Gods of Samrasa

This book would not be possible without my friend and companion, Tanith Telus. Indeed, she was the one who bullied me into compiling the bloody thing. I don't know why she wanted me to compile it; I can only assume she hoped my name would bring it more prominence. At the time of compilation, she still grieves for our mutual friend, Prince Kusher of Khasmir. I believe his death is what spurred her to publish these writings.

We began working on this project after the Khasmir Campaign's end. This prologue details something of how the account was assembled.

This was useful in the editing process and in examining certain documents.

The many sources that were drawn on to gather information on it were by no means easy to collect. They lay scattered in a dozen different libraries. They were fragmented pages or forgotten tombs, hardly paid any heed. She found one such fragment and sought more information. Many of them had to be translated first. That Tanith did so demonstrates a level of skill at writing I did not know she had.

Some help was offered by her slave, Atria, who was claimed as plunder from war. She was integral in helping with certain older texts that Tanith couldn't read. Assistance was also rendered by Tanith's friend Eitrigg, who has since become a priest. She did the translation during the Khasmir and the Calishan campaigns. However, certain areas had to be translated within Tanith's home of Ran Telus.

In her time raiding, Tanith demonstrated an interest in myth and religion. She never burned libraries and often would read through them after the conquest. Many of the books were later taken back to Ran Telus along with her other plunder. And so she was able to compile many different sources. This may well be the most detailed chronicle of the subject that Harlenor or Calisha has ever had. These, happily, were dispatched to me by her Father, the Lord Telus, who wished them published.

This story's events chronicle a major shift in power in the eastern land of Tarasif. It is a place farther east than even Dinis and west of Themious, where my Mother hails from. Safara has verified some of the information, having kept up an interest in her former Empire. Mother has verified others, and looking at the primary sources helps more.

It has become apparent that Tanith, at several points, communed with the spirit of Jaha to verify the data. It was not a pleasant meeting for either of them, I gather. Jaha is the God of Peace and Justice, though she has little following in Harlenor. But Tanith claims she drew her characterization from observing the scenes.

I suspect Tanith may have painted Jaha with too harsh a brush. And the deplorable Tamar was probably intended to be more sympathetic than she was. Tanith has always had a warped perspective on what makes a good person. But I digress.

In those days, Tarasif was less united than it is now and under the rule of a mighty King called Samrasa. He had come to the throne through a series of stunning victories. The final one had been over, brother, Rantasa, the previous King. That had been when Samrasa was thirty, and he was near his seventies when the story began.

Tanith's notes were quite extensive, and I have chosen to try to formulate them as best I can. Oddly enough, Tanith seems to have little interest in the violence. Entire campaigns are skimmed over in a few paragraphs. Complex philosophical discussions with no direct relevance to the narrative are commonplace. At the same time, any combat that does not directly relate to the tale's heroes is skimmed. Tanith's great love may be violence, but on the page, she is of a different mind.

I should caution the unwary reader that this book's portrayals may be inaccurate. Tanith seems to have projected many of her existing relationships onto the characters. Taha seems almost a lens through which she interacts with the world of the story. And I have noted similarities between how Nendas is portrayed and myself.

Tanith shortened or removed elements that she found dull routinely. The negotiations described between Kulat and Tarasif are absurd. Knowing something of diplomacy, I could never imagine some of these interactions happening. That is to say, nothing of army movements toward the end of the book. Tanith understood logistics better than this, so I can only assume she didn't care.

One chapter, in particular, is written from the perspective of Elranor. This one was not written or pieced together by Tanith but rather adapted from an intact fragment. Several of the descriptions are anachronistic. They detail objects and concepts unfamiliar to me. Kiyora was able to provide some guidance on the subject for translation. These matters are detailed at the end of the book. Ironically these out-of-context events are evidence of the truth of the fragments.

A Calishan or Tarasifian scribe making up a story would not have mentioned such things. For they would clash with the narrative they sought to tell. This assumes they even knew about them. I am thus convinced that the events presented in the fragment did take place in some form.

In conclusion, this book should be taken as roughly accurate but with embellishments. With luck, new information shall arise to clarify the matter. Tanith's preconceptions also color it, though I cannot say to what degree.

I don't see why she couldn't have put it all together alone. She'd already done the translation.

That being said, let us proceed.