Origin: Rooted Within

A place that housed a tribe, the tribe of Kranía. Not a single member was different, they all seemed to have common interests. They all had an inscription on their foreheads that read "Kutagi". The sign stood for the act of defying the laws of nature, written in their own dialect: Kraì. No one, not a soul in the entire land, could understand or speak the Kraì dialect, except the natives of the Kranìa tribe.

There was something else usually added to the inscription, not added, but drawn just below it. It was the tribal mark, carved on the forehead. A skull covered in flames, but without a close look, one might think it was just a representation of flames.

They were not from Cresva. No one knew their true origins-not even they themselves-but they were thought to be descendants of immigrants from Kin Hill-of those who had been banished for their wickedness long ago, when men still lived in that part of the world. They lived like animals among other tribes, and the dirt was their own paradise. As they were all dressed in rags, sacks, and adorned themselves with elephant tusks, they fitted so well into the place where they had settled.

When a descendant of the tribe was born. The tattoo - a skull in flames - was carved on his/her forehead. The second stage of life began at 15. This age denotes the period when he/she is considered an average Kranian. At this stage, a child is suitable to wear the inscription.

To be an average Kranìan is to be of the right age to hunt and tear another's flesh without remorse. They must be strong enough to prove themselves in any contest, and they must also be able to use the dark instrument and unite their souls with those of their ancestors.

One crucial thing that gave them an advantage over other people was the fact that they practiced dark magic, and their brutality was on a whole different level.

One important tool that was useful to them was the pendant. They all had black woven ropes tied around their necks. From these ropes hung a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon. This pendant was called "Psychìs"

Which means "fire of the soul". Its name was scrawled on the back.

There, the Kraniáns wore the Psychìs because they believed in its power, the power to absorb the soul of another.

Whenever a member of this tribe died, another member of the tribe offered to absorb his soul in a process known as "otiris" (soul absorption).

This was done to prevent them from losing their members and subsequently becoming extinct.

The pendant was the source of this ability, and all members of the tribe were required to wear it at all times.

Anyone over the age of 15 was automatically entitled to a pendant. Children under 15 could not host and consequently did not possess a psychís.

Even if the host possesses a psychís, it cannot absorb a soul without a spell.

There was such a thing as a "prótis opótus" (an unwilling host).

A "host" still had to be willing to absorb a soul. The skull of an unwilling host appeared to a dead kranían soul as if it were covered in red flames - actual flames, and if a soul tried to enter the host without being summoned, it would vaporise in seconds and disappear forever.

A willing host (prómos oides) is one whose skull appears to a dead Kranían soul as if it were covered in blue flames. The blue flame signified the willingness to be a host.

A host must also show his readiness by reciting the "xenoa órki".

"gití palévis maí mas, gio potó maí mas, giatí tróte maí mas, zes epísis maí mas, giatí eísai énas apó tous dikús mas."

[For together we once ate, together we fought, together we once walked this land, together we will again breathe the air of this world].

This chant activated the psychís, which then activated the blue flames to show readiness and acceptance.

The tattoo of the burning skull was the source of their powers. Without that tattoo, all spells were useless. The tattoo linked them to the powers of the ancestors. Among the various abilities they gained from this tattoo was extraordinary strength, strength beyond human imagination.

This was the case with the unique Kraniáns, those who were special and possessed a greater ability in the art of Otiris (Soul absorption), known as "Cetà Otiris"

The Ceta Otiris are those special Kranians who could harbour over one soul at a time. They possessed more powers than those who did not harbour a soul or who harboured only one soul. They were considered kings by other Kraniáns because they were born only once in a century.

This tribe was feared for their brutality was on quite another level. As a result, the inhabitants of Katara, SiChí and Vora - neighbouring villages to the wilderness where they lived - migrated to the southern, eastern and western areas. Kraniáns were bound by the ancient tradition of the "akthropofái." They were carnivores, preying on lower animals.

They performed a 365-day interval sacrifice, which they called, "Thysìa anan," (The renewal ritual)

This sacrifice was performed by the Kraniáns to prevent the loss of their powers and to strengthen the connection to the powers of their ancestors. It claimed the lives of people from outside the tribe.

In the absence of a Ceta Otirís, the Lor'kao contest was held to choose a leader. Only someone who was considered an average Kranìan could take part. It is independent of gender and age, meaning it is open to anyone who has reached the age of majority.

The last lor'kao held produced the reign of a man named VARATA...

The most terrible of them all. If the Kranians were brutal, Varata's brutality would be described with a much more terrible word.

Varata could have done something that had never been done before. Something that was considered an abomination - a violation of the principles that made the tribe of Kranía. He was the king, and no one could question his actions.

However, something happened. The Kraníans faced a crisis that they believed had been brought upon them by their ancestors as punishment for Varata's deeds.

A blink of an eye was enough to plunge the Kranians and their pit into nothingness and rid the earth of pure evil, including MAGIC.