On the Ouai and Kell'Goron

This is a translation of the original text “Von Ouai und Kell'Goron”

Anyone who settles or travels Mythodea will probably encounter them within a short time. They were called "the noble savages of Mythodea", and they were the first to welcome the settlers to the new continent. Scholars, storytellers, chroniclers, keepers of wisdom, diplomats, who at times reveal to their counterparts things beyond anything imaginable, and at other times treat them with indifference that seems almost cruel.

The Ouai.
Even though they knew the history of the land of the elements from ancient times, sometimes even from their own experience, they let the settlers find their own way. They guided the emigrants through the land, warned them of the dangers, accompanied them to places of great mystery, but never made the decision about what to do or where to go, who to trust and who to avoid, or what is right and what is wrong.
Their appearances are usually rather inconspicuous, at least against the colorful throngs of settlers who flock to Mythodea from all corners of the worlds. Ouai mostly wear blue robes embroidered with strange animal symbols and illegible characters in yellow, often accompanied by hats made of rushes and walking sticks. On one of their temples there are brown ornamental marks, which may have been engraved or even burned. All Ouai have an infinite calm and patience, which they do not lose even in the face of great battles and dangers.

Those who seek advice should, if they ask the Ouai, bring along some time and the will to think deeply about interpretative answers. To them, all elements are equal, whether of the first or the second creation, for they still see themselves as the neutral diplomats of all those who live on Mitraspera.

After a long time the origin and also fragmentary the history of the Ouai has been revealed, mostly through their own stories. In times long past, peoples of demigod-like beings are said to have lived on Mythodea, who we know today as Ancient Rulers, whose magic power even made it possible to create their own creatures and entire peoples. Since there were probably also quarrels and wars between these rulers from time to time, they created a brotherhood out of the peoples they had made before, which they called 'Ouai'. These had the task of assisting their masters as servants, advisors and diplomats. Those who were chosen, by joining the brotherhood, gave up their identity as members of a special people and were completely absorbed in their tasks. Special gifts and an almost seemingly endless lifespan helped them to do so. Even today, the Ouai recruit their novices from the elemental peoples. 

Over time, as the cultures of the rulers experienced various quarrels and great upheavals, the brotherhood of the Ouai also changed, and from being servants of individual lords, they became neutral servants of all, helping and advising, but never choosing sides, which they have mostly maintained to this day.

But there are also renegades of the Ouai brotherhood, who call themselves 'Kell'Goron' and strive for power for themselves, with the goal of becoming rulers themselves, whose claims they doubt. The division of the order already took place in ancient times and continues to this day, and even though Ouai usually avoid any fight and are known for their pacifism, bloody fights between the opposing orders are said to have taken place in recent times. While the Ouai meet in secret places high in the mountains, the Kell'Goron lurk in caves deep below the surface. There they are said to conduct experiments of sometimes very dubious morality to further their cause. For the Kell'Goron every knowledge has its price and nothing will be given for free, least of all to the settlers. But whoever is willing to pay the price may have dark secrets revealed to him, which an Ouai would never reveal...

Over the 1000 generations that the peoples of the ancient rulers were banished from Mythodea for their crimes against creation, the Ouai served as teachers and advisors to the elemental peoples.

But since the settlers, who are the descendants of the Ancient Rulers according to Ouai belief, arrived, much has changed for the thoughtful knowledge keepers and teachers: With tremendous speed, almost the entire continent has been repopulated in barely a decade, and all four Forsaken have been freed, so that all of Mitraspera is now at war. Whatever the Ouai had expected all these eons in terms of the appearance their creators would return in, it certainly was not the confused, freedom-seeking diversity of the settler multitudes, soon to include every conceivable race, creed, and worldview. Perhaps this wave of change, after so long a stasis, also explains why many of the Ouai find it difficult to adjust to the new conditions, while some are completely swept along by it.

As happened in ancient times, the order recently experienced another split: under a young master named 'Saleph', some of the Ouai embarked on a path that brought them closer to the settlers who fight for the sacred elements, but abandoned their neutrality towards the Forsaken. The Ouai of the Circle of Saleph, like most of the settlers, strive to destroy the Forsaken and restore the old order of creation. The consequences are hard to foresee.

It almost seems like it's not just the settlers who are now subject to trials on Mitraspera, but also the Ouai who must now assert their place in the world....

Note: The Ouai informed the settlers during the summer campaign 17 a.t.D. that they would leave the surface and retreat to their people. They deemed the settlers mature enough to tread Mythodea on their own. For further information see “Summary of the summer campaign 17 a.t.D.”