Maiko's Note
I remember the day they climbed the slope to the Bvaborul—the mist catching in their hair, the hush of the mountain welcoming them like an old soul sighing with hope. Endrek, already carrying the weight of duty; Lijul, with wild eyes that saw more than light; and Maluk… who listened to the stars like they were old friends.
If Asukul taught them anything, it was this: knowledge is not what you keep, but what you pass on.
And now they carry more than teachings. They carry a people.
Though if you ask Endrek, the first thing Asukul taught them was how to clean ink off stone tablets.
“Lesson one,” he grumbled, “don’t sneeze while carving a vowel."
The Hope of the Shint'walan
Shindjali: Endrek, Lijul, Borovil
Faction:
Endulani
“To teach is to whisper the stars into another’s soul and trust they’ll carry the light when you are gone.”
— Asukul, on the day the apprentices first arrived
1. Overview
In the twilight of his life, Asukul, the last elder of the Shint'twalàni, undertook a sacred duty that had long been neglected. For years, he had lived alone in the Bvaborul kòu Shint'twal, the Temple of Knowledge carved deep into the northern mountains of Endudjan. When he realized that the living memory of the Archive was at risk of perishing with him, he chose to pass it on.
2. The Selection
Knowing he could only guide a few at a time with the devotion they deserved, Asukul decided to take on three apprentices - one child from each of the three Endulani clans. Rather than selecting them himself, he journeyed to each of the great communal gatherings and spoke to the people. He demanded that they choose among their own. The chosen children would leave their homes, live in the mountains, and train to become the next generation of Shint'twalàni. In keeping with the Endulani's free and egalitarian values, the children themselves had the final say.
He left no criteria, no tests - only trust.
Three weeks later, three ten-year-olds arrived at the square in front of the temple.
3. The Three Apprentices
Endrek: A bright and confident boy from Endunedul, son of a wealthy trader. Endrek showed natural leadership and a sharp mind, especially in remembering stories and negotiating meaning. Though sometimes impulsive, his charisma made him a natural first speaker in the group.
Lijul: Daughter of Bvaraf from the Forest Island. Lijul was the most spiritually attuned of the three. Her quiet demeanor concealed a deep sensitivity to the natural world and the Fleshtrees in particular. She had a gift for languages, including English, and was the most fluent of the three.
Borovil, nicknamed Maluk: Son of a shipbuilder in Danjul Borùmvil, Maluk was the tallest and strongest, but also the most reflective. He loved the stars and had a gift for celestial navigation. Despite speaking English the least fluently, he possessed a remarkable understanding of the cosmos.
4. Their Bond and Growth
Over the years, the trio grew into a tightly knit group. Their differences became their strength. Endrek brought energy and vision, Lijul brought understanding and empathy, and Maluk brought discipline and wonder. Under Asukul’s watchful guidance, they learned the ancient records, the language of the stars, and the ways of the old Earth archives.
By the time Keith arrives on Madun, the apprentices have become young adults, aged sixteen or seventeen. They are not yet full Shint'twalàni, but they are ready. They are the first Nodilani to welcome Keith to the world, bridging the knowledge of the past with the uncertain future he brings.
5. Teachings of Asukul
Though aged and weary, Asukul was no gentler in his expectations. The apprentices were not coddled. They rose before the sun to copy ancient records by hand. They fetched mountain water and memorized not just history, but the shape of logic and story.
He taught by way of silence as often as words. When one of them asked a question, he would often respond only with:
“Shin te wa.” - See what is.
And when they failed, he said simply:
“The stars do not scold you. But they will not wait either.”
6. Lore Snippet
When Keith first stumbled onto the gravel by the lake of the hidden crater, it was Lijul who saw him first through the bushes, her senses sharpened through the voices of the Shulunbao. Maluk dropped his bundle of firewood and gave his bear a silent wave to watch from the trees. And then there was Endrek, already taking a defensive stance with bow and arrow in hand. Lijul called the mist from the trees around the crater and under the cover of the wafting grey they went to confront the stranger. Endujel, Lijuls wolfdog, was the first to stand against him.
These three were not just children. They were the living memory of a people who refused to forget.And that moment - mist, awe, uncertainty - was the first contact between Earth’s last wanderer and Madun’s future.
7. Legacy
In training these three, Asukul did more than pass on his knowledge. He restored the cycle of memory. The Archive would not be forgotten. The children of the tribes had once again become its stewards
Maiko's Note
I remember the day they climbed the slope to the Bvaborul—the mist catching in their hair, the hush of the mountain welcoming them like an old soul sighing with hope. Endrek, already carrying the weight of duty; Lijul, with wild eyes that saw more than light; and Maluk… who listened to the stars like they were old friends.
If Asukul taught them anything, it was this: knowledge is not what you keep, but what you pass on.
And now they carry more than teachings. They carry a people.
Though if you ask Endrek, the first thing Asukul taught them was how to clean ink off stone tablets.
“Lesson one,” he grumbled, “don’t sneeze while carving a vowel."
