The Story of Emid

A collection of Tales about the Cat Lord

Of course every word of it is true. Why wouldn't it be? I spoke it. You heard it. As far as you know it is the truth. But you see me smile and you wonder what I find so amusing. That is for me to know and for you to find out. Be that as it may, you asked for a tale and I provided one. Now I believe you have some lovely lake trout to share with me.

- The Story of Emid

Summary

This wide ranging and twisting narrative combines many tales of Emid the Cat Lord. It begins with Emid speaking to a caravan master in the middle of a vast desert, and sharing a story of his youth for a bit of supper. It then spins into various tales within tales. Some stories seem to contradict others. Some seem too fantastical to be true. Some are funny. Some are tragic. Some are bawdy and others are horrific. Over the course of the stories the reader learns quite a bit about the Cat Lord as well as Sakasta culture.

Historical Basis

Most Sakasta swear up and down that Emid was a real individual who lived during the beginning of the third age. During his travels he learned the secret of immortality and become their greatest champion. Many of the tales seem to include actual historical events and peoples well known during the Tyrian Empire. However there are enough fanciful moments and sequences of outrageous indulgence that it becomes very difficult to call this an actual history.
Very few records found after the Cataclysm seem to include any mention such an exceptional Sakasta. When the cat folk are mentioned in these records, it is usually as an aside. The exception is the famous Tail of Lady Rahasia, a beautiful elf who recorded her love affair with a cat folk bard (which most elves call an amusing but silly story).
One intriguing bit of evidence are the incomplete Histories of King Dovermar also called One Eyed. There are several mentions of the kings nemesis and how the king continued to invite bad luck into his home in hopes of trapping and killing it. Most Sakasta agree that the mentions of "bad luck" are direct references to Emid. To be sure, King Dovermar seems to fit the descriptions of the Brash Knight in The Story of Emid.
Finally, the Sakasta themselves have no written legends of their own (at least known in Reluria). The Story of Emid was compiled by a Halfling bard, who never gives us her name. She does explain that she gathered the stories over decades and wove them into this "amusement". Scholars continue to speculate on the identify of the "Halfling bard" with many believing it is Emid himself having a bit of fun.

Variations & Mutation

There is a question about the name Emid, which is decidedly not a Sakasta name. Instead it appears to be derived from old Elvish, meaning "lucky". Because of this, "official" versions are sometimes published with more authentic Sakasta names including: The Many Tails of Lucky Paw, The Story of Lucky Whiskers, and most recently The Lucky Lord's Many Adventures.
Over time new compilations of the tales have appeared in various places in Reluria. Some stories are removed and others are added. Some of the additions take place before the third age, and others occur post Cataclysm. These help spread the idea of Emid as an immortal (and some Sakasta even call him a time traveler).

Cultural Reception

Most Sakasta in Reluria have embraced The Story of Emid as a guide for life, as well as a source of racial pride. Some other races mistakenly call it a holy book, but it isn't a reverential work. Instead, Sakasta treat it as a collection of legends to tell and tell again, sometimes changing things to suit the times. It is a work of great significance to the cat folk, but for them, the idea of creating more adventures worthy of a book is more important that revering the work itself.