I will tell of the first Great Mhunna.

He lived in the days of old, before the Indorani came to power. His name was Cherektesh, which means 'shaper of the earth', and he knew how to command the earth as a rider knew how to command a beast. The Mhun of that time carved the guts from the mountains and made precious things, learning in the early days how to create wondrous gemstone vials that were the envy of all their neighbors.

What neighbors those Mhun had - the Dwarves of the old Empire had carved out their home, a place deep beneath the mountains that we now call Bloodloch. The Rajamala were mighty and strong in their jungle homes, fierce and vigilant and powerfully guided by their spirits. The Tsol'aa, too, lived in the forest, and knew the trees like we knew the stone. The Ophidian stronghold stood to the north, and they taxed the travelers that used their roads.

It was against all of them that we contended, in the early days; for although we Mhun had their gemstone vials, the Tsol'aa wished to sell their own wooden ones, and the Rajamala grew covetous of the Mhun's riches. Even in those early days, the armies of the Itzatl Empire pressed down, and the Mhun did not wish to fight. Cherektesh said that the Mhun would share their vials, their riches, if the Itzatl did not destroy them. This was agreed.

Cherektesh's life was that of a peacemaker. Though the Rajamala threat was ever-present, he negotiated at length with Tsol'aa, with Dwarves, with even the Ophidians, and though we lacked the strength to protest the taxes and the tributes that we were forced to pay to our neighbors, we survived, and the Mhun of that time praised the seven spirits for their good fortune.

Mhun - know your history.

Penned by my hand on the 8th of Variach, in the year 422 MA.