Challenge 2, #2 [GLOGtober]
We interrupt our regularly scheduled posting for this breaking post prompted by this GLOGtober prompt: "A short history of a mad king and the things he did."
Annals of Essu-bu-Uridimmu
Year 5. Against the Utukku (Demons) of the Haunted Desert (Eden-lil)
(southwest of Essu-Ali-Iru)
In the 5th year of my reign, I, Essu-bu-Uridimmu, at the word of Essumumah, my master, I stormed against the utukku who flooded against my kingdom. In my fury I raged against those formless sands. Their forces were exceedingly numerous, like a sandstorm in power, like a whirlwind in breadth. With my shattering bow I reduced them to dust and burst their insides. I laid waste to the wastelands and cut swathes of the desert. Thousands upon thousands of their numbers I destroyed in my fury. I scorched the desert more than Asmesh and burned their corpses into glass for my weapons. A shimmering path I left in my wake. I turned the desert into a floor of glass. I saved many peoples alive and settled them in my city.
I built a second wall around Essu-Ali-Iru and the strangers from the Eden-lil. A wall of glass I erected. I adorned it and made it greater than the first wall. Against the howling winds and stinging sands I built it; in the face of the enemy it stood strong. They could not breach it for its foundation was sure. The first wall of stone I repaired which my fathers had let crumble under the howling winds and stinging sands. Both walls I strengthened.
Between the walls I transformed the wasteland. From the northern springs I channeled water into them. I planted orchards of fruit trees and dedicated it to my master, my lord, king of life Essumumah. Millet and maize from the whole land I heaped up within my storehouses. A place of safety and justice did I establish for the needy and the stranger.
Year 8. The 2nd Campaign Against the Utukku of the Eden-lil
(west of Essu-Ali-Iru)
In the 8th year of my reign, I, Essu-bu-Uridimmu, had revealed to me in a dream and through the liver the location of the desert sorcerers, those who from of old evaded my fathers and were unsubmissive to their rule. In the midst of the sand dunes I rode on camelback. Where it became to steep I flowed over the sand dunes like the desert viper. Among the oases I refreshed myself.
Their camp Karasimmu I flowed upon like a flash flood. I surrounded their camp. In their fear of my master and his weapons he bestowed to me they cowered in my presence. In mercy and kindness I spoke with them. In overflowing gratitude they agreed to submit to my reign and serve me. I relocated them to Essu-Ali-Iru where they served my designs and obeyed my commands. There they created for me my greatest constructions which I unleashed against the demons of the west.
A new army I constructed. An army of glass I raised by my power and my brilliance. According to my designs did they go forth against the haunts of the formless ones. They tore into them like a lion tears a calf. They burst them as an arrow loosed from my shattering bow. I left the desert behind me a sea of sparkling beads under Asmesh's radiance. To the edges of the wilderness I drove them back. To the reaches of the western plains I extended my hands.
The cracks of the second wall I repaired. I rebuilt its foundations and fortified its walls. I thickened its face with greater panes of glass.
New canals from the oases I constructed. A greater flow of water, surpassing the abilities of my fathers, did I bring into Essu-Ali-Iru. I expanded my orchards and fields and surpassed my previous stores. I planted more wanderers and strangers, more of the weak and poor, into my city under the protection of my right hand.
Year 10. Third Campaign Against the Utukku of the Eden-lil
(southwest of Essu-Ali-Iru)
In my 10th year of my reign, I, Essu-bu-Uridimmu, under the guidance of Essumumah, my master, constructed his greatest weapon. Twice did he relate it in a dream, thrice did he confirm it by the liver, and the lights of the heavens agreed. At my direction and with my orders did the sorcerers and glassblowers build it. The great splintering weapon of Essumumah I adorned my body with against the swirling utukku of the Eden-lil.
Under my mighty blows did they collapse. Under my trampling feet, like a bull enraged, were they crushed and ground to powder. My fist wrought their destruction. My great right hand flattened their swirling forms. The sandstorm broke before me. The Umu-utukku were unable to contend with me. My strength was too great, greater than my fathers, and with fury and power I leveled their rebellious forms. My very step turned the sand to glass below me, my anger boiling off of me like the radiance of Asmesh. I brought the chaotic into order, I vanquished the unsubmissive in my presence.
I returned to Essu-Ali-Iru and constructed a third wall, greater than the second. With my arms did I raise my greater wall. In leaps and bounds, like the desert gazelle, I scaled it and sat enthroned above it. Within its panes did I take my place as ruler of my realm.
Epilogue. A prayer to Essumumah and Asmesh.
In the hands of Essumumah, my master, my lord, king of life, do I trust. To Essumumah, my master, do I pray for victory over the sandstorm. In the hands of Asmesh, my radiance, queen of the gods, do I offer my work. To Asmesh, my radiance, do I pray for power over the whirling masses. They speedily gave ear to my prayers and came to my aid.