Koblandy is the protagonist of “Qobylandy Batyr'', the national epic of Kazakh people. In the 19th century, the epic was recorded from the words of storytellers and aqyns. There are 29 versions of this epic in poetic form. Of these 26 are about Koblandys feats, while the other three are dedicated to his sons.
At the foot of mountain Karaspan, from a tribe of Kipchaks, lived an old man Toktarbai. There were no limits to his wealth, and yet he was a generous and unselfish man. Only one grief he held in his life. At the age of 70, he still did not have children of his own. His wife grieved with him, and together they prayed for a child. Then, his 50 year old wife suddenly became pregnant. Shedding tears of happiness at the birth of twins, brother and sister, Toktarbai named them Koblandy and Karlygash.
Young Koblandy grew fast in mind and body. At 10 he was sent to train with his uncle Estemis. All summer they trained and hunted together. Later, Koblandy participated in a tournament for the hand of a princess, Kortka. By winning the bow competition and slaying a rival giant, he won the princess' hand and love.
At 18, Koblandy marched to war. Khan Kazan, a cruel warlord who aimed to conquer the world, and his 40 thousand strong army were defeated by Koblandy alone. His ally Karaman, who was sad over missing the entire fight, suggested raiding Kazan’s neighbor, Khan Kobykty. This venture proved to be a failure when Koblandy was ambushed in his sleep and imprisoned. Kobykty immediately sent envoys to Khan Alshagyr, allying himself with him to conquer the homeland of Koblandy.
Sitting in his prison and lamenting his own greediness, Koblandy was visited by Karlyga, daughter of Khan Kobykty. She offered them an escape from prison, to which Karaman quickly agreed. However, Koblandy refused to trust the words of an enemy to run away like a coward. He wouldn’t move from his spot no matter how much they tried. Using her cunningness, Karlyga started to torture Taiburyl, forcing Kobldany out of prison.
While they were running away, Kobykty realized what had happened. Shedding tears at his own daughter's betrayal, he immediately started pursuit. Koblandy decided to face him alone, Karlyga told him about a weak spot in her fathers invincible armor. When Kobykty finally confronted them, Koblandy fired from a bow, aiming at a small spot at Kobykty’s armored neck. Finally hitting it from a third try, Kobykty dropped from his horse. With his final words he cursed his daughter and promised that his son will avenge his death.
After their victory, they headed home with all the loot. Suddenly Koblandy’s horse started limping and then falling. Karaman, now with his army, either didn’t hear or ignored him, left Koblandy behind.
Cursing himself for not listening to his wife's warnings, and cursing Karaman for his greediness, he went to sleep. Dreams showed his homelands fate, everything sacked and everyone enslaved by invaders. Upon waking up he was met by Karlyga, who escaped the grasp of Karaman. She healed Taiburyl, and for that, Koblandy shed tears of thankfulness. He called her a true friend, and asked her to go back to Karaman and ask for his assistance against invaders.
Together they reached the city where his tribe was imprisoned. Koblandy dueled Khan Alshagyr, while Karaman and Karlyga battled his champions. Karaman playfully fought with Narkyzyl, and Karlyga crossed spears with giant Kara. After the battle was over and victors were decided, Byrshymbai, son of Kobykty, arrived to take his revenge. Like a lightning he struck all three of them with his spear, dehorsing and wounding them all. Karlyga, fearing that none of them could hope to defeat him even combined, took off her helmet. Byshymbai recognized his own sister, he rushed to help and ask for forgiveness for hurting her. Karlyga took this chance and sliced his throat.
With the war's end, Karlyga proposed to Koblandy. Disgusted by her actions, he ignored her and instead married Kortka, whom he was engaged to.
Several years have passed since then. New life emerged from their marriage. Their first son, Byrshymbai, followed in his fathers steps. Training with old warrior Estemis at the age of seven, and leading his own company at fourteen. But times of peace came to an end when Koblandys old enemies came for revenge. Taking him by surprise with their sudden invasion. Half-naked he fought with them, but soon was overwhelmed. Khan Shoshai didn’t want to take his life so dishonorably, he gave him three days to gather his allies and meet him in a duel. Agreeing to these terms, he rode the distance of an arrow and gave a long battle cry. Every one of his friends, no matter how far, heard his scream and soon arrived to assist him.
Meeting Shoshai and his army, Koblandy prepared to battle him. What he didn’t know is that Karlyga also heard his scream. After years of loneliness, she saw a chance for herself. Following the direction of his cry, she found Koblandy fighting Shoshai. Like a lightning she closed distance with him and pierced his side with a spear. Fatally wounded, Koblandy fell from Taiburyl and was saved only thanks to his son and Estemis.
Barely alive, he instructed his son Byrshymbai to defeat Shoshai in his stead. After Byrshymbai managed to defeat Khan Shoshai in a duel and repel his army, his father still could not fully recover from his wound. To put Koblandy on his legs, Kortka told her son to bring Karlyga to him unharmed.
Finding the yurt Karlyga isolated herself in, Byrshymbai told her what to his father. Not waiting for her answer, he rode back to his home. Karlyga soon followed.
Life glistened in Koblandys eyes at the mention of Karlyga. Kortka led her to the house where Koblandy still lays. At the sight of Koblandy, corners of her eyes started to glisten with blue. Koblandy only smiled at her tears, and offered Karlyga to join their lives.
Great feast followed their wedding. After the celebrations were over, Karaman, Koblandy and Karlyga gathered in a big yurt. Karaman told them, as the tradition goes, they must tell each other their true feelings. Karlyga started first. She fell in love with him for his noble heart, she sacrificed everything she had, she saved his life several times and yet he betrayed her trust and married another. Koblandy listened to her, and when his time to speak came, he told her:
”You told good, Karlyga, and yet, you did not mention your own mistakes. Your father, Kobykty, laid down a strong country. With honorable warriors and impenetrable cities. He was father to his people, and they idolized and loved him. Who was the Kipchak Koblandy to you, that you killed your own father for him? Where did you hear that an enemy turned out to be closer to someone than their own father?
I won’t deny it, you were my equal. And I always knew it. But who would trust a girl who killed her father? How could I rely on your loyalty after you treated your father and brother so harshly, ruthlessly?
I was attracted to you, but disturbed by your cruelty. It was like fetters on my feet, and I could not reach you in any way. And if we finally found each other, then let our life henceforth be sanctified by the most noble human qualities. You poured out your soul, I found something to answer. I can no longer reproach you, dear Karlyga!”.
Karlyga, sobbing, fell at the feet of Koblandy. He silently embraced her, and kissed her on tear-stained eyes.
At the foot of the mountain Karaspan, near the lake Kozdikol, two yurts of two Koblandys wifes were placed side by side. The friendly life of the inhabitants of the yurts, they say, has become an example for the steppes of many generations. Karlyga gave birth to his son Kiikbay. Thanks to two sons, Bokenbai and Kiikbai, Koblandy ensured a peaceful life for his people and remained forever in folk legends.
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Originally Posted by NailsInYourFeet
