The Legend of Ojin

Author Unknown

Only one dark elf has ever survived a walk through the Maws with protections. He was the great Vornae hero Ojin Nakatomouaa. Many generations ago, even before the founding of Kirishai, it is said there was a war between two foundling dark elven cities. Ojin, a powerful knight dedicated to the Spider Ways, was entrusted to kill a rival leader?s head alchemist. The alchemist had been responsible for the deaths of many of the knights of the Spider Ways and Dragon Ways alike. Rumors abounded that the rival leader had been Enslaved by the alchemist and Ojin was quested to prove or disprove the rumors and end the war between the cities.

Ojin sought the alchemist and tracked him to his home. There an immense field of Maws spread before him. Ojin could find no way across the field, but he knew his honor rested with his mission. He had given his word to his leader. Distraught with the thought of failure, he made an impassioned plea to the Great Spiders who watch over the knights. A spider sylph Queen rifted in and cast a spell on Ojin to allow him to walk as the spiders do, on a thread of silk, through the field. A spider walks so lightly on their threads that the Maws do not notice him. So, too, would Ojin. He looked and found one tiny silver spider had made its web across the field. Ojin thanked the Queen and vowed to dedicate his life in service to her. Stepping upon the thread, he walked the fragile tightrope to the door.

With the death of the alchemist, the rival leader was able to be captured and cured of his Enslavement . The war ended. Ojin never returned to his leader, although a letter soon arrived in his stead. On a black piece of velvet, written in elegantly wrought silver webs, the letter explained the debt Ojin owed to the Queen; he had another destiny to fulfill. The letter was passed from one leader of the city to the next, until it was lost through the generations. Some say the letter was lost in a cave-in many years ago. Some say a single knight escaped the massive destruction of the city, taking the letter with her, passing it down to other knights through the ages. And some say it is still buried in the lost city. Whatever the case may be, legend says that if the possessor of the letter is brave and true of heart, like the knights of the Spider Ways, she can call upon Ojin for help and he will aid her.