Tongue Keeper
"Narl-GlenInMoor has journeyed to the Bridge In The Clouds," a young Numis reported as she sat cross-legged at the ring of firestones. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she looked down into the cool ash remains of last night's fire. The elder Numis, already sitting at the ring of firestones outside a stone hut, drew in a slow, steadying breath. "Nekka-DarkPool, it is time to let his tongue rest in water." The young Numis smiled as tears escaped her eyes. "I shall tell Father to prepare his tongue." Her wet eyes turned to the open door of the hut, remembering the many jars resting upon the shelves that lined every wall. She wondered which would hold her grandfather's tongue. "I will bring the water before the lighting of his pyre." The elder stated, bringing the young Numis's eyes back to her. "Thank you, Tongue-Keeper," Nekka replied formally. She rose and bowed, her eyes returning to the cool remains of the sharing fire within the ring of firestones. Then, despite her lingering tears, she turned and hurried away, a jaunty spring in each step. "The young, so quick to leap over the moon," the elder laughed softly, then rose, her smile fading. Time to prepare a jar for her old friend.
Elders are very important in the Numis culture. Every family is guided by the wisest one of the oldest nestlings, a decision made by the family after the passing of the previous patriarch or matriarch, when a new one must be chosen. From these family-leading elders, a Council of Elders is formed to guide a Numis settlement. It is one of these elders who then becomes the Tongue-Keeper.
The Tongue-Keeper maintains the Wisehouse, a stone hut whose shelves line every wall and hold many jars. Jars with covers beside them are empty, while those that are covered contain the tongue of a deceased patriarch or matriarch. Family and citizens come to the Wisehouse to remember the wisdom of those who have passed. This is a sacred duty held by the Tongue-Keeper for the rest of their life.
Before the hut sits a ring of firestones. On occasion, a fire is lit, and those who wish to relearn the wisdom of the past sit around the ring of firestones and converse with
the Tongue-Keeper. This is called the Sharing Fire.
When a patriarch or matriarch dies, the Tongue-Keeper prepares a jar with brine water taken from a swamp or sea and mixed with a mysterious dill powder that preserves the tongue for decades.
Once a tongue has been placed in its jar and sits covered on a shelf, the Tongue-Keeper begins the arduous task of writing the wisdom the deceased elder was known for onto a clay tablet. These tablets, once hardened, are meant to be more durable and preserve the wisdom for far longer than paper.
When a Tongue-Keeper dies, all the remaining elders on the council come together to preserve the tongue and record the wisdom of the Tongue-Keeper onto a tablet before another elder can join the council. Once the new elder joins the council, a new Tongue-Keeper can then be chosen.
Language of Wisdom
Amongst the Numis, their pride is not in their native language, but in their ability to share wisdom no matter which language they use to express it. Tongue-Wise is their means of doing this, and it has added a unique timbre to their speech patterns. Tongue Rest In WaterThis is one such phrase: a proverb. It means someone whose wisdom has been shared about like flowing water, has died, yet their wisdom continues to flow through others. It is time to let this wise person rest. In Numis tradition, it means to honor them by literally placing the deceased's tongue in a jar of brine water. Over The Moon
This means happiness, or pure happiness. To more somber folks, it can refer to being very happy or giddy. NOTE
Bridge in the Clouds is not a saying or proverb but the path taken to Godsheim by the souls of the dead, a belief shared by nearly every religion on Pangorio.
Numis
by Dazzlinkat
What a beautiful tradition. I love the phrase "Let [their] tongue lie in water."
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025
So glad you like it
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