INEHA

Kadmons are intelligent humanoids who arrived on Ineha many years ago. Their population is large and diverse, divided into tribes and nations. The Yamimils of the Duhar Desert are Kadmons, as are the Korfa of Cartica and the Gumalians.

The Tarians claim that the Kadmons are actually Neanderthals who migrated to Ineha from the Old World (the world we live in). They base their claim on descriptions of witnesses who saw these people and on the story Larus told Ademon.

Larus was the leader of the Yamilis when Ademon visited Inea. They met at Kabra on the border between the territories (of the Yamilis and that of the Karians).

Here is the story as it is told in Ademon’s book.:

I will tell you, Mr Ademon, who we are and how we got here. I’m not sure my story will appeal to your ears.

Many years ago, my ancestors and your ancestors lived in the Yabilu Valley in the Old World, the world you come from. Two different species. They did not mix. They lived as two separate tribes, but there was a relationship of peace and mutual respect between them. My ancestors were called Shash (the silent ones), and your ancestors were called Rashrash (the noisy ones).

Until one day, a dispute arose between the tribes. It started with an argument between two groups of hunters. They met by chance on Rima Hill. The hunters from the Rashrash tribe demanded that the hunters from the Shash tribe leave the hill. This land is ours, they told them, you are not allowed to come here again. The Shash did not agree to their dictates. They replied that this land did not belong to anyone, that anyone could pass through it.

A violent fight broke out between the two groups. Three hunters were injured, one from the Shash and two from the Rashrash. The conflict escalated very quickly; by the next day, there were already casualties on both sides.

For weeks, they fought each other. Until one day, the war suddenly stopped. The Rashrash warriors retreated and did not return to the hill. The Shash warriors thought they had won the battle and returned to their families.

The peace did not last long. It was broken one morning, when the Shash people awoke to the sounds of noise and commotion. They were surprised to find their place surrounded by thousands of Rashrash warriors.

Barkan, the leader of the Rashrash, formed alliances with other tribes of his kind to defeat the Shash. He recruited five tribes and went to war again.

The Shash fought bravely, but they were few against many. Many of them fell dead. They were forced to flee to the Obalig Mountains.

In their flight, they came to a cave carved into the mountain. They all entered it to find refuge from their pursuers. The last to reach the cave was an old man named Rog. He looked back at his pursuers and said to them, “Here you have defeated us. You have killed us, dispossessed us of the land, and taken it for yourselves. You are more numerous and stronger than we are, but you will be miserable for generations to come, because nothing will be enough for you, and you will always want more. Therefore, what you did to us, you will also do to your kind. You are condemned to fight each other forever, because your hearts are full of envy and your souls are insatiable.”

When he finished speaking, he entered the cave. Immediately after he entered, the entrance was blocked by a rockfall.

For three days, they sat in the dark cave, weeping over their bitter fate. On the fourth day, a firefly came to light their way. For three days, they followed it until they reached Ineha.

We’ve been here ever since. Your kind came here much later. There is peace between us now. Over a thousand years have passed since our last conflict, and we are still suspicious and wary of you. But the one who should fear you most is you yourselves.

When you return to the land from which you came. Give my blessing to your people. Abundance and prosperity forever. May they know neither famine nor pestilence.