Musings on the Kedashi

Since before the Empire was formed we have lived in fear of the great forests. I have travelled far across the Empire and I have always heard the same myths of powerful creatures who dwell within their borders, preying on those who would dare to enter. Around the Naralon forests they are known as the Kedashi, to the south around the Teoni Forests the locals talk of the teon spirits and even in Koheb they have the Haranar, who for a long time kept the stranded travellers from finding their way home.

These strange gods of the forests show up in the earliest of legends and share many similarities, often portrayed as a fickle and dangerous force of nature, sometimes devastating entire fubarnii villages, or at others tumbling the mighty towers of the devanu. The precise descriptions in those stories are vague, with the Kedashi, teoni or Haranar taking the form of terrifying swarms, giant beasts or even the forests themselves tearing their victims apart.

In the civilised cities of the Empire these myths are still told to jenta, but to most fubarnii they are simply seen as parables of the dangers of the forests. For those who live in the shadows of the forests these myths carry far more weight. Every settlement will have stories of those who ventured too far and were lost to the Kedashi and most will offer up sacrifices in thanks for being allowed to stay.

I believe that these creatures are real and that they deserve to be studied. I have seen varieties of frenu around all the forests and I think these may be the key. I have spoken to hunters who ply their trade around the edges of the forests see the frenu as a bit of an oddity for they can never find their nests and have never seen eggs or hatchlings. My theory is that the frenu are merely the immature lifestage of the species. I bought a pair from a hunter while passing through Gar Loren, but they grew sick and died very quickly in spite of my experienced care. I wish to capture more samples and to may be even discover the secret of these strange creatures. Maybe I might even see the adult lifestages, I can only wonder what they might be like!

 – Transcribed by Muri from the notes of Gil Masharl, Travelling Biologist

Source: The Twilight Traveller Issue 6