Un site dédié aux jeux de stratégie et de rôle, pour des joueurs, par des joueurs.
Essay 7 - The legend of Caji Gends
COPYRIGHT 1986, SKYREALMS PUBLISHING
This essay is a collection on design notes intended for inquiring garners.
This material Is not in its final form, and may appear significantly altered
if and when eventually published. We provide these essays to give interested
parties an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at SkyRealms
publishing and to get a look ahead upon our coming releases.
BY: ANDREW LEKER
FOR: MARK Wallace
ABSTRACT: The legend of Caji Gends.
THE HISTORY OF CAJI GENDS
Through Caji's labors came a new stage in the evolution of life. He was the
root of all other progressions, even those of thriddle.
Salrough Gomo 3417
Introduction to the life of Caji by Salrough Gomo, Thriddle Seer of the North
West Woodlands.
NOTE THAT SECTIONS OF THIS HISTORICAL OUTLINE (TEXT) ARE TAKEN FROM THE
REMEMBRANCES OF CAJI GENDS FROM HIS THRIDDLE FRIEND, BENNID HO-GOMO
The life of Caji Gends was unusual from its beginning. Abandoned at birth, he
was taken in by the people of Gauss. Although unusually bright, he made few
friends. Without a proper family, he was slow to learn the social graces
which were so quickly establishing themselves. His body was different from
those around him. At seemingly random intervals during the day and night,
Caji's body would glow brightly, giving oft small bolts of static energy. To
the others of Gauss, he was seen as a freak Most shunned him; there were even
those who caused him suffering.
Day he spent tilling soil, night he spent reading. Although selections were
few, he was able to borrow the works of Iscin from Bennid Ho-Gomo, the only
thriddle in Gauss. Being able to read and write were skills he valued. Little
of his time was spent in the company of others.
In 2928, Caji was invited by one of his few friends to the death gathering of
an old human. More than 30 people attended the gathering, most of whom knew
the deceased, Herren Whyste. At the death gathering, Caji learned, stories
were told of the deceased by friends and relatives. None of the stories,
except one, prompted any special response from those assembled. The old
boccord, Darro Kirth, recounted a tale told to him by Herren Whyste many
years ago. While wandering south, Herren told him, he had come across a dark
opening between two columns of stone. "Moving a little closer, he was pulled
into the darkness, and flung into a cold dark room. There he found stones
which spoke stories which he could not understand, but which he could see and
hear." The crowd roared with laughter, they knew that Herren had a tendency
towards vivid dreams. Caji did not laugh. The existence of "talking stone,"
and a form of darkness which pulled upon you, fascinated him. A life of
tedious labor would be his no longer. The next day he would seek out the
columns of stone.
With the first light of the morning, Caji gathered his few possessions and
traveled south, Into the "Corondon Lands." Although few ventured into this
foreboding region, Caji shrugged off any possible danger. He had overcome
greater obstacles staying alive in Gauss.
He searched for days before he found the double columns spoken of at the
death gathering. Like Herren, he too was pulled into the darkness; also, like
Herren, he found himself in a dimly lit room. With glow moss he had brought
along, Caji illuminated his surroundings. After exploring adjoining rooms, he
realized the enormity of the complex.
Many of the walls were covered with complex shapes and symbols which he could
not understand. Often, there were holes in the walls, precisely carved,
neighbored by grooved slits in the stone. Near one such wall, Caji found a
small circular piece of stone. A protrusion in the stone fit perfectly into
the wall's narrow slit. Caji carefully placed the stone into the hole. To his
amazement, the various symbols and characters on the wall glowed brightly as
the sound of
voices entered the room. Soft, but dignified, the voices spoke rhythmically
In a language foreign to Caji's ears. The speaking stopped after a minute or
so; the Illuminated walls faded as well. Caji was fascinated by the ingenuity
of this speaking stone. He searched onward with further vigor.
Pressing further Into the depths of his present location, Caji found small
stones shaped like "durlings," durlig cakes shaped into a ring. The two
knobby ends of the stones arced towards each other. Soon after examining one
of the stones, Caji felt flush. He knew that the static lights would soon
come from his body, producing a firedance on the walls around him. Since he
was an infant, this had been part of his life. He spread himself comfortably
on the cold stone floor. Still with the object in his hand, he relaxed as
deeply as possible, something that always eased the pain, and allowed the
sparks to flow more evenly from his body. After a few moments of this, and
before his body started Its brilliant cycle, Caji felt a strangeness in his
head. Sounds and pictures were inside of him. Images of places and events he
had never known. Although he could not understand the languages spoken (they
were quite unlike anything he had ever heard), he somehow understood the
messages the stone spoke. He was learning bits and pieces of a place and
time.
Caji was enthralled by the abilities of such "rock." The connection between
his concentration and the images he saw was immediately clear. After a minute
of using the first of the "durling stones," Caji placed another one in his
hand. He tried to relax, to see what images this new stone would bring. At
just this time, Caji's body was beginning to enter Its "Time of light."
Instead of seeing Images, and hearing voices, Caji felt a surge of life rush
to his palms. All at once, a huge blast of heat flew from his hands into a
nearby wall. With that surge, Caji felt all of his vitality fade. It was as
if all of the firedance which he would normally give off in minutes had
emerged in just an instant
As excited as he was, Caji felt heavy and tired. His body ached and his hands
were swollen. Curling up on the hard floor, his exhausted body fell fast
asleep.
After many hours of what must have been a very deep sleep, Caji awoke to see
a tall slim figure standing a short distance away from him. Rising slowly, he
noticed for the first time that he was In a different room. Light was
provided by fist sized orbs which floated in each corner of the room. The
tall figure had a large round head, and apparently, no eyes. It stood
motionless, next to a thick stone cylinder.
Caji spoke a hesitant "Hello?" to the creature, who responded in a graceful
voice with subtle inflection, "You shau the beginnings of mashtre." The
sounds were smooth and barely distinct; still, Caji understood. "Who are
you?" Caji forced out.
"lyy am Sho Copra-Tra, Sholari of Tashka," the form slowly enunciated, "This
spech is new for meh."
Caji heard the words but knew not what to make of them. He thought perhaps
that this might be a "Shan-thah," creature of legend. "Are you a Shan-thah?"
Caji questioned.
"A Sholari of Tra," the figure answered.
During the next few hours, Caji and the sholari communicated questions and
answers. Over this period of time, the Shantha's ability to speak the human
language of "Entren" improved quickly. At the end of this time, Caji new much
of his host.
Sho Copra-Tra was indeed a Shantha. By a confusing measure of moon cycles,
Caji figured him to be almost two hundred years old. His host was a
"Sholari," which Caji learned was a sort of priest. This entire complex was
the home of the Shantha. Caji also learned that he had been carefully
observed since his arrival in the shantha's temple. Sho Copra-Tra informed
him that few had ever ventured into his home, and of those, Caji was the
first to show other than "animal Intelligence." After seeing how he mastered
the use of the "Sarceens," Sho Copra-Tra knew that this small "Hooman" was
capable of more than just "cashiln" (walking).
The exchange was not all one sided however; the sholari discovered that the
visitor was not, In fact, a H-ooman, but was a muadra. Caji told the round
headed creature of his life in Gauss, and his dislike of the prejudices
against him. To copra he explained the displays of light and sound which he
alone gave off. "Although others of my kind do as well, I alone bring
radiance to my surroundings."
Sho Copra-Tra did as best as possible to explain that the light and sound
that Caji gave off was part of "Sho-Caudal," part of life. With his words,
the Sholari produced a spherical orb the sized of a gimlit (a sweet fruit
sized like a melon). As it hung there motionless, Caji could see great swirls
of color marauding their way over the orb's surface. "You too, can learn such
mastery Caji." With this invitation, the young muadra from Gauss puzzled over
his situation.
Never during any of his contact with the shantha did Caji feel the least bit
threatened or intimidated. He sensed great sensitivity in his host, as well
as his great power. He felt great desire to learn from the shantha, to master
these abilities dormant In his body. Even as he stood pondering, Gauss seemed
further and further away In his mind. He saw this opportunity as his chance
to become more than just two strong hands at durlig harvest
As Caji finished those last thoughts, the shantha offered In a gentle tone,
"Come then, your possessions have already been gathered."
Over the next few years, Caji Gends slowly mastered the art of weaving energy
Into orbs of purpose. At first the goal was simple enough, "Weave the form
tightly enough so that it can proceed great distances without unraveling."
When this task was mastered, next came the "Quick release," which threw the
orbs away from Caji's hands as soon as they were woven. In time, he learned
to vary the form of the orbs he created. Although Caji never learned to
pronounce the shanthic names of the various types, he created names of his
own, starting with "Power Orb."
Although he learned to create orbs of great destruction, the emphasis on the
training was always upon mastery and discipline, not upon harm to others.
Each new form he learned was simply a challenge to his mind, intended to
teach him new methods of thought. Eventually, Caji was taught the practice of
creating bolts. Although it stung the hands to create them? certain fluids
(used argy In this case) could only be contained (delivered) by bolts
(this way). Caji took the training seriously, dwelling upon every nuance of
the Sholari's instruction. Although he spent time out of the temple confines,
never during this period did he venture back to his past home. His thoughts
rarely drifted back to the fields he once tilled.
At the end of twelve years, Caji had learned hundreds of new skills, new
patterns of thought, and more importantly, and appreciation and respect for
the legendary "shanthas." His mind and body had both grown during this
incubation. Sho Copra-Tra was pleased with his disciple's grasp of the
teachings. Caji was now a reserved individual, by choice, not by necessity.
He could return to Gauss as an equal, one who was valuable at times other
than harvest
He bid sholari Sho Copra-Tra farewell, promising to return within a few
weeks. As he trekked homeward, his thoughts spun wildly. He was eager to find
his friend, Bennid Ho-Gomo, and to share with him the wisdoms he had seen.
Caji carried with him to sarceens that Copra had allowed him. One held
nothing more than an amusing collection of images and sounds. The other held
the skill of carving ornate jewelry out of stone. Both were intended to be
presents to the people of Gauss upon his arrival.
While still a day's journey to Gauss, Caji passed through a densely forested
area. An alertness he had learned from the sholari told him that he was being
followed. Turning quickly, he saw two crugar, swords slung over them,
approaching on all fours. After a mere moment's hesitation, Caji launched
"suspension orbs" around each of the crugar. Suspended several feet in the
air, the crugar were of no immediate threat. Although uninjured, they seemed
startled beyond compare. Caji had seen crugar before, but none armed with
weapons. He thought this odd, but not of much importance. Leaving the crugar
suspended for the short life of the orb, Caji continued on his way, trying to
decide what first to show his thriddle friend.
