What is Kihlah, Anyway?
Kihlah is a word in the Khurbyish language that is used to describe both a form of energy innate to some species (I usually specify "Kihlah energy" when I'm talking about it in this sense, though just saying "Kihlah" also works) as well as the system of martial-arts-like techniques used for drawing out that power and making use of it in various ways. Species with high levels of Kihlah energy seem to be most common in the First Nherbi, though some can occasionally be found in other nherbis as well; the K'hyurbhis of the planet Nummorro are perhaps the best-known Kihlah users, and K'hyurbhi-style Kihlah techniques are widely known across the rest of the First Nherbi and beyond due to their travels across space and establishment of small colonies on various other planets ages ago.
In species with a high level of natural Kihlah, it's sometimes possible for some of that energy to unconsciously surface in moments of anger or desperation even without any training; these uncontrolled bursts of Kihlah usually come in the form of temporarily enhanced strength or speed or (more rarely) chaotic blasts of energy. Though these bursts of Kihlah energy may be powerful in their own right, they are almost always inferior to actual Kihlah techniques and have a tendency to wear out those who accidentally unleash them, due to the strain of channeling Kihlah energy through the body without actually knowing how. Some non-intelligent lifeforms with abnormally high levels of Kihlah exist, and these creatures use Kihlah in much the same way -- lacking the intelligence to focus their massive stores of Kihlah into actual techniques, they lash out with bursts of destructive energy when threatened. The gugudiun ("Googoo Eyes"), a small blobby invertebrate native to the K'hyurbhi Desert region of Nummorro, is one example of a species with this sort of uncontrolled Kihlah power.
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| The god of Kihlah in the ancient K'hyurbhi religion. |
According to the ancient K'hyurbhi religion (which has fallen out of favor with most K'hyurbhis, with only the Hamhu tribe still practicing a modified form of it), Kihlah was created by a being named Zhingaru, described as essentially being the god of Kihlah and given an appearance resembling a Zertseo. As the Zertseos are capable of using Kihlah and are a species that has existed for a very long time, it's possible that Zhingaru was based on an actual individual -- rather than the creator of Kihlah energy itself, he could have simply been an ancient Kihlah user who introduced some of his techniques to early K'hyurbhis who had not yet mastered them, with stories of him becoming more exaggerated with each generation until he eventually was considered a deity. In the older versions of K'hyurbhi mythology, Zhingaru was said to have shared his power with many species; the more recent Hamhu version, of course, changes things around a bit to make things more K'hyurbhi-centric. Hamhu tales claim that Zhingaru only gave the gift of Kihlah to the K'hyurbhis and that anyone else using Kihlah must have somehow stolen the power from a K'hyurbhi, or otherwise they must be using some sort of "false Kihlah" rather than the real thing.
Kihlah Techniques
Learning to control one's Kihlah power involves a great deal of concentration and (especially in the case of stronger techniques) a lot of endurance, as weaker beings are easily exhausted by the process of channeling Kihlah through the body. Even among species with high natural levels of Kihlah like the K'hyurbhis, not every individual will immediately "get it" on their first try or even on their hundredth try; while some unusual individuals immediately take to Kihlah and become able to use various techniques in a matter of weeks or months, many K'hyurbhis train for years just to master the most basic degrees of Kihlah control.
The first thing that a would-be Kihlah user learns is awareness of their own Kihlah energy. As Kihlah is usually buried deep within and does not surface easily, it's possible for someone to go through their entire life without ever being consciously aware that they even have the capacity for that kind of power. Once one is aware of their capacity for Kihlah, drawing it out consciously becomes possible. Once a Kihlah user becomes aware of their Kihlah to a point where they can focus in on its presence within them and begin to draw it toward the surface, techniques enhancing strength, speed, or durability become possible; layered on top of the K'hyurbhi species' natural toughness, these techniques make Kihlah users incredibly dangerous in combat even without the use of any of their flashier techniques -- what appears to be a mere punch may be charged with Kihlah, sometimes only adding to the force of the blow and other times causing a small explosion of Kihlah energy on impact (one of the few named techniques of this type, known as "Boosh.") With enough practice, it's even possible for a Kihlah user to propel themselves through the air using small, directed bursts of Kihlah -- which makes it possible for Kihlah users to jump incredibly far, jump multiple times in midair without any solid object to kick off of, and even fly. Some Kihlah users focus on these sorts of Kihlah-infusing techniques, going beyond just strengthening their own body by temporarily infusing Kihlah energy into their weapons as well. This generally causes the weapon to glow with a white or yellowish (or sometimes red) light, and increases not only the weapon's effectiveness (making a sword or spear cut through things it might normally glance off of, for example) but its durability as well. Some Kihlah-using weaponsmiths have even been known to infuse high levels of Kihlah into their weapons while they are being forged, a process which results in a weapon that is permanently charged with Kihlah energy, commonly known as a "Kihlah blade" regardless of whether the weapon itself is a sword, a knife, a spear, or something more unusual like a shicker. Some of the most powerful weapons known on Nummorro are Kihlah blades, such as the Numkiller swords (infused with the attributes of a Kihlah technique that was specially designed for combat against Numnums) which are crafted by Kihlah Masters and given to certain high-ranking members of the Hoi K'hyurbhi tribe's army. As the enhancements provided by Kihlah infusion are most effective with cutting or piercing weapons, it's very rare for something like a hammer to undergo this process. Kihlah-infused armor is rare (if not entirely nonexistent) due to the difficulty of manipulating Kihlah in a way that can be used defensively once the Kihlah energy leaves the body, though some unorthodox Kihlah Masters in the past have been known to create shields which unleash blasts of Kihlah at attackers when struck.
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| From a 2014 painting -- Kherber drawing upon his Kihlah energy. Also pictured, Kherber's name written in Khurbyish and a slashed Hoi banner. |
The awareness of one's own Kihlah energy within them often leads to a similar awareness of the Kihlah energy in other beings. With practice, this allows a Kihlah user to sense the presence of other Kihlah users and lingering Kihlah energy in the air where Kihlah users have been active recently, detect whether or not an object or creature has been infused with Kihlah energy, and even sense the presence of other powers besides Kihlah. A skilled enough Kihlah user will even become able to sense the presence of ordinary individuals without any unusual powers at long distances, making it incredibly difficult to sneak up on them.
Once a Kihlah user is able to focus on their Kihlah energy within them and begin to draw it to the surface, it also becomes possible to project that energy outward. By focusing Kihlah energy to one part of the body or another, sometimes even moving the energy around several times during the charging process, the form it takes when projected outward can be changed. The most basic Kihlah technique, known as "Hihu," involves focusing one's Kihlah energy into one hand (the point of a K'hyurbhi's flipper-like hand; in other species, Hihu is sometimes used by focusing the energy into a single finger, while others use their whole hand) and then releasing it forward, which produces a beam of yellowish energy which can disintegrate materials which aren't strong enough to resist it, potentially punching holes in walls or weak opponents. Hihu is such a basic technique that it is considered "universal" to all styles of Kihlah, rather than being specific to the K'hyurbhi style or to that of any other Kihlah-using species. Hihu has also become the "base" that many new techniques are developed from -- from the basic "Zzzter" (which alters the form of one's Kihlah energy so that it resembles a bolt of electricity before launching it) to the Kukaru-style variation "Kukarhu" (basically just a vastly stronger Hihu that takes on a greenish-yellow color rather than pure yellow) to the signature technique of the Hamhu K'hyurbhi tribe (which combines a large Hihu-like beam of energy with a second electrical beam much like a strong version of the Zzzter technique, then has the electrical beam circle the other as it launches at its target.) There is even a "Ham Hihu," invented by the young would-be Kihlah Master named Kurb, which starts out as a very large Hihu beam and then splits itself into multiple smaller beams that go launching off in all different directions in order to strike multiple opponents at once.
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| Old TKL screenshot. Kherber fires a Hihu at a centipede. |
Using Kihlah techniques over and over will rapidly deplete the Kihlah energy that one can pull to the surface, causing exhaustion and strain to the body if they attempt to push further into their reserves and continue using more Kihlah. In order to counteract this, most Kihlah users also learn how to absorb lingering Kihlah energy from their surroundings, drawing their own Kihlah (or perhaps someone else's!) back into themselves to replenish their supplies after unleashing powerful Kihlah techniques. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, and this applies to Kihlah energy as well -- so when a powerful Kihlah technique explodes and the energy seems to dissipate away, much of it has simply spread out into the surrounding area. It is this lingering energy which can be absorbed by a skilled Kihlah user, making it possible for them to keep on using Kihlah even once they hit their limit by taking a quick break to recapture as much of their lost energy as possible. This is especially effective in battles involving more than one Kihlah user, as many techniques being used in rapid succession will result into huge amounts of lingering energy around the battlefield.
As mentioned in the description of the Zzzter technique above, another technique used in Kihlah is altering the form of one's Kihlah energy to produce lightning-like energy. This is not limited to just electricity, however; other techniques (such as the Blubberwukk tribe's signature move and the "Roaster Ball" and "Super Roast" used most commonly by the Roastisoo) shift the Kihlah's form into that of extreme heat or flames, and the signature move of Herbhi-tribe Kihlah users even shifts the form of its user's Kihlah energy into a beam which rapidly saps the heat from anything in its path, usually freezing whatever it touches. These more advanced techniques require the user to manipulate the flow of Kihlah through their body in order to change its form -- while just focusing it into one hand and then releasing it with no other steps in between will always produce a beam similar to Hihu, making the Kihlah move to various other positions throughout one's body before projecting it outward can produce very different effects. In the case of Zzzter (and other electricity-based Kihlah techniques), the Kihlah energy is rapidly bounced between one's left and right hands before being projected outward from one or the other. Changing one's Kihlah energy so that it is projected in the form of fire involves focusing the Kihlah energy into one's hand and then causing it to rapidly swirl around before unleashing it -- which is done by whipping the Kihlah-charged hand forward in a "throwing" motion in the case of Roaster Ball. Other Kihlah techniques have even more complicated ways of changing the form of their energy, and still others require the Kihlah energy used to be kept in as pure a state as possible -- the yellow energy beam generated by Hihu is not actually Kihlah in its purest form, and a great deal of concentration is required to unleash Kihlah techniques which do not alter the Kihlah energy from its true form at all. The best-known of these techniques is simply called "Kihlah," as it does nothing more than unleash an enormous blast of pure Kihlah energy (which is reddish, glowing, and almost flame-like in appearance) with incredible destructive power, and also a tendency to rapidly wear out all but the sturdiest Kihlah Masters. Legends say that an even stronger technique than this, the "Ultimate Kihlah," is also possible -- but only a single Kihlah Master in the past 100,000 years has been rumored to have actually learned how to unleash such a technique, and even he was unable to master it.
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| From a 2013 comic I drew -- Kurb unleashes a blast of pure Kihlah. |
Most Kihlah techniques work by either infusing their energy into the user or their weapon or by projecting energy outward, but there are also some unusual techniques that do not fall neatly into either of these categories. The Dondu K'hyurbhi tribe has developed a method of healing the sick and wounded by way of Kihlah, infusing their bodies with the energy in order to destroy anything that might be contaminating them and accelerate their natural healing. The Wudimok tribe is known for its technique of infusing Kihlah energy into plants and then controls them by means of controlling the Kihlah within them, causing vines to rapidly grow and spring forward to entangle anyone who gets too close. Kihlah infusions can also temporarily provide others with the same sort of enhanced strength that any Kihlah user is capable of; this works even for species with no innate Kihlah of their own, though the boost will fade away more rapidly if there is no internal source of Kihlah to sustain it. The Hoi tribe's current leader and some of his top scientists have experimented quite a bit with these sorts of Kihlah infusions, and in some cases have even been able to provide some degree of unconscious Kihlah use to creatures which would not normally be capable of using Kihlah at all... though this method has been known to leave the subject of the experiment in an unstable mental state, likely to lash out at anyone or anything nearby with its Kihlah-enhanced strength. One incredibly useful technique which blurs the lines between the "infusion" and "projection" types of Kihlah is the ability to open Num Warps (portals directly linking two points anywhere in the 40 Nherbis and allowing near-instantaneous travel between them, much like the common concept of a "wormhole") by infusing so much Kihlah into the fabric of space itself that it becomes twisted and a hole is torn. The nature of Kihlah makes it much easier for Kihlah users to open Num Warps this way when compared to users of various other unusual powers; for example, only the absolute strongest magic-users have the power to open a Num Warp at will, with lesser wizards requiring elaborate and complicated spells to travel in this way (if they're capable of doing so at all), while any Kihlah Master worth their title can force open a portal in a matter of seconds. Technological methods of opening Num Warps also require a great deal of preparation time and require a very efficient power supply to work reliably; it is for this reason that many K'hyurbhi spacecraft do not have built-in Num Warp generators at all, instead simply bringing along one or more Kihlah users with enough skill to open a portal large enough for the entire ship to pass through. Of all the power sources available in the 40 Nherbis, only Num Power seems to have as easy a time as Kihlah when it comes to opening portals like this.
Kihlah Users and Styles
As mentioned above, the K'hyurbhi style of Kihlah (which focuses primarily on energy-projection techniques, though some K'hyurbhi tribes and their Kihlah Masters have been known to branch out from that type of technique more than others) is well known across the 40 Nherbis -- but it is certainly not the only type of Kihlah in use. The Roastisoo (who are native to Roastiso Island on Nummorro) prefer Kihlah techniques which shift their Kihlah's form to that of fire, and have invented a variety of techniques making use of this form of Kihlah. As they are naturally resistant to extreme heat and live on a volcanic island in houses made from a metal known as kirbium which is virtually impossible to melt with naturally-occurring heat sources, it's likely that their heat-themed Kihlah techniques were developed as a way to minimize the damage done to themselves and their homes during training while still having techniques which would be useful in combat against other species if they might attempt an invasion of the island in order to access its rich kirbium deposits. The Kukaru of the planet Parupoo have developed a style of Kihlah that focuses on infusing energy into swords and even projecting energy through the blades of their weapons -- their Kukarhu technique can be fired from the hands if necessary, but it is most effective when channeled through a sword instead. On Gumakia, the largest moon of Brijetoo, a species of intelligent mushrooms have developed ways of using Kihlah without hands -- and their Kihlah Masters, Fungus Capp and his father Shroomi, have invented techniques so effective that even some of the greatest Kihlah users among the K'hyurbhis have sought them out. The Guraoo, natives of a distant planet that the K'hyurbhis visited long ago, were unaware of Kihlah before they learned the basics from a visiting Kihlah Master but have since developed an unusual style which revolves around infusing their Kihlah energy into the moisture in the air around them in order to control water. Thunotsu, the first known Zunajin Kihlah Master, primarily uses the K'hyurbhi style but has also developed a few of his own electricity-based techniques, including the defensive "Zzzter Shield" and his strongest attack "Zzzter Orb." Perhaps these techniques will eventually form the beginnings of a full-blown Zunajin style, though as of yet most of Thunotsu's kind look down on his Kihlah use and very few have chosen to train under him.
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| Symbols of the eight K'hyurbhi tribes, each of which has their own unique Kihlah. |
Anyone who has learned how to use the most basic techniques of Kihlah (awareness of their own Kihlah, drawing it to the surface in some way, and absorbing Kihlah from their surroundings) is considered to be a "Kihlah user." Those who specialize in infusing their fists, feet, or weapons with Kihlah in order to fight rather than focusing on outwardly-projected Kihlah techniques are sometimes referred to as "Kihlah fighters," though there is no special term for those who fight primarily using projected Kihlah rather than infused Kihlah. The highest honor for a Kihlah user is the be considered a Kihlah Master; to rise to that rank, one must achieve a level of Kihlah understanding and use far beyond the level of any ordinary Kihlah user, and official recognition of Kihlah mastery generally requires approval by several established masters, usually those which the would-be master has trained under (or alongside) in the past. Kihlah Masters are expected to become so familiar with a variety of lower-level Kihlah techniques that they are capable of charging and unleashing them at a moment's notice, rather than taking time to prepare them like a beginner might need to; with enough practice, even some higher-powered techniques can be used in this way. Most Kihlah Masters also do not merely use the techniques they've been taught by others -- instead, they experiment with methods of changing their Kihlah into other forms, different movements, infusing their Kihlah in different ways, and so on in order to create their own unique Kihlah techniques. One does not become a Kihlah Master by simply copying what they have been taught as-is, no matter how skilled one may be at copying those techniques; a degree of creativity and a willingness to change the way things have traditionally been done are required. The signature Kihlah techniques of each K'hyurbhi tribe were invented by that tribe's Kihlah Masters, and in some tribes multiple tribal techniques invented by different masters have been passed down over the years -- the Dondu know both their well-known healing technique and one which generates strong winds by controlling the movements of Kihlah-infused air, for example.
The process of becoming a Kihlah Master usually takes well over a century of training both under various other masters and alone. It is for this reason that the relatively short-lived Zwoobans (humans who escaped Earth during the reign of Lord of Moronism Ma-Du Veyaddhu roughly 10,000 years ago, ending up on the Kihlah-saturated planet Zwoobah where they eventually absorbed so much of the world's ambient Kihlah energy that they became capable of using Kihlah themselves) produce very few Kihlah Masters -- as they almost never live beyond the 150-year mark, only a rare few are capable of achieving any degree of true Kihlah mastery before growing frail with age. This is another advantage the K'hyurbhis have, on top of their naturally high level of innate Kihlah energy and culture which prizes Kihlah use -- as the average natural lifespan of a K'hyurbhi is in the range of 1000 Earth years (about 608 Nummorrian years, due to that planet's year being 600 days long rather than only 365), even a relatively slow-paced Kihlah user may eventually rise to Kihlah Mastery if they are devoted enough to keep at it for centuries on end.
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