Tulkon

Combative abilities

Communication with past lives

The **Tulkon** is a manifestation of spiritual energy concentrated as a single person who serves the role for their whole lifetime before reincarnating. The Tulkon acts as a spiritual, political, and cultural force of balance, and has filled many roles since its inception. The Tulkon has a host of abilities that set them apart from normal people.

The first Tulkon was Tulkon Bytu, a Human who was given his abilities by Arrkea in 0 BT. Bytu travelled the world keeping the peace until his death in 18 AT, and he reincarnated as Tulkon Darrokh, an Orc. The reincarnation cycle is as follows: Human, Orc, Elf, and Dwarf.

Over the millennia, the Tulkon has held important positions of power and served as a global leader. Not everyone is friendly to the Tulkon, and their methods of keeping the peace and involvement in world affairs have attracted criticism from many sources. Regardless, the Tulkons are also revered all over the globe, particularly by followers of the religion Tulkonism.

## Etymology and other names

The term *Tulkon* has origins in the Penaz and Old Iloisa languages. When Bytu returned to Ilois after being bestowed the power of the Tulkon, he was given the nickname *Kan*, roughly meaning "leader," "hero," or "guide" in Old Iloisa, depending on context; he used this title through the rest of his life. When Bytu was reincarnated as the Orc Darrokh, the Penaz-speaking Orcs of Penazaduz called him *T'hal*, meaning "The Reborn One." The term *Thalkan* (literally "reborn leader") arose after the spread of Tulkonism, which used the creole language of Penoisa in its ceremonies and traditions. In the centuries after the 40-Year War it became the modern Däegic *Tulkon*, although *Thalkan* is still sometimes used in some more conservative circles of Tulkonism, especially by the Tulkonist Council and followers of the Tulkonist denominations of Kostralle and Darrokhian Tulkonism.

*Tulkon* and derivatives are used mostly in Tulkonist cultures, especially by the Orcs of the Frozen Continent, Dwarves, and Humans, and *Tulkon* has entered many other languages as a loanword. In most Elven cultures, the Tulkon is sometimes referred to as *Re'Acata Uma,* literally "reborn leader," although this term has been mostly eclipsed by *Tulkon*. Savatist Orcs typically use the term *Torolchai* and its derivatives, and carries the same meaning.

## Abilities

The Tulkon is known for incredible magic, combative, and intellectual abilities. Tulkons are able to use all schools of magic, have incredible prowess in battle, and are able to speak virtually any known language. Throughout history, the Tulkons have used these abilities to change the world. Tulkons have typically been identified and trained by the Tulkonist Council, an organization founded by Tulkon Nyrota in 140 AT.

The most notable attribute of the Tulkon is reincarnation. The ability of the Tulkon to reincarnate was not understood until the young Darrokh was confirmed as Bytu's reincarnation several years after the latter's death. Various explanations are offered by various religions for the mechanism of reincarnation, but none have been able to be confirmed. Tulkons are able to recall memories and skills from past lives, and to a certain degree communicate with former incarnations of themselves through meditation; the latter ability, however, is usually described as am internal monologue and viewing of past Tulkons' earthly memories rather than a face-to-face interaction with a past self, hence why the Tulkon can't confirm any afterlife or reincarnation mechanism. Tulkons are also able to channel great bursts of magical energy from their past lives, although the process can be extremely physically draining and has led to the death of a Tulkon on more than one occasion; the largest display of this power was by Tulkon Yaaamemon in 1192 AT at the end of the 40-Year War, and resulted in the near-extinction of the Demons and the temporary end of the Reincarnation Cycle.

## Role in the World

Bytu, a Human from the Iloisa Empire, was the first Tulkon. Bytu travelled the world and used his abilities to bridge the gaps between the world's various disparate peoples, and helped create a sense of global unity. Subsequent Tulkons also further helped bridge this connection. Tulkons have followed trends throughout history, with some taking inspiration from their predecessors in terms of their approach to global issues. The Tulkons' abilities and numerous skills have led to many becoming heads of state, spiritual leaders, military officers, and more. Many Tulkons have also dealt with insurmountable odds in the face of a threat, and prevailed through great sacrifice or displays of incredible power.

Tulkons are venerated by the followers of the Tulkonist Religions (Tulkonism, Pantulkonism, and Prophetism) and have various degrees of influence within the world's other religions, such as Savatism and Däeism. Only a few Tulkons have actually been Tulkonists themselves, and despite their place within the religion, none of them have served an official role within its leadership (with the exception of Tulkon I'Ladas, who became the leader of the Tulkonist Army, the military branch of the Tulkonist Council).

According to religious tradition, the role of the Tulkon is to maintain global balance and push the world in the direction it needs to go in. Tulkons have always been a force for good, and do what they believe is right. The extreme influence of the Tulkon around the world has been both criticized and admired, and the actions of a Tulkon, no matter the intention, can have far-reaching consequences.

## List of Tulkons

Tulkons can be divided into several different eras, based on historical events and trends within their actions or policies.

### Early Tulkon/Imperial Iloisa Era (0 AT - 476 AT)

The Tulkons of this Era dealt with many issues, including the establishment of many new cultural and political connections, the Demons, and the looming threat of the Iloisa Empire, which defined many interactions within the period. It is bookmarked by the birth of the Tulkon in 0 AT and the end of the Iloisa Conquest in 476 AT.

* Bytu, Tulkon I (0 AT-18 AT)
* Darrokh, Tulkon II(18 AT-89 AT)
* Nyrota, Tulkon III (89 AT-177 AT)
* Kedur, Tulkon IV (177 AT-201 AT)
* Ageus, Tulkon V (201 AT-302 AT)
* Topa, Tulkon VI (302 AT-377 AT)
* Kytoya, Tulkon VII (377 AT-433 AT)
* Rum, Tulkon VIII (433 AT-448 AT)

### Middle Ages Tulkons (476 AT - 1192 AT)

This era is somewhat loosely defined; the issues the Tulkons dealt with were diverse, including dozens of small-scale wars and environmental concerns. The era began with the end of the Iloisa Conquest and culminated with the 40-Year War, which led to the temporary end of the Tulkon Cycle.

* Ytinise, Tulkon IX (448 AT-550 AT)
* Rogeduze, Tulkon X (550 AT-621 AT)
* Aohene, Tulkon XI (621 AT-639 AT)
* Bodor, Tulkon XII (639 AT-767 AT)
* Epi'hu, Tulkon XIII (767 AT-809 AT)
* Aghe, Tulkon XIV (809 AT-894 AT)
* Eoonanone, Tulkon XV (894 AT-1014 AT)
* Hanmalo, Tulkon XVI (1014 AT-1047 AT)
* Atuhy, Tulkon XVII (1047 AT-1076 AT)
* Roduzaz, Tulkon XVIII (1076 AT-1152 AT)
* Yaaamemon, Tulkon XIX (1152 AT-1192 AT)

### Era Without a Tulkon (1192 AT-1506 AT)

For over 300 years, there was no Tulkon, as the spirit of the Tulkon was trapped in Yaaamemon's Rock. It was released in 1506 AT, resulting in the birth of Tulkon Epodora.

### New Tulkon Age/Age of Immortals (1506 AT - 2905 AT)

The New Tulkon Age began with the birth of Tulkon Epodora, the first Tulkon in over 300 years. This Era was defined by political and military intrigue, as well as many conflicts between nations that the Tulkons were often directly involved in. It ended with the founding of the Empire of Orcanth.

* Epodora, Tulkon XX (1506 AT-1569 AT)
* Sakyge, Tulkon XXI (1569 AT-1623 AT)
* Zoktopo, Tulkon XXII (1623 AT-1707 AT)
* O'Raenore, Tulkon XXIII (1707 AT-1815 AT)
* Gal Adodume, Tulkon XXIV (1815 AT-1919 AT)
* Oranolu, Tulkon XXV (1919 AT-1998 AT)
* Zoruha, Tulkon XXVI (1998 AT-2093 AT)
* Ilhohore, Tulkon XXVII (2093 AT-2393 AT)
* Osnerime, Tulkon XXVIII (2393 AT-2473 AT)
* Giha, Tulkon XXIX (2473 AT-2560 AT)
* Rakte, Tulkon XXX (2560 AT-2672 AT)
* E'Acoradi, Tulkon XXXI (2672 AT-2876 AT)

### Modern Era Tulkons (2905 AT - Present)

During and after the reign of the Immortal Empire, the political and cultural landscape of the world shifted, resulting in complex treaties, alliances, and most notably the rise of Tulkonist extremism. The era is defined by events like the Immortal War, the rise of the Tulkonist Council, the Colitzl Plague, and the Keghotogh Crisis.

* Von Hamobora, Tulkon XXXII (2876 AT-2991 AT)
* Ico, Tulkon XXXIII (2991 AT-3034 AT)
* Goroch, Tulkon XXXIV (3034 AT-3074 AT)
* I'Ladas, Tulkon XXXV (3074 AT-)

## Trivia

* The concept of the Tulkon borrows heavily from the show *Avatar: The Last Airbender*. It's a shameless ripoff lmao i love that show
* The term *Tulkon* comes from the Tibetan *tulku* (སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་), a reincarnation of a teacher in a specific school in Tibetan Buddhism. The most notable *tulku* lineage is the Dalai Lama.