Page 10 - IBP2004LL OSS1 The Noh-Cha Classbook

the noh-cha classbook
Noh-Cha legends say that a great and powerful wizard once imprisoned them performed twisted experiments upon the first Noh-Cha, Those-Who-Came-First, in the depths of the madman’s magical labo- ratories. The golden-maned goddess Noh appeared to them, helping them escape. She gave them the strength and courage
to overcome the wizard’s defenses and to escape his monstrous laboratory and prison. Those-Who-Came-First ran and ran and ran until they were far from the wizard, eventu- ally finding a lush and verdant valley, and they settled there. The name of the wizard who imprisoned them is lost to time, but Those-Who-Came-First took the name Noh- Cha, meaning “Children of Noh”, to honor
the goddess who freed them and they took to worshipping her.
As the Noh-Cha grew in number over the years, a caste system developed.
Those who were the strongest became the warriors who would be the first line of defense for the Noh-Cha against all of the other creatures of the world. Others, the fastest runners and those who could hunt with spear and bow, became scouts and hunters to help feed the tribe. A smaller number manifested strange powers which were attributed to Noh that allowed them to communicate with spirits, enter the spirit world, and perform magical healing and divination. Some claimed to speak directly with Noh herself. Eventually the Tribe-That-Was grew too large and there were many fights between different factions, with several smaller groups breaking away to form smaller tribes of their own. Each
of these tribes took a new name to differenti- ate itself from the original tribe and went their own way, with The Tribe-That-Was remaining in the valley. Centuries passed and the tribes flourished. That is, all but the Tribe-That-Was, who mysteriously disappeared leaving no trace behind in the valley. The valley is now known as the Valley-Empty-Of-Life, and is a sacred place where only Noh-Cha shamans pilgrimage to. Today still, Noh-Cha search for the lost Tribe-That-Was, hoping one day to bring it back into the fold of the Noh-Cha.
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