The Kael Arran were a people that existed on Ispar. The name Kael Arran means "Desert Dancers."[1] They existed in the somewhat undefined time that was described as the "earliest days of Milantean glory,"[1] and a few hundred years prior to the founding of Gharu'n,[1] which occurred in 924 RC.[2] The Kael Arran people were completely wiped out by the young Milantean Empire.[1]
History
Very little is known about the Kael Arran. The only source of information is the Writ of Refuge Text written by Nuhmudira. In it, Nuhmudira claimed that she was in possession of a text from Tirethas that tells the stories of the Kael Arran.[1]
The Kael Arran existed up to a few hundred years prior to the founding of Gharu'n, when the Empire of Milantos was still young.[1] This places their eradication circa 700 RC to as early as, perhaps, 400 RC.[2]
Prior to that, it seems that the Kael Arran had contact with other cultures. The text states that, although there were larger tribes and better equipped armies, none were able to beat the Kael Arran in battle,[1] which would indicate that at least one other culture (and likely more) had fought them. The fact that Nuhmudira's text was from Tirethas could imply that the Kael Arran had contact with the Roulean army. The text also states that the Kael Arran had the ability to conquer the Naqut Desert, as the Gharu'ndim would later do, but they did not desire to do so.[1] This would indicate that they lived in or near the Naqut, and could mean the tribes they fought with may have been the Souia-Vey or, perhaps, the Gharu'ndim or their ancestors. The fact that the Milanteans chose to eradicate the Kael Arran would at least indicate that the young Empire had heard of the Kael Arran and their reputation.
The young Milantean Empire chose to go on their genocidal campaign because, according to Nuhmudira, they had a point to prove. They sent an army of 100,000 soldiers, called Milantean Red. The campaign lasted 10 years, and saw 100 battles. In the final battle, the Milantean Red surrounded the Kael Arran and massacred them. The Milantean Red saw losses of 50,000, and the site of that battle became known as the Red Sands in honor the Milantean Red that spilled their blood there.[1]
Culture
Our knowledge of Kael Arran culture is, for the most part, limited to warfare. They were known to be unbeatable in battle, and would employ skirmish and retreat tactics.[1] Despite this, they did not seem to be conquerors, as indicated by the fact that they never tried to seize the Naqut Desert. The only known cultural work of the Kael Arran is a Death-Poem of one of their warriors, found carved in a rock at the Red Sands. It reads:
- "...and we shall dance and cry.
Dance and laugh.
We cried before there was a Beginning.
We laughed after the End.
And we danced, danced throughout.
We shall not stop,
Though Sorrow plays the tune."[1]
Texts
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 2001/11 The Gathering Storm - Writ of Refuge Text
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2003/03 A Perfect Paradox - The History of Auberean: Volume V: New Arrivals (-540 to 13)
Further Reading