The Shield of Night
The Krai-Jan Empire found themselves completely caught off guard by the Traazorite rebellion. While trouble had been brewing for some time between the elite of the Ruby Empire and the religious zealots of the Traazorites, the arrogance of the Krai-Jan believed that appeasement could be bought with gifts and promises they had no intention of keeping.
The Krai-Jan were astonished when physical fighting broke out and even more surprised that the Traazorites were not only better armed than the typical Krai-Jan soldier but that many were trained in the blademaster arts.
The Krai-Jan tried desperately to turn the tide of the conflict, but to not avail. Eventually the Krai-Jan Empire ceased to exist, and its religious, cultural, and military contributions to history were wiped out and forgotten. The Traazorite purge of the Krai-Jan was systematic and thorough. Its military systems were dated at the time of the rebellion, and the Krai-Jan military paid heavily for it. The Ga'al worship of the Krai-Jan was replaced completely by the Runaic priests, and only Runah was allowed to be worshiped.
Because of the cultural purge carried out by the triumphant Traazorites very little evidence remains of the Krai-Jan way of life. The oral traditions of the peoples that escaped Letheradim have provided some history, myth, legend, and culture of the Krai-Jan people, though even those are now a thousand years old. Much of their story was preserved by members of the community that escaped the siege, and many more still circulate as old wives tales and local superstitions.
One such widely told tale is that of Panizar Salmir. Panizar appears in stories as a member of Achshad's personal guard, but only during the final battle of Letheradim. Before this time Panizar's name is not mentioned at all in any tale of Letheradim. Panizar's wife Nelpaz escaped during the battle and made sure to contribute her husband's tale to the oral histories passed down by the survivors.
According to Nelpaz' story Panizar was a soldier in an elite Krai-Jan military unit known as Koromupari, or Moon Warriors. The Kormupari were established specifically to fight the Traazorite rebels who worshiped Runah, the Sun god, and who were very superstitious about anything that took place under the light of the moons. These warriors had devoted themselves to Korod, the moon Ga'al, and took blood oaths to destroy the Traazorite rebellion.
The Koromupari fought only at night, striking Traazorite camps, supply caravans, and fortresses. They struck quickly, silently, and ferociously, inflicting grievous casualties on the rebels before melting back into the dark, taking any of their own casualties with them. The Koromupari were issued with a magical shield that exuded a darkness more black than night and hid the warriors as they struck against their enemies. They called these "Shields of Night," and every Koromupari carried one to mask their presence from their enemies and prey on their superstitions. They hid their bearers even in the light of day. It is said that a Koromupari caught in the light of a campfire looked like darkness coming out of the night.
The Koromupari were much feared by the Runah zealots, who believed that it was Korod that was fighting them after their protection, Runah, disappeared below the horizon in the Western sky.
How Panizar, a soldier in the Koromupari, came to be in Letheradim during the siege is not told in the stories. What is certain is that Achshad appointed Panizar to his personal guard, and that he died fighting beside Achshad as his wife escaped Letheradim.
Panizar was buried with Achshad in the Tomb the Traazorites buried outside the gates of Letheradim. The Shield of Night still lies with him
