Kelewan

Kelewan is one of the fictional worlds described by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. Kelewan was first described in his novel "Magician" though it is not described in any detail before the "Empire Trilogy".

Outline

According to Pug's viewing on the tower of testing [which according to Hochopepa is very "Grand do opera"] Kelewan is an old world that was once inhabited by intelligent races very different from the Tsurani, of which only the Thūn and Cho'ja survive. Most, if not all of the metal ores were mined before the arrival of the Tsurani, although very small amounts remain; as a result of this the inhabitants use lacquer covered cured hides and wooden weapons which have roughly the same strength of their metal counterparts but are easier to manufacture on the world. An everyday metal Midkemian item, such as a key, would be worth a man's life.

While Midkemia is modeled after European (per Middle-earth) high fantasy myths, creatures and influences, Kelewan has a strong Asian-Indonesian-Pacific scent. Some of the names mentioned are very clearly modelled after Nahuatl names, others Japanese, showing some of Feist's influences. Kelewan was destroyed at the end of the Darkwar by Pug when he created a massive rift between Kelewan and its moon and sent the moon through to crash into the planet, preventing the Dreadlord from entering the first plane of reality. Some of the Tsurani were evacuated to another habitable planet by Pug and other magicians. The Cho'ja chose to stay and die with their world.

Races

Kelewan is inhabited by four different intelligent races, the Tsurani, the Thuril, the Cho'ja and the Thūn. The first two are human, while the latter two are native, both six-legged species.

The Tsurani are a human race, with elements of Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Aztec cultures. Their average height is approximately 5 feet; a man of 5'7" is considered tall. They are descended from a race that fled to Kelewan during the original Chaos Wars. The Tsurani Empire is divided into clans, houses, and political parties. All magicians are the province of the Assembly of Magicians, and the Black Robes, for their service in immemorial times, were given the title "Great One" and may act outside the law as they see fit.

The Thuril are similar in appearance to the Tsurani, though they have their own language and customs. An uneasy peace exists between the Tsurani and the Thuril; however the current border has existed for some time. They are also descended from refugees of the Chaos War, arriving at the same time as the Tsurani. On their original world they were allied with winged snakes, but these creatures died out and remain only as mythological symbols.

The Cho'ja are an ant-like race. They can speak both their own language and the language of the Tsurani with whom they are allied. A Cho'ja mine present on Tsurani lands can bring about great trade opportunities from the minerals derived by Cho'ja workers, and new Cho'ja queens often negotiate with Tsurani leaders when deciding where to establish a nest. The Cho'ja originally had magical abilities, though the domination of the Cho'ja by Tsurani magicians drove them underground. The Cho'ja can also make silk of great quality. It is possible to ride a Cho'ja as they have nubs on their lower stomach. Before the destruction of Kelewan, the Cho'ja refuse to leave, and are believed destroyed as of Wrath of the Mad God.

The Thūn are almost identical to Centaurs, which the exception that their upper half is lizard-like rather than human. They're nomadic people who've inhabited Kelewan before the arrival of the Tsurani and Thuril at the time of the great rift. The Thūn have been driven back to the frozen tundra to the north of Kelewan, however young male Thūn must make a raid once each year and return with one Tsurani head to prove their worth to the herd.

Geography

The world of Kelewan has at least three main continents. In the north lies the Tsuranuanni empire which is separated from the "Lost Land" of Tsubar in the south by the Sea of Blood. In the east lies the Thuril Confederation. Additional continents were revealed to exist by the cho-ja in "Mistress of the Empire".

Gods

The original Gods of Kelewan were withered and ancient by the time the Tsurani and other refugees arrived, and were replaced by the powers brought by the Tsurani. The gods are honoured and always asked for help. The light of heaven (or emperor) is the communication between them.

External links

* [http://www.shoalcreek.com/feist/kelewan.htm Map of Kelewan]