said. “Decency is wasted upon filth.”
“Then he should be cleansed,” the youngest replied.
As the two older women proceeded without her, the youngest Kaeru woman tended to the wounds of the bandit as best she could. When he was well enough, he thanked the woman as he retreated into the forest. The young woman then hurried to catch up with the other two women so they would return to their village together.
A few days later, the bandit arrived in the village and found the young woman’s house. He snuck in and began to look through her possession for something to steal. With the sword in hand, the young Kaeru woman slashed at the bandit and killed him on the spot. The commotion was heard and the two older women she traveled with saw the death she committed. Upon looking in his bag was found a sack of rice and the cloth that the Kaeru women had.
“Please help me give this man a proper funeral.”
“Why should we help a thief?” the oldest Kaeru asked. “You ask us to honor a man who almost stole from you and had stolen from us?”
“Because it is decent to respect the dead, even to those who were bad,” the youngest replied.
“I told you that decency is wasted on filth! Your kindness almost ended your life!” the middle Kaeru said.
“Then I would have died knowing my kindness had effect in this world,” the youngest replied.
The young woman sheathed her sword and proceeded to drag the body through the streets and took him to the temple to have his body prepared for the funeral. After the pyre was set, the young woman prayed for the bandit and walked home.
The tales of her kindness had reached the ears of the young Lord of Rani. As quickly as he could, he rode out to meet this young woman. Arriving at her doorstep, he presented himself in fine clothing and offered to her a water lily. He then asked for her to marry him. With the prospect of living in luxury as a noble, she accepted graciously and handed the young lord the sword as her sign of acceptance.
She only requested that the young lord know that the sword was stained with the blood of a man who could not break her resolve and that it carries with it the spirit of gratitude. The young lord carved onto the sword the word “mercy” as a symbol of his understanding and stated that the sword would never be used to kill in any event but self-defense. The Lady of Rani had become known far and wide for her steadfast kindness, loved by all who knew her, and lived happily ever after. As for the sword, it is what we know now as the Merciful Sword and has remained a symbol of Rani.
"The Kind Lady of Rani" is, among many other stories, one of the most popular children's tales written by a man simply known as the Bard of Dresdon. While it is a matter of scholarly debate who exactly the Bard of Dresdon was, one popular theory being that it was the eccentric Jeremiah Flavish, 6th Duke of Dresdon (1478-1535 AE), the Bard has been both praised and criticized for his work. Among his accolades were showing other races in a rather positive light (the Kaeru and Venal were typically vilified in Terran nations both prior and during the era known as the Cultural Rebirth [c. 1200-1600 AE]) and teaching morals in a manner that didn't draw considerable ire of the Church of Gaia (an institution that felt morality stories had to include figures from the Dialects). However, the Bard had been criticized for exactly this reason by his contemporaries and his works have been seen as too optimistic or naive. Many conservative Kaeru historians, especially those in Rani, feel that the Bard simplified the story of the Merciful Sword as a simple side-note but others argue that the focus is more on the mythical woman behind the Merciful Sword rather than the sword itself and certain artistic licenses were taken.
*just something quick that I wrote*
*just something quick that I wrote*
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