Makna K’ndrum: The Grand Confliction:
Throughout all of our history we have been taught of, what the devout of faith refer to as, “Makna K’ndrum”, The Grand Confliction. It lies at the foundation of most religious doctrine, outlining the fundamental and eternal struggle between good and evil. The religious teach it as the struggle of Nylu and Rohis, an actual battle of the opposing Gods in the heavens. Historians teach it as an abstraction of the war that separated our predecessors, The Marerittites, from us earthly beings of Er’ylia. They believe the depiction of Nylu and Rohis symbolize the opposing sides in The Great Schism (Maknus Skima). Philosophers teach it as the great inner struggle between right and wrong in the spirit of being. The personal struggle of light and dark. A battle fought in both waking and in dreaming.
All teachings of the Makna K’ndrum revolve around the same concept, and artistically are all depicted the same. The Dream Goddess, Nylu, stands stoically above the head of The Great Wolf. The mouth of Rohis is wide open, prepared to devour the light of hope that stands above him. With spear in hand and banner flowing Nylu, in her scarred glory, smites The Dream Eater. Hope overcomes Despair. Mercy conquers Hate. Beauty destroys the abomination.
This image is plastered across the vast majority of churches strewn across the civilized lands. It is represented in many historical textbooks, and is ingrained in the mind of every child whose parent had the sense to teach them the cornerstone of morality. It is not often you would find a being capable of comprehension who does not know of the Makna K’ndrum.
My mother always described the Makna K’ndrum as a mix of all of the different teachings. She firmly believed in the depiction of Nylu and Rohis in their great struggle not only as a factual event of the spiritual, but as a mental and historical event. She knew that the separation of the Marerittites and the Er’ylian’s was a physical war we know as the Maknus Skima, but that such a battle also manifested in the heavens. Rohis taking the side of the Marerittites in his kingdom, and Nylu taking the side of us beings, the Er’ylians. That is a story for itself.
Of all the teachings, spiritual, historical, and everything in between my mother was a large proponent of the mental K’ndra. An ever firm believer in the mental space we make for Nylu and Rohis in the battle of the self. “Ei K’ndra”. Self conflict. As beings of mind, body, and spirit we are in constant ei k’ndra as we struggle with desire, compassion, love, anger, and all other emotions that fall on the spectrum. We, daily, fight ourselves in the face of decision. To act kindly or in self-interest. To react with open hands or closed fists. To use our tongues as bladed weapons or as water to nurture the soul.
There are days where the Makna K’ndrum reverses itself to show The Great Wolf prevailing. My own ei k’ndra is leaning inward toward the song of The Ebony Desert. I lost everything in that slumber, and I regret ever awakening from such a sickness. I can feel the icy touch of despair curling its fingers around me and I can see the chittering of choir’s teeth. I cannot hold my eyes open much longer despite the sleep I’ve been subjected to already.
I cannot pull my ears from the sound of a discordant tune.
-K'ossel