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{{WikifyBook}}
Urshaanin's Singularity
Recorded by Murahhn S'hhrakapo, 295

Table of Contents

Introduction =============== Page 1
The Four Virtues =========== Page 3
The Eight Gifts ============ Page 5
Urshaanin ================== Page 6
Famed Philosophers ========= Page 8

Surely you already know of the great reign of Sarkhhl, hero-king
of the S'Kra, and therefore I will not bore you with knowledge
repeated. Our people flourished during this time as has no other
race since -- not the Elves, even in their longevity, nor the
Humans in their vast numbers, nor the Elotheans with their canny
minds.

Equally well do we know of a certainty that we were created
through the invention of Hav'roth, and therefore the central
spirit of what it means to be S'Kra -- called the Singularity --
has a reflective certainty of what it means to live in honor.
Although we may honor other gods for their virtues, Hav'roth

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Page 2
and His aspects are first in our souls as the Creator of all
S'Kra.

We do not unnecessarily concern ourselves with such trifles as
the overabundance of utterly useless softness that seems to
infect other races. Nor do we hesitate in sending a being, S'Kra
or otherwise, to the judgement of the gods if such is deemed
necessary.

We know to what we go when we die, and, as that knowledge is
universal, there is no shame in sending a dishonorable soul to
death if they pose a threat to those who exalt in the virtues
of the tail.

And as with all things, our treatment of ultimate dishonor is
decisively swift -- those who have earned the title of smozh are
not granted the clean death of the ceremonial q'zhalata, but are
made to live with all knowing the shame of their tailless lives.
Such is just.

Although the Clans may keep to themselves on many issues, some
even coming to conflict over these, there once again exists the
Singularity among all S'Kra-kind. I offer here the ritual poetry
of Avaar Tamigen, called Wildsong.

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Page 3
Nine clans there are, of a spirit bold,
Eight gifts from the gods they harbor;
Seven spears on a star imperial,
Sixth race, but first in honor.
Five limbs to the living vessel true
Four virtues from which all spring,
Three aspects to great Hav'roth blessed;
Two hands to glory bring.
Thus do the gods in S'Kra conjure
One singular soul of pride and honor.

The Four Virtues
------------------
It is believed that the Four Virtues -- honor, loyalty, strength,
and intelligence-- give birth to all others. Fidelity, for exam-
ple, comes of a combination of honor and loyalty. Love in S'Kra,
borne from all four together, is thus a thing of extreme power
and abiding.

Thus are all things S'Kra bound together, and part of an ultimate
understanding. This is what makes the S'Kra first among races,
gifted in culture, beauty, strength, and, of course, honor.

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Page 4
The adept student will have noticed that there seems no parallel
between the number of limbs on a S'Kra and the number of virtues.
Most races have four limbs, and S'Kra have four virtues -- but,
as is obvious, a fifth limb in the form of the tail. The sig-
nificance of the tail is often difficult for non-S'Kra to fully
comprehend, and more confounding to them is our following of
Urshaanin's four virtues rather than what would seem a natural
five; these two concepts are in fact directly linked. The four
virtues are attached to the manipulatory limbs, so that S'Kra
may utilize these virtues as one would utilize a tool held in the
hand; they come together embodied in the tail itself, which is
a visible symbol of our supreme perfection. See the glory in the
S'Kra Mur, that we alone of the races were created with such
thought and completion!

It is rumored that there are sentient creatures who also possess
tails, unknown as yet to the Empire. Certainly nothing is impos-
sible, and the physical tail as a stabilizing force would be a
natural accoutrement to any superior race. However, consider,
perhaps, the lion: a noble and fierce creature admired by our
race and others. However, the lion's tail is distinctly out of
proportion to the other limbs. Philosophically we might inter-
pret this tail as symbolic of dwarfed virtue; only in the S'Kra
do we see a solid limb, equal to all others, in the form of the

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Page 5
tail, carried as a symbol. It is thus clear that any tail, to
be the equal of the S'Kra, would have to be configured thus, and
not like the many other tails seen in the world's creatures.

The Eight Gifts
------------------
Most S'Kra, whether they call them such or not, are familiar with
the Eight Gifts. Granted, when the S'Kra were created, they did
not possess all eight, but these "original" creatures were birthed
by Ushnish alone without the aid of either Hav'roth or Peri'el,
and are certainly not considered the highest of the S'Kra Mur.
They were as the Gor'Togs were before our race lent them our
hand in guiding their growth -- mere animals, certainly not to be
considered a complete race. A S'Kra Mur is not complete until he
possesses all eight gifts, and thus the abominations known as the
S'Kra Kor, as they call themselves, we splinter groups that fell
away from the S'Kra species before all eight gifts were adminis-
tered. Most certainly we do not count ourselves among these low
creatures, any more than do the Humans acknowledge goblins among
their own.

The first two gifts were strength and intelligence, given by
Ushnish in the dawning of S'Kra existence. The next three --

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Page 6
creativity, magical aptitude, and wisdom (which added language
to the sharp and ruthless intelligence of Ushnish's creation)
were given by Hav'roth upon seeing the untapped potential of
the S'Kra.

Peri'el's additions, warmed by her tears, were the gifts of the
tail -- compassion, honor, and pride.

Again, all of this is review, intended to ground the would-be
student of Urshaanin in the teachings most basic to our race.
Now that these have been covered, let us move on to a study of
the noble Urshaanin himself, founder of the notion of the
Singularity.

Urshaanin
---------------
Throughout our history, as S'Kra we have developed many philoso-
phies, as any thinking race tends to do. Some were not exclusive
to our own species, as there were great thinkers among the others
races -- Moliko the Balance, for example, gathered a considerable
following of S'Kra long after her death. Urshaanin's philosophy,
however, came from what most consider to be the core of S'Kra
thought.

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Much of what was known of the philosopher's life has been lost
to time. He existed far back in S'Kra history, yet he was so
prominent that all knew him by his given name, and his family
connections rarely if ever come into view. Some believe that
his close followers intentionally shrouded his origin in mystery
the better to make him a figure inspiring awe. We do know that
he worked closely with Avaar, renowned poetess and alleged lover
of Urshaanin himself. It is thus that her poetry, above any
others', is most trusted as a true testament of Urshaanin's
thoughts.

Urshaanin believed, as we have learned, that the individual S'Kra
was sovereign of his or her own destiny. This tremendous power
to shape one's own world and thereby the world of those not wise
enough to realize their strength was what he called the Singular-
ity. It was believed that a S'Kra who could truly perceive all
aspects of his or her effect on the living world would become as
a god among us -- something more than merely mortal, though each
one of us possessed this great potential. Certain traits would
lead toward this, and those were enumerated in Avaar's most
most famous poem, but much is left unknown so that individual
S'Kra Murs can look most deeply within themselves without dogma
to find answers that present themselves when one's mind is not
cluttered with another's ideas.

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Regardless of his history, it is clear that Urshaanin believed
the S'Kra to be capable of great things, if they would deny the
limitations that society's assumptions place upon them. Of him
physically we know only that Urshaanin had blue eyes, yielding
the expression "the blue eyes of Urshaanin", referring to one who
is possessed of much wisdom and the ability to see through to
truth.

Famed Philosophers
-------------------------
Like most great philosophers, Urshaanin existed at a time where,
for whatever reason, great thinking flourished. The exact dates
of his life are no longer known to us, but we believe him to
have lived after the cultivation of the Gor'Tog trolls but before
the Long Winter. Some other philosophers' names that we have
retained from that time:

Zharhati Smolakh, a fine matriarch of a S'Kra. Like Urshaanin,
she received entry to Sraan Smolg at an early age for her intel-
lectual accomplishments, and some say that much of Urshaanin's
philosophy owes itself to late night discussions held between
Zharhati, Urshaanin, and Avaar.

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Page 9
Vorhaal Uurtoth, also a member of Sraan Smolg, but one who came
to the sraan relatively late in life. He is said to have been a
slow but steady thinker, often defeating puzzles of logic that
confounded all save him, though he might take weeks to fully
solve them. During these weeks he was said to retreat into his
hut and let no one else in. If intruded upon he would grow
wroth, but would not break the silence he imposed upon himself
during this time of contemplation.

Renshhlak, last name unknown, a high son of Sraan T'Lar. Though
more known for its vicious militant strength then for its philo-
sophers, the Drum Clan has a strange tendency to produce one
exceptional thinker every three or four generations. Despite
what most civilized S'Kra would consider to be a very limited
education, Renshhlak baffled the thinkers of his time by seeming
to slice through complex arguments and thought systems with a
crisp, ruthless efficiency. Some believed he was touched by
Hav'roth.

Irneli saarnato, daughter of Sraan Rasha. The flower clan has
always been composed of wanderers, and because they see so much of
our world, many have the tendency to do a lot of thinking while
wandering. Irneli was one of the more widely successful Rasha
philosophers as she was able to keep her tail on the ground, as

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Page 10
it is said -- most Rasha tend to work on levels of extreme
abstraction, which outsiders attribute to their wandering
nature.

This concludes our lesson on the philosophy of Urshaanin.
Concisely, it most accurately conveyed that Urshaanin's ideas
embrace what it is to be S'Kra: we hold most fiercely to our
clans and culture, but ultimately it is each S'Kra who will
determine what he or she will become.
[[Category:Book]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 6 November 2007
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	==Urshaanin's Singularity ==		==Urshaanin's Singularity ==
	''Recorded by Murahhn S'hhrakapo, 295''		''Recorded by [[Murahhn]] S'hhrakapo, 295''

	Table of Contents		Table of Contents
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	Surely you already know of the great reign of Sarkhhl, hero-king		Surely you already know of the great reign of [[Sarkhhl]], hero-king
	of the S'Kra, and therefore I will not bore you with knowledge		of the S'Kra, and therefore I will not bore you with knowledge
	repeated. Our people flourished during this time as has no other		repeated. Our people flourished during this time as has no other
Line 39:		Line 39:
	And as with all things, our treatment of ultimate dishonor is		And as with all things, our treatment of ultimate dishonor is
	decisively swift -- those who have earned the title of smozh are		decisively swift -- those who have earned the title of smozh are
	not granted the clean death of the ceremonial q'zhalata, but are		not granted the clean death of the ceremonial [[q'zhalata]], but are
	made to live with all knowing the shame of their tailless lives.		made to live with all knowing the shame of their tailless lives.
	Such is just.		Such is just.
Line 77:		Line 77:
	nificance of the tail is often difficult for non-S'Kra to fully		nificance of the tail is often difficult for non-S'Kra to fully
	comprehend, and more confounding to them is our following of		comprehend, and more confounding to them is our following of
	Urshaanin's four virtues rather than what would seem a natural		[[Urshaanin]]'s four virtues rather than what would seem a natural
	five; these two concepts are in fact directly linked. The four		five; these two concepts are in fact directly linked. The four
	virtues are attached to the manipulatory limbs, so that S'Kra		virtues are attached to the manipulatory limbs, so that S'Kra
Line 139:		Line 139:
	phies, as any thinking race tends to do. Some were not exclusive		phies, as any thinking race tends to do. Some were not exclusive
	to our own species, as there were great thinkers among the others		to our own species, as there were great thinkers among the others
	races -- Moliko the Balance, for example, gathered a considerable		races -- [[Moliko]] the Balance, for example, gathered a considerable
	following of S'Kra long after her death. Urshaanin's philosophy,		following of S'Kra long after her death. Urshaanin's philosophy,
	however, came from what most consider to be the core of S'Kra		however, came from what most consider to be the core of S'Kra
Line 150:		Line 150:
	his close followers intentionally shrouded his origin in mystery		his close followers intentionally shrouded his origin in mystery
	the better to make him a figure inspiring awe. We do know that		the better to make him a figure inspiring awe. We do know that
	he worked closely with Avaar, renowned poetess and alleged lover		he worked closely with [[Avaar]], renowned poetess and alleged lover
	of Urshaanin himself. It is thus that her poetry, above any		of Urshaanin himself. It is thus that her poetry, above any
	others', is most trusted as a true testament of Urshaanin's		others', is most trusted as a true testament of Urshaanin's
Line 184:		Line 184:
	of his life are no longer known to us, but we believe him to		of his life are no longer known to us, but we believe him to
	have lived after the cultivation of the Gor'Tog trolls but before		have lived after the cultivation of the Gor'Tog trolls but before
	the Long Winter. Some other philosophers' names that we have		the [[Long Winter]]. Some other philosophers' names that we have
	retained from that time:		retained from that time:

	Zharhati Smolakh, a fine matriarch of a S'Kra. Like Urshaanin,		[[Zharhati]] Smolakh, a fine matriarch of a S'Kra. Like Urshaanin,
	she received entry to Sraan Smolg at an early age for her intel-		she received entry to [[Sraan Smolg]] at an early age for her intel-
	lectual accomplishments, and some say that much of Urshaanin's		lectual accomplishments, and some say that much of Urshaanin's
	philosophy owes itself to late night discussions held between		philosophy owes itself to late night discussions held between
	Zharhati, Urshaanin, and Avaar.		Zharhati, Urshaanin, and Avaar.

	Vorhaal Uurtoth, also a member of Sraan Smolg, but one who came		[[Vorhaal]] Uurtoth, also a member of Sraan Smolg, but one who came
	to the sraan relatively late in life. He is said to have been a		to the sraan relatively late in life. He is said to have been a
	slow but steady thinker, often defeating puzzles of logic that		slow but steady thinker, often defeating puzzles of logic that
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	during this time of contemplation.		during this time of contemplation.

	Renshhlak, last name unknown, a high son of Sraan T'Lar. Though		[[Renshhlak]], last name unknown, a high son of [[Sraan T'Lar]]. Though
	more known for its vicious militant strength then for its philo-		more known for its vicious militant strength then for its philo-
	sophers, the Drum Clan has a strange tendency to produce one		sophers, the Drum Clan has a strange tendency to produce one
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	Hav'roth.		Hav'roth.

	Irneli saarnato, daughter of Sraan Rasha. The flower clan has		[[Irneli]] saarnato, daughter of [[Sraan Rasha]]. The flower clan has
	always been composed of wanderers, and because they see so much of		always been composed of wanderers, and because they see so much of
	our world, many have the tendency to do a lot of thinking while		our world, many have the tendency to do a lot of thinking while
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	clans and culture, but ultimately it is each S'Kra who will		clans and culture, but ultimately it is each S'Kra who will
	determine what he or she will become.		determine what he or she will become.

	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]]