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Hello, listeners, be advised that this show is an immersive audio experience.

It may seem like sounds are coming from the sides or behind you.

Listener discretion is advised, as this content is intended for adult audiences only. Kukud presents Birds of Empire

Season 2, created by Jason Liu.

Tremor, God of fools.

A stranger, granted audience to the sacred birthing ritual of the bears, might inquire about the customs that welcome a new life into their fold. Why is a healer taking the child to a carefully dug hole in the earth filled with river water?

They might ask.

Why is that child being laid down gently into that pool until the wetness calms their crying into soft, sweet murmuring.

And what, they might ask, is the mark being made upon their forehead

with some concoction of soil and birthblood and holy sage?

Whoever had invited the stranger to witness the miracle of new life as the people of the water celebrated might take a moment to tell them the tale of Tremor, and they might tell it like this.

Tremor was an early god who spent much time wandering about his place. It was a time when gods were still finding their purpose and possessions.

Newly birthed, they fought about who would wield dominion

over powerful forces like death and love and water and sunlight. Whole battles were fought among divine siblings,

battles that made up much of the tales which animate the understanding and ways of the bears.

Yalu's dialogue with Harmon during the Battle of the Twin Reigns can be sighted from memory by

devout followers of the river god. Lorna, the god of hate and sorrow, is said to have come to

her throne by a betrayal. Heavy was the heir at this time. Tremor was a minor god who did not feel like one at all.

He did not long to be great or divine and instead accepted his place as the keeper of trickery and fools.

No other celestial beings cared for dominion over such fickle territory, but Tremma was glad to be anything and anywhere.

...