Speech: Zeysani the Great

From FiranMUX

Summary

This speech was given by Her Honor Taria Oshta on October 1, 33 AU.

It is famous because it makes a particularly poignant example of the impact that Zeysani had on the Republic as a whole. Her death was mourned by the entire Republic and her funeral was attended far and wide, Taria's speech shows a snapshot of why this was the case.

Speech Text

When they told me Zeysani died, it was as if the world stopped moving. Without her, everything seems off-kilter. I have lost sense of direction; sense of time. So too has the Republic seemed to lose its way without her.

I feel certain tonight, we will have a new north star.

I feel certain of it, because there was never a soul more constant, nor one that gave off such steady light of guidance as the woman we come to burn this night. We need this funeral, because we need to see her spirit in the night sky.

I don't remember when I met Zeysani. As I said, she was a constant. It seems I always knew her.

Growing up, I thought she was a snooty, uptight, spoiled brat. And of course, all the men wanted her. She had these violet eyes that bewitched boys from the start, and all three princes fought over her. The competition was so fierce, in fact, that Zeysani's brother, Nydiam, often had to fight for her honor. I remember one time in particular when he knocked out Prince Vahlgellan right on the street.

I thought, 'Oh, that Firan girl. She's eating that drama right up. She's going to be a prince's plaything and nothing more her whole life.' That's what I thought. And I certainly wasn't interested in getting to know her. After all, I was quite certain that someone like her wouldn't know anything about my people.

But when I turned sixteen, I married Clan Leader Jalil, and all the important people in the Republic where there. Zeysani came with her betrothed, Prince Solgarik-she'd finally settled upon one. She and Solgarik, Jalil and I, we danced the night away while the crowd watched and though Zeysani gave me a lovely wedding gift-something utterly proper and forgettable, she whispered to me that she was going to teach me something that might be of use.

And that's when I got to know the real Zeysani. She took me into the library and tried to teach me the dance of scarves! I couldn't believe that a girl like her would even know such a dance, but it was not the only surprise she had in store for me. She also spoke Ticanee a language she would become proficient in, over time, so that she and I could converse together.

I was mesmerized.

Now, mind you, I never did learn that dance. I didn't have her grace. But it moved me that she thought of it, and it impressed upon me that there is always more to a person than the mask they present to the outside world. That is the way it was with Zeysani. And as we grew from girls into women then into clan leaders, she was both my friend and an inspiration. I learned much from her, and we suffered much together.

She had a sense of dignity about her that no one has ever matched, but she was pragmatic too. I liked to scandalize her, to shock her, but I know she loved me for it. I tried to find her a husband once. My son, Judanus, though just a boy, proposed to her on the spot but told her she would have to cook for him in true Ticanee fashion. Zeysani wisely passed on him for another man.

Zeysani was a woman of many masks, but an ally so true that you could trust her absolutely. She was an enemy so strong that you feared to make one of her. Yet, I will risk her wrath now in saying that I'm mad at her for dying.

But in this way, perhaps she knew best, as she always did. Zeysani will never grow old, never grow weak, never lose the lustre of her reputation, never have to see any dream she had crumble. Her violet eyes will always be remembered for their intensity, her children will always remember a strong mother, her people a strong leader. She died at the pinnacle of her greatness, her dignity in tact. She leaves behind a legacy so rich that I bring my infant daughter to witness it, so that she can one day say, "I was there, when Zeysani the Great was sent to the night sky."

And all of you, remember this day, that you were here to see someone of mythic stature leave this world. We pine for the seven heroes, but we had one here of our own. We are all still mesmerized. Well-played, Zeysani. . . farewell my beloved friend. . . Zeysani The Great.

Other Resources

This speech has been archived with other Famous Speeches of Firan history.