Ursimian

Alias: Zu Champion, Zu Lord
Race: L'na Twilight
Aspects: Mind 2, Body 3, Soul 2
Sex: Male-aspect; Height: 6 ft. (at the shoulder); Weight: 550 lbs.

"Mother! Tell us again about Ursimian!"

The small den exploded with frantic sounds and movement: scores of small voices filled the air with clamor and din. "Yes Mother! Yes Mother! Tell us! Tell us!" The small reptilian-insectoid tyke who'd started it all smiled, his forked tongue tapping the insides of his shuttered teeth.

The aged matron of the clan of Twilights sighed a bit to herself. She was weary, but not so weary as to spread the tale of the great Champion of Zu - one of the foremost of her clan's for-bearers. She settled herself into her nest, preening a few of her scarlet and sable feathers. "All right, my hatchlings. Come and settle and I shall tell you the tale of how Ursimian became to be!"

Again a surging cacophony of frenetic behavior. "A new tale, Mother?!? This is wonderful!" Another of her brood, a small porcupine-quilled spider-monkey moth cred, jumping up and down excitedly.

"Yes a new tale - one that shall not arrive until silence goes before it". Her feline-ursine features smiled slightly as she waited for her little ones to understand and adhere to her gentle instructions. Finally, the stirring brood calmed and settled like the still waters of a grotto pool, and the tale began...

Ursimian was always a strong and impressive Twilight. One of the most powerful of them all, in fact. From the moment of his arrival, he was simply...something more than the sum of his parts, one might say. That is not to say that his parts, so to speak, were not powerful.

Blessed with the aspect of the mighty silverback gorilla and the fearsome grizzly bear, Ursimian could easy compete physically with any but the most powerful Dawns. Few claws or teeth were sharper than his; few limbs stronger. Moreover, Ursimian's mind was as quick and as slippery as a salamander in a swift moving book. He was easily a match for all but the most formidable Twilights. Few hands or minds were more adept at crafting or twisting. His mental and spiritual prowess seemed unlimited.

Many whispered that he would soon become the leader of all L'na. Many whispered that he would bind that which could not be bound; that he would unite the Dawns and the Twilights into a single, unified force the likes of which the L'na had never seen. Many whispered that his coming was foretold of old and that he would one day rule over us all, like one of the Fabled Fathers. But those were not the only whispers...

Other L'na resented Ursimian and his prowess. The despised his humility, for the mighty Twilight never held his powers or skills over another. Ever did he try and aid his brethren, regardless of whether they were Dawn or Twilight. Many L'na hated Ursimian for what he could become, despised the sheer potential within him. As you well know, my children, this is the most foolish thing that any L'na can think! We are all merely vessels of potential -- it is our duty, our destiny to rise to what our potential poses for us. Yet, there are many of our brethren who forget this truth in their petty squabble for power, or pride, or possession. It was these petty ones who whispered against Ursimian.

Soon whispers became grumbles and soon thereafter grumbles become outright hatred. These L'na plotted to kill Ursimian! Or, if they could not kill him, at least banish him... I shall not tell the tale of the betrayal of Ursimian, for it is long and sorted, and the time for rest draws nigh. Suffice it to say that the foulness that was in the hearts of these L'na blossomed into flower and they were able to send Ursimian away. Though it cost them dearly in lives, influence and power, through their combined efforts they sent our beloved brother Twilight into a realm of Ai known only as Quond'm.

Quond'm, we are told, is a horrible place. Made to house all the lost dreams and squandered potential that Ai has ever known. It is a place of despair, disbelief and cast off dreams - the very air is that of loneliness and the ground is made of shattered hopes. Yet, it was there, among the cast-off ruins of Quond'm that Ursimian discovered a treasure. Something that had been lost to the whole of Ai since near the Beginning, yet it was something that was not missed. For how, my children, can one miss something that they know not of?

The wisest of our brethren now say that it was Ai itself that desired that Ursimian be cast into Quond'm, because only Ai knew of the Gift that awaited us there. For amid the flotsam of crushed dreams and beneath the dust of countless ages, Ursimian discovered Zu. Zu, like Marou and Oaze, teach the L'na the paths of life. The ways in which we must go to utilize our fullest potential - to become what we must eventually be.

Ursimian learned the ways of Zu and became the first of its Children of this time. We now know that long ago, there were other Children of Zu, we have seen proof of this in Quond'm, and now in other ancient places of Ai. But Ursimian was the first of our time, and now he shows others, others he deems deserving, the way of the Children of Zu: the unbridled power that lies within the savagry that we all natively possess as L'na. Yet, it is not sheer savagery alone, for that would yield only chaos. Chaos is not our way, children. Not merely chaos for chaos' sake. The Children of Zu are wild and untamed, this is true, but their fantastic might and power is tempered with tremendous wisdom.

This is the way of Zu. This is the way of Ursimian. This will be our way as well.

Sleep well, my little ones...