The Legend of KALN

Many Yuri's ago.. in the heart of Nagnang. There, deep below the kingdom exists a tomb. An ancient tomb of magic, and wonder. At least to some. A tomb of nightmares, and creatures of horrid design to others. Is this tomb still open? No, as far as anyone knows it is sealed forever.. at least, so everyone hopes. It was from this tomb that a great mage called Chizao. He was a terrible mage with fearsome powers. He managed to create the magic for the Baekho, and Chyung Ryong gods. With his terrible powers he made monsters, and creatures on unimaginable strength and power. So horrid to look upon that there are no words in the kingdoms that could describe so nightmarish monstrosities. He unleashed these terrible monsters across the lands. The ravaged this world night and day, until one night he decided such was not enough. No, he turned his eyes upon a greater power. The mighty totem gods themselves. Not just any totem gods, but those of his rival KALN.

The great gods Jujak, and Hyun Moo. With their strange powers, and magics that they graced their followers with, he seen true power. Power that could rival his own. Power that could one day usurp all his plans. No he had to rid the world of that. So he made plans, to seize and attack the great totem gods. He gathered his powers, and his monsters. He prepared to wage war.

Now it is a funny thing with people. When they feel their lives, homes and families are threatened. They can gather courage from seemingly nowhere, to accomplish even the most impossible tasks. This was one of those such times. When the great mage Chizao threatened to destroy the totem gods, the people knew he would not stop there. No. They knew more monsters would come and ravage the land. The band together in a great struggle, until at last they sealed him with in the tomb he used to create his horrid nightmares. His presence faded from this world, but not his legend. Though it is no his legend you are here to read. Though his legend has a part in the true story you are here for..

Along with the story of Chizao, there is another. You see Chizao was not alone. No he studied in his younger days alongside another man. This Man's name was KALN. KALN and Chizao were great rivals if you will. In Chizao's quest to take out the totem gods he set his eyes specifically upon the Hyun Moo, KALN's very totem god. The one he helped research for, and build for. You see it was more then just power there. If Chizao took out the great Hyun Moo in that he would finally defeat his rival KALN. He never mentioned this however. For he knew that KALN would not, and did not show up to second guess him. KALN had no need to. The people the kingdoms did it for him.

Though he did not directly show up to deal Chizao, it did not mean he did not have some part in it. KALN, unlike Chizao was one for great knowledge, and he tried desperately to learn more and more of the knowledge everyday. To him it was far more precious then gold. For knowledge could be used against anything. Including Chizao. When the people prayed and worshiped and looked for ways to kill Chizao. KALN studied, and read, and prayed, then read some more. He experimented with potions, and talismans, staves, and relics of all kinds. He could find nothing to kill Chizao. Then he had a thought that enlightened him greatly. You do not have to kill something to stop its destructiveness. He had his great plan then. If you can not kill something to stop it, then trap it, keep it from doing it anymore.

With this in mind KALN set to work. He had to trap Chizao. But where? How? He sat for many days at the shrine of his totem. His mind in calm repose. He conversed for many days and nights with the great god. At last he was given his answer. When he pulled from his deep meditation. His body was sore, tired, and very hungry. But he put trivial needs aside. The fate of this world was at hand. He ran back to his home. He set strait to work. Mixing carefully delicate ingredients. He made a potion. It would bind and entrap Chizao forever in the very next thing he touched. All they had to do was pour it on him. That was easy enough. It took but a drop for the potion to work. He spent many days in his lab working with it. Making it just right. At last he had it. He clutched the bottle tightly to his chest. Running out from his home he raced to where the town's people were gathering.

Running as fast as his feet could carry him. Past the trees, the great sheep fields. Past the hills, and the valleys in the wilderness. Past deer, and snake, and even the great forgotten Iron Labyrinth. He ran so excited, that he did notice one of the great iron tigers had wandered out of the hidden home. It seen him run past. It had been a long tie since this tiger had had food to eat, and this running manic was just the perfect prey.

He did not hear the soft steps as the tiger padded near him. He did not see it crouch low in the grass. He did not feel the tremors of the earth as the haunches of the tiger rocked just before he leapt in one mighty pounce upon the man. He did hear the roar of the tiger when it was upon him. He did smell the horrid breath of rotten meat as it breathed down his neck. He did feel the claws lace into his back splitting his flesh open like a flayed out fish. He did nothing but scream as he seen his precious potion fall from his hands. Diving for it he reached, too late it shatter upon the ground. He clutched at the shards of glass. The potion soaked the front of him. The tiger dove in for the kill his soul split the air. Another scream then there was darkness.

Gone was the hunger pain. Gone was the exhaustion from many days with out sleep. Gone too was the sore tired aching body. It made no sense. He opened his eyes slowly. He tried to move but he fell. He tried to look around but everything was dark. Sounds of crickets, it must be night time he thought. Odd he felt no pain. His last thoughts were of the tiger, and the potion, broken upon the grass. Noit could not be. It had touched him, covered him. Then the tiger had touched him. He let out a scream. In the distance a lone warrior head the growl of a tiger..

So this existence would continue for a great many Yuri's to come. A man lost, and now eternal. A soul, trapped in the body of a tiger. A tiger, he could not control. The mind was too instinctual. Too primal, too erratic to force his will upon and control. He sat back then, and waited. Watching and learning from the tiger. In time the tigers own natural killer instincts wore on him. Taught him. Yet another power. He learned through the ages that Chizao had indeed been trapped. For that he was thankful. Now it was only a matter of time..

Many many Yuri's passed. Give or take a few hundred of them. KALN would live out his existence in this four legged form. Wandering mindless, unable to affect the tiger. Unable to do anything but sit and watch. Day after day, night after night, hunt after hunt, kill after kill. It droned on. And for a time he forgot who he was. It went on like this, for what seemed like an eternity, then one day it all changed.

Dawn had come into the wilderness like always. Just like always the flowers opened, and the animals went about their daily duties. Town folk woke and went about their businesses. Druids, and barbarians a like awoke with the sun, prepping for the days hunts, or rituals as the case may be. And like always a young Buyan girl walked out the southern gate of the town into the wilderness to pick flowers for her mother. It was this same young girl that would change KALN's life forever.

The eyes awoke and sensed the smell of fresh meat. The stomach growled with a fierce hunger. Time to hunt like always. KALN's mind droned on not really caring. He had in all his years of solitude had found the one main flaw in his spell. It trapped his soul yes, breathing immortal life into it. But he could be free again. In a way. That way being, his body, was dead. He had to have a host body, much like the tiger's in order to live. Could a soul live with out a body? He was not entirely too certain. Quite frankly he was not bold enough to try it. There was still to much to learn, too much knowledge to be had. After all look at the knowledge he could obtain if he lived forever! Such a treasure indeed. But it did him nothing to sit rotting away in the tiger. The nose caught something. Flesh, but not any flesh, human flesh. He could not believe his eyes as they fell upon a treasured sight. A young Buyan girl.

In no time the tiger was upon her. She screamed paralyzed by fear. She could do nothing but fall over and curl into a ball. The nose came down to sniff once at the lithe young child. He saw his chance. The nose touch flesh. And in that same instant he found himself looking up at the tiger. He wasted no time. He commanded the girl to get up to move. She responded. Good. He could affect humans. She moved, that was the mistake. The tigers paw came crashing down upon the frail skull. The body fell in a pool of blood. Dying slowly. KALN fumed and raged. He would not live in a tiger. He refused. He had to be free, And that was being taken away from him..

In the not too distant wilderness the young girls scream fell upon well trained ears. Like instinct the body reacted. Moving swiftly like that of a well trained cat. A hunter, bound for prey. The warrior moved. Not just any warrior, but a barbarian. A barbarian, who's life was tossed aside all for the sake of a dying young child. Arriving on the scene instinct made the wild barbarian reach for the deadly spike. Pulling it forth they ran scream a war cry at the tiger.

The tiger reacted swiftly. Startled by the barbarians cry, but not thrown of much. It managed to get in one gash before the first bash of the club hit the rib cage. It bit down hard onto the barbarian's leg before the final crashing blow to the head. It fell upon the ground. The grass turning read. Seeing the tiger dead the barbarian ran at the girl. Kneeling over her they tried to help her up. But upon closer inspection, they knew it was too late to save the life of this young child. She was gone.

KALN saw his chance. The barbarian touched the girl and he tried to invade this warrior too. But a barbarian's will is stronger then most. Their will to live, and be free, fought against him. He had no other choice. He would have to plea with this wild fighter, in hopes to save his life. The barbarian soon found a vice speaking to them, but I was not the girl. It was another soul, with in the girl. This at first did not make sense. Holding the club high they prepared to bash the evil spirit to death. But something held back. Something stayed the mighty blow. Was it fate? Was it the poor pleading look on the young child's eyes? Was it the fact that this barbarian did not want to fell responsible for another's death. Especially one so young, so innocent. No one knows. But something stopped it. Something convinced the mind of the barbarian not only to halt the killing blow. But to accept what the spirit was saying. "Very well.." came a soft voice. "If I can save one soul then I will, though I am saddened I could not save both."

Overjoyed KALN swept into the body of the barbarian. Finally free of the tiger he laid back and rested. Watched, and learned what he could of his new host. Unlike most humans, he learned this one was self giving, self sacrificing all for the sake of the family. This family. Was also self sacrificing for each other. How very odd. This was new to him. Most people were much like Chizao. Power hunger, greedy, and selfish. But not these wild creatures, these warriors with out homes, these barbarians. When he had first entered into the body of this mighty warrior he had thought to take it over. To destroy the soul with in and claim it for his own. To go about life once more as he used to. But upon witnessing such..love.. he with held. Perhaps there was something more here he could learn from these people.

So he waited for a time. Watching listening, learning when he could. But he soon realized, one could only learn so much from watching. He needed to speak, to b free to ask questions. He had to wait for the right time. He waited. Then came a strange event. Hosted but Elindra. It was called Kami Klash. What exactly it was he was uncertain. It made little sense but everyone seemed so wrapped up in it. So distracted. It seemed perfect. During the fun and festivities he seen his chance and he reached for it. In no time he pushed the barbarian's soul down. He took full control of the woman's body. Yes she is a woman. Or rather, she was. When KALN's spirit invaded her body, he changed it to suit his needs. She fought at first until he explained. He just wanted to ask, to learn. It was until he found a body of his own. Then he would leave her be. She agreed solemnly, and allowed him to continue.

Her brethren took instant notice. They in fact were very angry. But you see, barbarians have this thing against living as slaves. The would never understands the woman's choice. Her sacrifice for another's life. No. She was their sister, it was simply out of the question. So she spoke with KALN. A new story was told. Of how she fought a fierce tiger. In which this soul was trapped. Upon her great injury he invaded her. But he swore only peace. This did no good to sway them. They wanted to kill him right then and there. Kill him for hurting their sister. If only they could figure out how to do it with out hurting their sister's body.

They realized there was no possible way. If they tried to hurt him, they would kill her. He insisted he wanted peace. He allowed her to come forward and affirm his words. Which she did so gladly, after all she believed him. Or did she? It really did not matter she had very little choice. Her brethren nodded solemnly. They did not like to see their sister as such. But they would not argue with her. They left KALN be. He was strange for them to behold to understand. Most just tried to walk away to ignore it, and pretend their sister was fine.

Others looked at him oddly with his strange mannerisms. His polite words, calling everyone sir, or madam. It simply was not right. But they did not argue. Eventually some time passed, and KALN realized something. He could live in the body, he could learn and ask questions, with out making the other soul dormant, subservient. He knew what it was like inside that tiger. Not being able to say or do. Just to watch. He could not put another through it. So he backed off and shared finally. This making everyone a lot happier. He found that way he was able to ask questions, get answers and truly learn. He had at last accomplished everything he set out for. Chizao was trapped, the tiger was gone, and he had a chance at an eternity of knowledge. All he had to do know was find another body. Though he knew now that he would never find another more perfect, more willing host. For no on he ever knew had as big of a heart as the barbarian Kalina. She saved his life, and offered to share hers with his. The rest, is another tale to be told.