Szal the Yith

> "The caress of the Yith is dark, insidious, and writhing with madness." From the Expedition Book of Anghysbel, recorded by Doctor Lilastien.
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## The Yith

The Yith are a race of primordial beings that are practically immortal.  According to Szal's Karshak servant Davachan, the Yith are the eighth generation of beings to arise after the beginning of the universe.

> “The Great Race of Yith were spawned when Chaos reigned in the universe,” Davachan continued, while he worked, “when magic warred with reality, and creation and destruction were the only arbiters of existence.  The dimensions were more straightforward and subject to conscious whim.  Few races survived that violent time,” he said, as he turned around with a sigh.  “Those that did, like the Yith and the Formless, have proven their toughness by that survival.  Our races will be long dead, and the Yith will still remain, at the gloomy end, observing the dying of Life from the cosmos.  Unless something kills them off, as well,” he added philosophically.
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The Yith are extremely telepathic and can cast their minds deep into the Universe and possibly through dimensions.  They seek knowledge, to know everything about the entire universe throughout time.  They join their minds with those they choose and experience every detail of their memories. The Yith retain the unabridged experiences of every mental encounter.

## Szal the Yith

Szal the Yith has been on Callidore since before the arrival of the Met Sakinsa.  The Celestial Mothers permitted Szal refuge from some other force that pursued the Yith. Minalan learned of the Yith's mortality by way of a battle he experienced vicariously from the perspective of Aza'methet the Old (see below) against "One Without Form" (likely a Formless). Aza'methet said that his memory had been shared with a Yith. Because of this, Aza'methet unequivocally declared that even if his enemy somehow prevailed, he (Aza'methet) was beyond destruction. "One Without Form" boasted:

> “Those who hunt the Yith to destruction are our allies.  Who do you think sent us here?"
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So, Szal was apparently fearful of the Formless and their allies and was hiding on Callidore.  At the same time, Szal was fascinated by Callidore and its magic.  Over the millennia, it skimmed the memories of millions of beings upon Callidore. And it hid in Anghysbel.
Szal sent its servant Davachan to invite Minalan to seek knowledge.  Szal noticed the Magolith and became interested in Minalan.  Despite warnings to the contrary, Minalan--accompanied by Lilastien--went to Szal.
Both submitted to interrogation. Apparently, Szal employs two methods of gleaning the lifetime memories of its subjects. From afar, the Yith seems to skim the life memories of beings it finds interesting without harm. The more invasive method is interrogation by physical contact. Rolof attests:

Szal's interrogations are not gentle.  For every second the Yith explores its subjects mind, that person experiences a lifetime of memories from one of Szal's previous subjects.

When Minalan initially encounters Szal the Yith during interrogation, he momentarily perceives Szal's thoughts.  Beyond the indifference and insatiable curiosity, Minalan senses Szal is desperately seeking something in the universe, but also is fearful of something.  Then, Minalan is "hosted" by memories of nine sentients:

1. Tuaa Folauga - (humanoid male) Lyran mercenary, former scientist
2. Saram - (humanoid female) A Lyran scholar of galactic history
3. Michael Anthony Palgrave - (human male) Englishman in the early 1930's
4. Lieutenant Colonel Martin Fitzgerald Andrews - (human male) of the Callidore Colonial Exploration Corp.
5. Mel Thenreyal - Alka female Spiritsinger on Alonaral
6. Prince Maralathus - Alka male on Callidore
7. Raer Rinthon the Bitter - Alka male on Callidore
8. Umank - Karshak male Stonesinger on Callidore
9. Aza'methet the Old - a primordial creature older than the Yith with two minds; exists in a dimensional crack in the universe

As Minalan is leaving Szal's Crypt, he mentions he has the memory of Aza'methet. Davachan replies that Szal only gives that memory to subjects of special interest.

     Lilastien is hosted by seven beings:

1. Dek'tagalish - A clipperman
2. Lieutenant Callista Maria Gianakos - (human female) CalDef Special Forces
3. unknown
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. unknown
7. unknown

Lil does mention having memories from a million years ago, but her other hosts haven’t been revealed yet,

Rolof, who had been interrogated by Szal two years earlier has seven hosts:

1. Lord Andromain - a poet?
2. Gauslin Aka
3. Vercrel
4. F'sara of Trend - from a world with four moons
5. Captain Henrietta Sturnbeck
6. Lathkellmineresk
7. Mist of Cool Wetness

## References

1. ↑ (Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series, Ch. 39)
2. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series. Ch. 38
3. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series. Ch 43
4. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series . Kindle Edition.