Irezagab
Irezagab (ee REZ ah gab) is a short, slight human with tan skin and long wild dark hair. The hair is braided somewhat haphazardly and many of the braids have beads or shells woven into them.
On his shoulder usually sits what looks like a small, green bird. He talks to it constantly, calling it Skrou, and it seems to talk back. However, as you look more closely you'll see that it has not feathers but leaves, and the beak and claws are clearly made of wood.
Hush, little one, and I will tell you the story of The People, and how they came to Toraland.
Many, many moons ago, even before my own grandfather's grandfather was a young boy, The People lived in the cold south, where the seas froze over in the winter and the sun hid its face for almost a month every year. Life was hard, but The People had their songs of Fat Bear, Father Moose, Slippery Sealkin, and the rest of the Great Beasts that we see in the sky every night. They lived day to day, month to month, and year to year; and they were happy. They were happy, that is, until the Giants moved in.
The giants were terrible. Taller than two men standing on atop the other, impervious to the cold, they were angry and evil, killing our warriors with their great ice axes. Our two great leaders, Toralgalba the Wise and his brother Abrenavix the Brave, argued over what to do. Finally, Abrenavix left on his own, planning to drive the giants away in a personal feat of arms. He slew dozens of the great monsters, but when he finally paused to quench his thirst, a boulder thrown by the largest of the giants, a brute called Ice-Fiend, knocked him flat. The others jumped upon Abrenavix while he was down and they tore the brave warrior apart.
That very night, Toralgalba made plans to leave the land of ice, and to bring every man, woman, and child of The People with him. He figured out how to lash multiple canoes together with skins treated with wax, and they made for a larger vessel he called an ashipanoe. In these larger vessels The People came north to the warmer climes, shed their heavy, fur garments, and started a new colony. However, they soon learned that this good place was already home to another peoples -- a fearsome tribe of lizard warriors, and those lizards called their land Dawnshore.
Toralgalba met with these lizard people -- so strange they were, covered with scales and many with a bright yellow fin or sail on the tops of their heads. He was a wise leader and learned their language quickly, even though he could not speak it properly with his human tongue. While these lizard folk were not cruel nor unreasonable, they were strong and fearsome, and they protected their land. They honored The People as guests, but made it clear that we were not welcome to stay. Toralgalba had The People break down the ashipanoes, as the long journey had left supplies low and the remainder would fit in the canoes from which they were formed. He traded with the Dawnshore tribe for what supplies they could spare and The People headed upriver to find a new land they could call their own.
After several days' journey upstream, the river widened, becoming nearly a swamp with numerous islands and muddy eddies. The farsighted among The People spotted another tribe of lizardfolk, these even more fearsome looking. They were tall and broad and had a horny row of scales on the tops of their heads. At first the travelers thought it was a helmet, but Toralgalba, standing clear-eyed and unafraid, realized that it was actually part of their body, a natural covering. The lizards were ready to attack at once, but they were so surprised when the humans' leader was able to speak the lizard tongue that they held off their assault. Toralgalba was able to convince them to allow The People to pass through their land, and he showed them respect and honor. These lizardmen called themselves the Broadskull tribe. The origin of their name was clear, as was the fact that they also did not crave neighbors. The People continued on in their journey for a new home.
After traveling upriver for more than a moon, the Great River again opened into a great Lake, that Toralgalba named Abrena after his beloved brother. The lake provided fish in abundance, and the forests provided herbs, nuts, and all manner of game. The plants themselves, like my little Skrou, here, taught the people to live in harmony with the land, both farming and accepting what it would give freely. Yes, my little peanut, like the syrup that we make from sap of the maple trees, which you love so much. Toralgalba wanted to call the land, Abrenaland, again to honor his brother, but everyone called it Toraland.
Now close your eyes, little one. Tomorrow is a new day, but it will not come if you do not sleep it into view.