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The Kalkorae founded Domus Palus, the capital of Marrishland, thousands of years ago. Countless rulers, hundreds of factions, and a few sackings have occurred since then. Find out what's become of it in the book.
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Memory of Seruvus
A Kalkoraen author tells the story of the first Seru to travel to Domus Palus. Told as a series of memoir-like entries.
The events in this story likely take place sometime between 1 I.D. and 200 I.D. — 7,800 to 8,000 years before the events of Lesson of the Fuel — after the Kalkorae founded Domus Palus but before the first mapmakers established contact with the Seru.
The story itself was almost certainly written by a Kalkoraen mede — probably a colonist who arrived in Marrishland shortly before the last mede warships departed at the end of the 7th century I.D. The tablet is Kalkoraen, and though such artifacts appear in other Mar stories, it is difficult to believe anyone living after the Erden Revolt (ca. 710 I.D.) would expect an audience to believe wints could use Kalkoraen devices. As well, the Mar culture did not exist even in a primitive form. The Kalkorae commonly kept private journals, which were unknown among the Hundred Tribes.
There are other hints concerning the story's origin among the most recent Kalkorae to settle Marrishland. Monkeys are not native to Marrishland, and the word itself ("sima") is of Kalkoraen derivation. Also, each of the Hundred Tribes worshipped a single patron deity. No wint would have mistakenly had members of one tribe worshipping the goddess of another tribe. Finally, only those wints who wished to give up their tribal allegiance and live among the Kalkorae shaved — a rare phenomenon even in the 7th century and an impossible one in the 1st or 2nd centuries.
The author likely knew a few wints, as some of the Hundred Tribes did believe the superstitions described in the story. The beliefs and traditions described in "Turtles Are Never Wrong" come from a variety of tribes. No one tribe (including the Seru) would have recognized all of them, and none of them would have been recognized by every tribe.
Posted by Matt on 2/6/06: Eric had suggested I write a story about the group that learned to use the Kalkoraean devices. I think it was these guys, but it may be the Fulemon, which would make a pretty fun read themselves. However I wrote it, though, the points of view was the real experiment. First person doesn't come naturally to me (ah ha), so using several voices helped.
Posted by Eric on 2/11/2006: I really liked the style of this one. It's a bit like a memoir written by three different people. I wish Matt would write more of it, but I can understand if he's glad to get away from the Kalkorae in his more recent writing.
The Seru were unique among the Hundred Tribes in their ability to use Kalkoraen foci. It may not seem strange that members of one culture would not be able to wield the magical devices of another, but this feat has never been duplicated by any other culture in the history of any nation. The Fulemon were just crackpot mystics who thought they could learn to read by meditating near a library.
