Kirsh'shaluush
Nearly 1500 winters past, as the cold rain fell on the southern Orkish Hills, a scant dozen Soulmeliti on patrol spotted the largest raiding party that any in their long, Tyloma graced lives had seen. The party, some 500 Orks strong, headed south under the cover of darkness, clearly making haste for Gastwyme. Checking their quivers and shaking their heads it was clear that though they might fell several score of the enemy from cover, nothing would thin the hordes numbers enough to stop them.
Andali Eltwyst, leader of the patrol, knew her duty. The men and women drew straws, the shortest being pulled by her young brother, Farashiem, on his first patrol. With a silent pray of thanks to Tyloma, Andali sent her sibling south to warn the village. And although he promised to return with reinforcements, all who remained know that they could not possibly arrive in time.
Solemn and full of resolve, they set an ambush along the banks of the River of Tears. The sky rained arrows as they struck in the evening, their backs against the setting sun. Arrows expended, the sun dipping below the hills, the Soulmeliti struck, using the shadows to occlude their numbers. All the night, beneath Mora's red light, the Soulmeliti fought and though the ground became slick with blood and piled with Orkish bodies, eventually their numbers waned.
One by one they fell as the stars made their progression across the sky until, just as dawn's first light touched the red waters of the river, Andali stood alone against a mighty Ork warlord. Blade crossed with spear as time slowed, each exchange seeming to last a lifetime until finally her blade found its home in the warlord's throat. Collapsing to her knees, blood streaming from her own wounds, Andali prepared to face her goddess. Looking around, though, only few dozen Orks remained, exhausted and horrified. At the sound of Farashiem's hunting horn, blown the head of the Gastwyme mililita, they turned and ran.
Moved by the sacrifice, both Andali and Farashiem tattooed their faces with the spirits that most represented their fallen brothers and sisters. They swore oaths to Tyloma to become one with their bodies and blades so that they could uphold the defense of the forests from all enemies - be they Ork or other evil. Young Soulmeliti from throughout the forest heard their tale and flocked to Gastwyme to join their oath. The order of Kish'shaluush was born.
The siblings, took their following as sign of grace from Tyloma and organized the youths according to skill and dedication. All forswore worldly pleasures, agreeing to seek no mate nor comfort, but to dedicate their lives to improving their craft and therefore the defense of the forests. So it was clear that their presence was a burden on the village and they moved north, closer to their enemies and across the River, building Fort Bentrihyiem as both a temple to their craft and base of operations.
Farashiem established the idea of facial tattoos as symbols of rank and Andali developed the concept of the twelve masters chosen for their skill alone, to be leaders of the order as an homage to their original patrol. As time passed, it became tradition that when one master stepped down - either willingly due to age or unwillingly due to death's embrace, their Katana would pass to the new winner. Each of today's masters still bears one of the original twelve; beautifully crafted Katana's that have lasted over a millennium.
Over the centuries, the warriors have honed their martial skills with their swords, incorporating acrobatic martial arts maneuvers into their repertoire to better strike at the heart of enemy armies and then dance away. The style, combining leaps, spins, and kicks with the versatility of the Soulmeliti Katana has produced some of the finest swordsmen in Tarien history. The most infamous, Dyianr'ri Shien'shoam of course, painted the order with black mark that some refuse to forget.
Founding Date
894 BC
Type
Military Order
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories
Dyianr'ri Shienshoam