Whiro is the seminal hero of Moru Kel. Born in Iyana, a day’s journey north of Esmi, he received a prophecy from the Oracle there which led him to Skandara. In Skandara, he made the final stand against the Gamaal army that had conquered Saffa, defeating them and saving the remaining Urek Empire.

Whiro’s remains reside in the Abbey to Whiro, protected by the Union of Whiro.

Everyone knows Whiro died defending Moru Kel from the Gamaal and also saving the life of his best friend, Ranga. It’s surprising how few people know any of the details, though. Did you know Whiro had his tusks read before the battle? He was told:

“I see a worn suit of armor, bluish grey banded mail, and a pool of red blood. A great warrior has been struck down by a Gamaal war spear. You cannot change destiny. If he is saved, the city will be forever lost.”

Everyone knew Ranga’s strange blue-grey armor. There could be no doubt that was what the tusk reader referred to. Only Whiro, who’d been running the words of the first prophecy through his mind for decades and become quite attuned to semantics, saw what it meant. He called Ranga into his tent before battle and had his personal squire dress them both — in each others’ armour. Thus, when Whiro was struck down, he fulfilled both prophecies and saved both the city and his friend. A man who had heard only the Oracle or only the tusks would have failed at both tasks. Had Whiro been killed in his own armour, the enemy would have become emboldened by his death and his own troops would have lost morale. But, by engaging the enemy leader (who had a grudge against Ranga) as Ranga, Whiro was able to kill the man/woman/other as he was being killed. Ranga in his hot-headedness wouldn’t have been focused enough to do so. Thus the tide was turned against the Gamaal.

 — Faron the Seer, Servant of Skura