The Shekhop of Ihkonet (SHEH-cope | EE-koh-net)

Written by Sierra Brown.
Artwork by Sierra Brown.

An old Sakari legend of a powerful weapon wielded by Ihkonet to strike down the Hate Goddess Nika-Ta during the feudal times. Legend holds the weapon and Ihkonet were both dragged to Kaemos alongside Nika-Ta's spirit with her last dying breath.

Gather, gather, Sons of Ihkonet. Hear and understand my truth. The Hate Goddess is dead by the hand of our prophet, as he foretold so long ago. His shekhop, dripping with poison more times the potency of her very own Kija Pokima, released the spirit of Nika-Ta to Kaemos above. His glory and His might brought upon us a glimpse of salvation, but sad, it was not enough. In her dying breath, the Hate Goddess dragged Ihkonet and his shekhop to Kaemos with her, forever bound in eternal struggle in the great void, and unleashed her Chatari followers upon us. We fought, bravely and valiantly, but were driven back without His grace to empower us…
— An unknown Sakari elder, preaching a sermon to the Sons of Ihkonet

Summary

Ingrained deep within Sakari culture is an almost cult-like following of a long-dead prophet known as Ihkonet. While many myths and legends surround this ancient figure, one, in particular, has come forward in recent times: The story of his shekhop and the death of the Hate Goddess Nika-ta.

The legend holds that the prophet, Ihkonet, produced a powerful weapon from the spirit and bones of an ancient kija, crafting it into the form of a mighty shekhop. This weapon is commonly referred to as the ‘God Slayer’, ‘Hate Slayer’, and other, far more derogatory names that will not be repeated here out of respect for the Chatari. Sporting an ornate, bone-covered handle and a long, slender, reverse-curved blade as white as snow, this shekhop is said to be able to produce a poison twice as strong as the infamously deadly kija pokima. This poison is said to be so strong, in fact, legends claim even a mere scratch would leave even the strongest warrior dead within minutes.

While Ihkonet’s shekhop has not been seen since the feudal times, before the First Cycle of the Drakari-Ta over seven hundred years ago, many followers believe the weapon will return to them if a new false god were to ever take form. This belief, coupled with recent rumors that the weapon has, in fact, appeared within the inner circle of the Sons of Ihkonet does not bode well for the already destabilizing political climate on Roka.