Nativity, Part VI

One final shot of the scene, with all the elements of the birth and destiny of our Savior Jush together:

Nativity, Part V

In later days these tales would become confused, lost behind the many deeds of Jush Two-Axe: the accounts of his great wisdom and subtle guile, of his skill with blade and spell. Jush it was who would speak against the injustices of the Emperor Agistin; Jush who would lead the Orcs and their allies into the lands beyond the Empire, there to form their own kingdom; Jush who would drive back the Imperial armies again and again. When the great beast came like a plague with his barrel and his broom, sweeping away the naughty children each year, is was Jush who laid a trap and stood to face him in that last, fateful battle.


So we remember King Jush: warrior and priest, wizard and rogue. So we remind ourselves that even one of humble origins may be favored of the gods, and rise to do great things. Remember, and celebrate his birth with us.

Nativity, Part IV

After Jush was born in Bethlem in Jutia, during the time of Emperor Agistin, Necromancers from the east came to the High City of Jerush and asked, "Where is the Chosen One? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

When the Emperor heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerush with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Savior was to be born. "In Bethlem in Jutia," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written."

Then Agistin called the Necromancers secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, potions and scrolls. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Agistin, they returned to their country by another route.

Nativity, Part III

And there were rangers living out in the woods nearby, keeping watch over the land and its animals at night. A Celestial Lord appeared to them, and the glory of Pelor shone around them, and they were mightily startled. But the Celestial said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of Grawl a Savior has been born to you; he is the Savior, the Chosen One. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

When the Celestial had left them and gone into the heavens, the rangers said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlem and see this thing that has happened, which Pelor has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mara and J'suf, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the rangers said to them. But Mara treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart, for she was a wizard and prone to overthinking things anyway. The rangers returned, glorifying and praising Pelor for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Nativity, Part II

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and Mara gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Nativity, Part I

This is how the birth of Jush the Savior came about: His mother Mara was pledged to be married to J'suf, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant. J'suf was a half-Orc and a barbarian, but despite his great temper he loved the wizard Mara and did not want to expose her to public disgrace. Instead, he had it in mind to free her from her promise to him.

But after he had considered this, a Celestial appeared to him in a dream and said, “J'suf son of Grawl, do not be afraid to take Mara home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from Olidammara, a divine prank upon you both for reasons even the gods cannot decipher. She will give birth to a son, and Pelor bids you to give him the name Jush, because he will save his people from their sins.”

In those days Emperor Agistin issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Telmirist world. And everyone went to their own town to register.

So J'suf also went up from the town of Nazreth in Gaiali to Bathlem the town of Grawl, because he belonged to the tribe and line of Grawl. He went there to register with Mara.