The Seven Speeches of the Grot'Karesh (essay)
Title: The Seven Speeches of the Grot'Karesh
Author: Tarkisis Castile
The Seven Speeches of the Grot'Karesh
Speech 1: Who Are We?
Little has been written on the lore of the Grot'karesh. History was shrouded in chaos and in those times, our kindren did not have need of the written word.
Our was was the way of songs, of tales and of the scars of battle. Indeed, tales have been told of our ancestors--of Kantoran who was once Wsalamir and of Samarak, called 'The Grim'.
They were the first. The first among others to become consumed by their thirst for blood and violence that none could comprehend. Thus, banished they were to the Southron Wastes where they could do no harm to Clan or kin.
Here they wandered. Some died. Some lived.
But those that lived, began to change.
According to our legends, it is believed that Samarak had a glimpse of things to come. Those that have endured the nightmares and visions associated with the Time of Trial have also claimed to have similar accounts.
The details of these visions vary from one to another, but most will agree that what they see is indeed the future. Thus by accident or design, the Grot'karesh are assured that Despana will return and a new Age of Chaos will resume.
Elven scholars debate amongst themselves on our origins. Whether the cause of our change developed from Despana's magic via the banshee, from the magic that destroyed the keep at Maelshyve, or magic from the summoning of the demons themselves is unclear.
What is certain however, is that Samarak then began to band our people under his leadership and named us "Grot'karesh" to which the elves translate to 'magically cursed' or 'magically haunted'.
The Faendryl instead, in their infinite self-glory call us 'daemon tainted'.
While the true meaning of this name will remain a secret amongst the Preceptors, we have begun to accept these elfish definitions. Maelshyve, we believe has indeed changed us.
Speech 2: The Time of Trial
The Grot'karesh have often been associated with the number three. The Time of Trial is no exception. Through the magic at Maelshyve, the Grot'karesh endured several tests.
The first was emotional, as our kinsmen agonized over wracking nightmares, violence and the desire for blood. Suffering a pain and sickness through no fault of their own, they were sent away to deal with their anguish and banished from the Clans.
The second was physical. They forced themselves to exert their bodies to their utmost limits for an entire cycle of the moon. Those that survived both the physical duress as well as the harsh environment changed near overnight.
The Grot'karesh overcame their violent temperament, but then were able to tap into the magical energies around them, to a proficiency that no other giantkin could muster. Even today, we are the most advanced in magical manipulation than any of the other Clans.
The third trial was a social one. The Grot'karesh had to turn aside their entire structure of traditional life. To fulfil the destiny that our ancestors foretold, no longer could we follow the herds, no longer could we scoff at cities, no longer was magic mistrusted and no longer could we be satiated with knowing our history only from oral traditions.
Thus the Grot'Karesh began to build a new way of life.
Speech 3: The Creation of Kilanirij
Meshing military with magic, one of the first things that the Grot'karesh created was a spell-enhanced fortress city on Asharikan Mountain. A scientific marvel, it lies in the most defensible part of the Southron Wastes, south of Tamzyrr and west of new Ta'Faendryl.
Here, Samarac decided would be where the Grot'karesh would gather and where a great library would be constructed. Here too, by way of magical scrying devices, a constant vigil is maintained upon the ruins of Maelshyve.
The mountain is often battered with fierce magical storms sweeping south from the Wizard Waste and west from Maelshyve. The storms collide, and the pent up magical energy releases itself in the form of mana-infused lightning. When it hits the mountains, the rock absorbs this energy, leaving dark blue striations in the rocks.
Stories say that the mountain of Asharikan is alive, as these streaks of metal pulse with the energy of the storms. It might be that this somehow is the secret to the city's power and protection.
Within the mountain forges, the Grot'karesh have developed the metal called zorchar to use not only on weapons but also enruned upon the city walls, causing the walls to glow blue at night. The Grot'karesh it is believed, are the only ones to have been able to fully utilize this material and have upon occasion used this material as barter for rare knowledge.
Speech 4: Saramar Runes
The second thing that was developed by the Grot'karesh was a system of writing. In this way, history and knowledge could be written and be retained for future generations with much more accuracy than traditional methods.
Thousands of years of history was transcribed into this form and housed at the Great Library in Kilanirij. The Grot'karesh attempted to teach it to the other Clans, but traditions are difficult to break, and were largely ignored.
This runic writing of the Grot'karesh is called Saramar Runes. In more recent times however, the other clans have begun to gradually accept this written language and have adopted it to mark Clan, tribe and ancestor upon banners, armor, weapons and the like.
Some suited to the calling of the Arkati Jastev have adopted the Runes as a means of divination. While the Grot'karesh will never dismiss any form of knowledge, the Araime are one of the few Clans that have at least in this form, adopted the writing.
Saramar Runes are still in use today and oft times can be found on various items - from armor to weapons and everything in between. Because much of the written form was transcribed from pictures or petroglyphs, the writings themselves evolved into a heiroglyphics. Few outside the Grot'karesh themselves can actually read Saramar Runes as a language, as it often gets applied outside the city in single form glyphs or marks as identification.
Speech 5: The Arbitor, Preceptors and Ishan
Unique amongst the Clans, the Grot'karesh are not led by a Chieftain or have tribes. While Samarak the Grim held the role of Chieftain in the beginning, the political structure of Kilanirij has changed dramatically since our ancestors.
Due to the greater capacity for magic amongst the Grot'karesh, it became an important facet for leadership. Knowledge is the most valued commodity and as such, the Great Library is highly protected.
Kilanirij has become in some respects, a military magocracy; a system of government run by leaders capable both in war strategy as well as magic. In order to facilitate this, knowledge of any sort is brought back to the city by way of the Ishan.
Often this knowledge includes methods of warfare and magic, among other things. Thus, you might see Ishan taking part in military groups, magical academies, economic trade, political agendas and even religions organizations of other cultures.
Once the Ishan return to the city, they submit all of their research to the Library. Ishan can remain in Kilanirij to become an instructor, or what is called a Preceptor who teach the citizens within the city. Or, the Ishan may continue their missionary work, not only providing the city with further knowledge but also as teachers to outside communities.
The Arbiter is the city's leader, and as such instructs the Preceptors. An Arbiter earns this title through dedication and reputation through their services first as Ishan and then as Preceptor.
Speech 6: The Festival of the Dead
The number three again makes its transition to the most sacred holiday of the Grot'karesh. The Festival of the Dead is celebrated every decade since the fall of Maelshyve over five thousand years ago and it is honored for three days.
For three days, all Grot'karesh - even those outside the city wear only a black robe with a deep cowl. This festival is to remember those lost to the Battle of Maelshyve, those who lost their lives in the Time of Trial and ancestors that came to be with the Grot'karesh that have since passed through the Ebon Gate.
In somber chorus, the entire city sings a hymn every hour to those who have passed on. Few outsiders have ever witnessed this, but those who have are entranced and humbed by the harmony of voices rising to honor those that will never return.
At the end of each day of the festival, the Preceptors perform a ceremony led by the Arbiter. Each step is designed to send knowledge to ancestors. Only the Preceptors are trained in this rite that is only performed with much pomp and circumstance before the doors of the Great Library in symbolic gesture.
The first day, called Ronlon is a time for the telling of tales and sharing of history in the same manner as our ancestors once did. Citizens gather to public places to remember their ancestors and share songs and stories to pass on to future generations. We honor our traditional ways and our teachers by setting up small shrines in their memory.
Day two is called Bolia. This day is left to the sanctity of private mourning of family and friends. Across the entire city, each tomb and grave is cared for either by kin or by caretakers. Death is sacred to the Grot'karesh and honoring the dead is one of the highest priorities.
Kamiir is the third day of the Festival of the Dead. The most sacred day of the festival, the living attempt to communicate with the dead. Locked into a family tomb for twenty four hours, this method of knowledge is in essence a test of the mind.
Reports of successful contact with the dead and supposed comprehension of the knowledge gained have resulted in cases of madness. They are taken to the Asylum for rest and study. Some scholars believe that they are broken by the truth and knowledge from beyond the grave.
Others that retain their lucidity are confused by the knowledge they receive through successful communication. Like pieces of an incomplete puzzle, the images, reflections and information is too scattered to make any logical conclusion as to the message.
In more recent history, fewer communications have been reported and thus, fewer cases of insanity. This does not inhibit many of those that wish to gain this knowledge however, and each Festival always has willing volunteers.
Speech 7: The Grot'karesh, Present and Future
In a single generation, we evolved beyond our brethren. Thus even our own kindred view us with trepidation.
We do not fault them in this, as we have become something greater and are still evolving.
Typically there exists a distinction between the soldier and the scholar. Not so with the Grot'karesh.
As evidenced with the construction of their enruned fortress, they have evolved to claim both.
Because the Grot'karesh are preparing for the sake of the world and not their own conquest for glory, they have a quiet sense of pride, superiority and elitism that is more an aura than a declaration.
Thus, the Grot'karesh see themselves as saviors and that without their vigilance, the world will crumble into chaos.